ORM Lite

ORM Lite for Windows v0.13b

BrianC — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:04:22 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. New features:

Kimball-style dimensional data warehouse design
Larger models (with hundreds of tables and thousands of fact types)
Re-engineering (with SQL table import and data profiling)
Easier model navigation and searching
Text-based fact entry (similar to NORMA)
Improved Rmap and Verbalizer
Automatic generation of fact type history tables (without explicit modeling)
Selectively prevent fact types from being included in Rmap (an "ignore" flag)
Light-weight question tracking for Fact and Object Type modeling
Flag sample data as the actual data source

Compared to v0.13a, this release adds several new features, fixes numerous small problems, and gains improved speed and better documentation. It is recommended to all ORM Lite users.

As with prior releases, ORM Lite will run on Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Unix operating systems.

IMPORTANT installation notes:

Be sure to uninstall your old version of ORM Lite before installing the new one.
Convert each old file by opening the file, running the command "Button Scripts -> Install ORM Diagram" from the Script menu, and then saving the file.

ORM Lite for Windows v0.13a

BrianC — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:43:42 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. New features:

Kimball-style dimensional data warehouse design
Larger models (with hundreds of tables and thousands of fact types)
Re-engineering (with SQL table import and data profiling)
Easier model navigation and searching
Text-based fact entry (similar to NORMA)
Improved Rmap and Verbalizer
Automatic generation of fact type history tables (without explicit modeling)
Selectively prevent fact types from being included in Rmap (an "ignore" flag)
Light-weight question tracking for Fact and Object Type modeling
Flag sample data as the actual data source

As with prior releases, ORM Lite will run on Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Unix operating systems.

IMPORTANT installation notes:

Be sure to uninstall your old version of ORM Lite before installing the new one.
Convert each old file by opening the file, running the command "Button Scripts -> Install ORM Diagram" from the Script menu, and then saving the file..

ORM Lite for Windows v0.12i

BrianC — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:31:39 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. This new release features a completely redesigned user interface.

New features include: a completely rewritten "How To" guide and tutorial, a streamlined user interface, an improved Rmap, an improved verbalizer, the new Entry Sequence Diagram, the ability to merge object types, and the ability to swap which Object Types are playing a role in a fact type.

This version fixes some small errors in v0.12h and improves explanation of the how to use the Verbalizer and how to edit Object Type names and descriptions.

ORM Lite for Windows v0.12h

BrianC — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:14:38 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. This new release features a completely redesigned user interface.

ORM Lite for Windows v0.12d

BrianC — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:42:43 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. New features: simpler to learn, easier to use, improved Rmap, improved verbalizer, new Entry Sequence Diagram, new ability to merge object types, better help. Please try out this new release and help us to improve this introductory-level ORM tool.

What’s New in v0.12d?

This release is focused on making the tool easier to use for new users (especially for students). The "ORM Quick Start" available from the help menu explains how to create diagrams, describes the most essential scripts, and provides ease-of-use short cuts for common operations. Rmap is available at the click of a button as is a new "Entry Sequence Diagram" that shows the implications of mandatory constraint decisions on database use. (Did you really want to require that all of those facts be entered at the same time?)

One of most common problems that beginners encounter: creating two different Object Types when they intended to have two graphics for the same Object Type, is now easily found and fixed. (To find the problem, just click on the "Repeat Object Type" button and look for duplicates. To fix it, select one of the duplicates and run the "Combine Duplicate Object Types" script.) This can also be used to combine two Object Type that are later discovered to be the same. (Simple make the Name and RefMode identical and then use the script to combine them.)

An ORM verbalizer that is included that will work on Binary Fact Types and Object Types.

Rmap's naming of columns and tables has been improved.

Important features:

Rmap and SQL generation are included. A Relational Tables diagram is automatically created and updated by Rmap. Indices are created for most uniqueness constraints. The implementation includes table baseline and migration assistance. The Relational Tables diagram is included because it provides a concise summary of the ORM model and because we felt that the value of ORM/Rmap would be easier to understand and demonstrate through experimentation with a visual representation.

The tool supports entry of Sample Data for each Fact Type and includes a Verbalizer window, both of which are vital for new modelers.

Our Strategy

ORM LITE was created to help popularize ORM. It is open source software, so it can be shared at no cost. It is completely self-contained, so it is easy to install. It is cross-platform, working on Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Unix. When users are ready to upgrade to an industrial strength tool, NORMA is recommended

ORM LITE is scriptable. It is hoped that ORM practitioners will be interested in using ORM LITE to develop and test new ORM related algorithms.

ORM LITE is currently being tested for use with the GanttPV Server. This will make it easier to share models among team members. Model changes are tracked and can be shared via the server.

Programming Guide for ORM-LITE (version 2008-11-24)

BrianC — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:16:58 GMT

Due to the interest in the ORM-LITE object model, I've decided upload this book which explains how to write custom scripts for ORM-LITE. The book is titled Managing Projects with GanttPV and was written by yours truly. The last 40 pages include many hints and annotated examples of how to write import, export, and report definition scripts for GanttPV. While the examples don't explicitly address the ORM model objects, they do provide a good foundation on script writing and should save you a lot of start up time in learning to write you own scripts. If you have additional questions, you can contact me at brian@pureviolet.net

ORM-LITE v0.11a Object Model 081216

BrianC — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:27:33 GMT

This document includes three diagrams that make up the ORM-LITE v0.11a object model. The diagrams are: (1) the ORM meta-model, (2) the relational tables model that is populated by Rmap, and (3) the GanttPV project/task model. The object model is represented using the new relational tables diagram that was added to the recent ORM-LITE v0.11 beta release.

ORM Lite for Windows v0.11a (Beta Release)

BrianC — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:00:55 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. New: Rmap, SQL, Sample Data. Please try out the beta release and help us to improve this new, introductory-level ORM tool.

What’s New in v0.11a?

The most important change is that sample data can now be entered for fact types. The quick start documentation has been updated to describe important keyboard short cuts. Several bugs have been fixed. To upgrade v0.11 files, run the new “Install ORM Diagram” script.

What's New?

The Rmap and SQL generation are much improved over last release. We have implemented a new Relational Tables diagram that is automatically created and updated by Rmap. The generation of names is much improved. Indices are created for most uniqueness constraints. The implementation includes table baseline and migration assistance.

The Relational Tables diagram was added because it provides a concise summary of the ORM model and because we felt that the value of ORM/Rmap would be easier to understand and demonstrate through experimentation with a visual representation.

Our Strategy

By packaging ORM LITE as a GanttPV add-in, we are putting an ORM tool into the hands of 100 new project managers each day. As more project managers learn about ORM, more teams will adopt it. ORM LITE includes a brief introduction to ORM and points users to the ORM Foundation web site for more information.

ORM LITE is scriptable. It is hoped that ORM practitioners will be interested in using ORM LITE to develop and test new ORM related algorithms.

ORM LITE works with the GanttPV Server. This makes it easy to share models among team members. Model changes are tracked and can be shared via the server.

More information on ORM LITE is available at http://pureviolet.net/ganttpv/orm/index/

ORM Lite for Windows v0.11 (Beta Release)

BrianC — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:32:54 GMT

ORM LITE is a light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. Please try out the beta release and help us to improve this new, introductory-level ORM tool.

What's New?

Our Strategy

ORM LITE is scriptable. It is hoped that ORM practitioners will be interested in using ORM LITE to develop and test new ORM related algorithms.

ORM LITE works with the GanttPV Server. This makes it easy to share models among team members. Model changes are tracked and can be shared via the server.

More information on ORM LITE is available at http://pureviolet.net/ganttpv/orm/index/

ORM Lite for Windows v0.10 (Preview Release)

BrianC — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:44:08 GMT

ORM LITE is a new, light-weight, open-source ORM tool that implements most of the ORM 2 notation. ORM LITE was created to help popularize ORM. It is open source software, so it can be shared at no cost. It is completely self contained, so it is easy to install. It is cross-platform, working on Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Unix. When users are ready to upgrade to an industrial strength tool, NORMA is recommended.

Why the ORM community will find it of interest?
Members of the ORM community would like to see a greater demand for ORM. The preview release of ORM LITE is packaged as an add-in to the GanttPV open source project scheduling tool. Because GanttPV is downloaded about 100 times per day, this strategy will put an ORM tool into the hands of 100 new project managers each day. As more project managers learn about ORM, more teams will adopt it. ORM LITE includes a brief introduction to ORM and points users to the ORM Foundation web site for more information.

ORM LITE is scriptable. It is hoped that ORM practitioners will be interested in using ORM LITE to develop and test new ORM related algorithms. For example, the preview release contains a partial implementation of Rmap (the script is included and can be modified as desired). An implementation of a UML mapping algorithm is in the works.

ORM LITE works with the GanttPV Server. This makes it easy to share models among team members. Model changes are tracked and can be shared via the server.

More information on ORM LITE is available at http://pureviolet.net/ganttpv/orm/index/