Uniform Modeling Language

Models are expressed in the form of visual representation and language. CIM conventions for rendering the model are based on the diagrammatic concepts of Uniform Modeling Language (UML). UML uses shapes to represent physical entities and lines to represent relationships. For example, in UML, classes are represented as rectangles. Each rectangle contains the name of the class it represents. A line between two rectangles represents a relationship between the two. A line that forks to join two classes to a higher-level class represents an association.

CIM diagrams add color to the diagrams to further express relationships:

• Red lines->Associations

• Blue lines->Inheritance relationships

• Green lines->Aggregation