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Overview of Xcode Design Tools

Xcode includes two separate design tools, with similar forms but different functions. Together, the tools allow you to model both the classes in your application and entities that represent your data. Although they are in some respects similar, class modeling and entity-relationship modeling are fundamentally different and serve different purposes—both are discussed below.

The two tools share some common functionality. They allow you to create models that form part of your project. They allow you to browse through the contents of the model using a set of table views and to visualize the contents in a diagram.

Control over how models are displayed is where Xcode differs from other design tools. Other IDEs that provide a graphic class browser typically give you little control over display—you see what it wants to show you. With Xcode, you have coarse-, medium-, and fine-grained control over what is displayed and how. You can edit the diagram in the same way you might in common graphics editors. For example, you can color, move, and align elements to arrange them how you wish; zoom in and out of the diagram; and choose whatever page and grid sizes you want. Moreover, your models never become stale.

Contents:

Class Modeling
Data Modeling
Why Are Modeling Tools Useful?

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