Abstract Test Case (ATC)
One or more files, encapsulating a test purpose, independent of both the implementation
and the values, that provide the formal basis from which executable test cases are
derived. [ISO 10303-31: 1994]
Abstract Test Method
A description of how a candidate product is to be tested, given the appropriate level
of abstraction to make the description independent of any particular implementation of
testing tools or procedures, but with sufficient detail to enable these tests to be
produced. [ISO 10303-31: 1994]
Abstract Test Suite (ATS)
A part of the complete set of abstract test cases, possibly combined into nested
abstract test groups, necessary to perform conformance testing for a standard or group of
standards. [ISO 10303-31: 1994]
Application
A group of one or more processes using product data [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Application Activity Model (AAM)
A model that describes an application in terms of its processes and information flows
[ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Application Context
The environment in which the integrated resources are interpreted to support the use of
product data in a specific application [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Application Interpreted Constructs (AIC)
Entity constructs (placed in a library) which have been used two or more times by
APs.
Application Interpreted Model (AIM)
An information model that uses the integrated resources necessary to satisfy the
information requirements and constraints of an application reference model, within an
application protocol [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Application Object
An atomic element of an application reference model that defines a unique application
concept and contains attributes specifying the data elements of the object [ISO 10303-1:
1994].
Application Programming Interface (API)
An interface that is defined in terms of a set of functions and procedures, and enables
a program to gain access to facilities within an application. [Illingworth, 1997]
Application Protocol (AP)
A (STEP) standard that specifies an application interpreted model satisfying the scope
and information requirements for a specific application. (Note - This definition differs
from the definition used in OSI standards) [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Application Reference Model (ARM)
An information model that describes the information requirements and constraints of a
specific application context [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Application resource
An integrated resource whose contents are related to a group of application contexts
[ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Conformance testing
The testing of a candidate product for the existence of specific characteristics
required by a standard in order to determine the extent to which that product is a
conforming implementation. [ISO 10303-31: 1994]
Database Management System (DBMS)
Software specifically designed to store, manipulate and access information held on a
computer. Key features are the use of schemas to define the structure of the data held and
the provision of software interfaces to facilitate (and standardize) interaction with the
stored information. In a computer database system, all data is held in some physical form
known as ‘database’. Access to the data is controlled by software known as the
DBMS; it is the DBMS that ‘knows’ where and in what physical format the data is
stored. The DBMS itself is accessed - for adding, updating, querying and deleting data -
by a database language such as SQL.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
The electronic exchange of structured and normalized data between the computer
applications of parties involved in a trade transaction. (It is really aimed at the
exchange of documents.) In EDI Transactions, one party requests a service and the other
party offers the service and receives payment for the service. (This also means that both
parties have a strong relationship supported by a business agreement.) In general, a
transaction is not a single message sent from one party to another, but will consist of a
series of messages (order, change, order, accept, reject). This means that from start to
finish, a transaction can be in different intermediate states. EDI messages are structured
according to strictly defined rules such that a receiving application is able to interpret
the message and perform the necessary sequel actions, without human interference. The
structure is flat, i.e. no segments within segments.
EDIFACT - Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport
OSI Application Standard ISO 9735 - to define the interchange of data in a variety of
business environments. The EDIFACT syntax was designed to describe the contents of
documents. For this reason, the building blocks of EDIFACT are data segments and data
elements.
Information Model
A formal model of a bounded set of facts, concepts or instructions to meet a specified
requirement [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Integrated Resource
A STEP Part that defines a group of resource constructs used as the basis for product
data [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Information Resource Dictionary (IRD)
A shareable repository for definitions of the information relevant to all or part of an
enterprise (data relevant to the organization; computerized and non-computerized processes
for handling the data; the physical hardware environment).
Information Resource Dictionary System (IRDS)
OSI Application Standard DP 10027 - Standards which use the SQL standard to define
facilities for creating, maintaining and accessing an Information Resource Dictionary and
its definition.
Interpretation
The process of adapting a resource construct from the integrated resources to satisfy a
requirement of an application protocol. This may involve the addition of restrictions on
attributes, the addition of constraints, the addition of relationships among resource
constructs and application constructs, or all of the above [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
Language
A set of characters, conventions and rules that are used to convey information. The
three aspects of language are pragmatics, semantics, and syntax.
Normal Form
Condition reflecting the extent of the refinement in the identification of entities and
the placement of attributes into entities in a data model. Each normal form reflects
successively tighter control over the relationships between the attributes of an entity.
Normalization
The process of refining and re-grouping attributes in entities according to the normal
forms, making the meaning of data more explicit.
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
The set of standards and reference model for computer communication that allow
communication between computer systems regardless of manufacture, operating systems etc.
Schema
Those definitions which describe the concept of the data and the relationship between
the various elements or components of the data. A collection of items forming part or all
of a model [ISO 10303-11: 1994]. A definition of data structure [Dacom, 1985].
Semantics
The meanings of words and sentences in a language, or of constructs in a model.
Structured Query Language (SQL)
OSI Application Standard ISO 9075 - Standard database access language. It is a powerful
data manipulation language (DML), based on relational ideas. It is a powerful way to
create portable database systems over hardware and software environments. It is designed
to be used interactively, and embedded within procedural languages. It is not a database
management system (DBMS), a procedural programming language, nor a fourth generation
language (4GL). (The use of the word ‘Standard’ is a misnomer, as there are many
different implementations of SQL, none of which is identical to the other, and most of the
current SQL implementations are not fully relational.)
Syntax
Grammar, a set of rules for forming meaningful phrases and sentences from words in a
vocabulary.
Unit of Functionality (UoF)
A collection of application objects and their relationships that define one or more
concepts within the application context such that removal of any component would render
the concepts incomplete or ambiguous [ISO 10303-1: 1994].
