Object Definition Language

Object Definition Language (ODL) is the specification language defining the interface to object types conforming to the ODMG Object Model. Often abbreviated by the acronym ODL.

This language's purpose is to define the structure of an Entity-relationship diagram.

The Language

Class Declarations

Interface < name > { elements = attributes, relationships, methods }

Element Declarations

attributes ( < type > : < name > );

relationships ( < rangetype > : < name > );

Example

  Type Date Tuple {year, day, month}
  Type year, day, month integer

  Class manager
     attributes(id : string unique
                name : string
                phone : string
                set employees : Tuple { [Employee], Start_Date : Date })

  Class Employee
     attributes(id : string unique
                name : string
                Start_Date : Date
                manager : [Manager])