XML Feature Modeling (XFM) represents a paradigm shift in the way GIS applications are built at Bentley. It is a new way to define and manage property definitions, appearance, relationships, and behavior of geographic objects. XFM is at the core of Bentley Map. XFM applications help users maintain standards, using tools such as property based annotation and symbology, by encapsulating them with the feature definition and placement tools. It also allows modeling the representation of data in spatial datastores such as Oracle Spatial and ESRI ArcSDE databases and facilitates interaction with them in data creation and editing workflows.
With XFM, geospatial data can also be created and maintained without connecting to an RDBMS. XML configuration files (metadata), called the XFM project, reside in the folder structure of a XFM project and are managed by the Bentley Geospatial Administrator. When a disconnected working environment is desired, property tables are replaced by XML fragments and stored in the DGN file, directly linked to the graphical elements as geographic objects. These “XFM DGN” can be edited by Bentley Map disconnected from an RDBMS.
The Geospatial Administrator
The Geospatial Administrator manages the XFM framework through one interface. It runs outside MicroStation where it defines and maintains XFM project files. It is used to define and configure geographic objects and all aspects of their behavior and operation, as well as relationships to other objects. Custom development through VBA, MDL, and other languages can be included in the object definitions. The Geospatial Administrator also defines user interfaces which are dynamically loaded at run-time, coordinate system and projection information, and automatically generates MicroStation workspaces, interfaces, and XML metadata.
XFM behavior starts with the Standard Operations Library. It contains standard operations which are available to configure specific needs and workflows. You can also customize using VBA, MDL, and other languages. The XFM engine enables you to work with small self-sustained commands that can be linked together to form complex commands.
XML Driven GIS
XFM is XML Metadata Driven GIS. Through the Geospatial Administrator, you can configure or customize:
• Features
• Properties
• Domain lists, default values
• Property based symbology
• Property based annotation
• Relationships
• Placement and editing rules
• Operations and methods
• Other behaviors
• Message propagation rules
• User interface
• Coordinate systems and projections |
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XFM is flexible, extensible, helps create and enforce user standards, and can be easily implemented without programming if desired.