Getting Started

Before using the B-Toolkit the $BKIT environment variable must be correctly set, and the licence daemon BToolkitd must be running.

Other settings should then be made through the Options once the B-Toolkit has been started.

The B-Toolkit is invoked by issuing the command $BKIT/BToolkit (or just BToolkit if the directory $BKIT is in the current path) from a suitable development directory - any directory in which you have read-write permission and which you intend to be the top-level directory for all new specification, design and implementation source files in this development.

If the toolkit is invoked for the first time in a directory where there is no existing development environment, the Change Directory file selection panel appears; if the subsequently selected directory is not already an existing BToolkit development directory, a motif panel appears to ask the user whether a new environment should be created.

See figure.

If the reply is Cancel then the toolkit is exited (unless called through TopBar->Utils->ChangeDirectory ); if the reply is OK a new development environment is created, consisting of a set of development directories and configuration files.

The Windows

The Motif interface to the B-Toolkit consists of two windows: the session window (the window from which the toolkit is invoked) and the B-Toolkit Motif panel (which is created). All interaction takes place in the main panel.

On start-up, the B-Toolkit Motif panel appears. The panel is divided into a number of distinct areas as follows, starting from the top:

The Top Bar which gives access to a number of general facilities.
The Environment Panel for changing environments (initially the Main Environment) including the B Logo.
A Panel displaying the set of command tools appropriate to the current environment.
The Constructs Area which lists, down the right-hand side, all of the constructs currently under configuration management. The term ``construct'' is used to refer to the different types of Abstract Machine (machine, refinement or implementation) and also to ``system bases'', ``set enumerations'', ``interfaces'', ``documents'', ``proof files'' and so on. A number of different files may be associated with each construct. Down the left-hand side are columns of buttons for the invocation of various commands on the corresponding construct. These commands are indicated in the Command Bar above the constructs area. Only those commands whose buttons are in full colour can be invoked; this serves to indicate, also, the status of each construct.
The Display Area which serves to display messages from the toolkit relating to its current activity.

The Constructs Area and Display Area together form a paned window; their relative sizes can be altered by vertically sliding the grip that appears on the right between them.

The Mouse

Only the left-hand mouse button is used in the B-Toolkit interface. It is used to select menus, tools and commands by a single click. Clicking on many of the main panel entities will also bring up on-line help information. Double-clicking on items in selection boxes is a short-cut for a single click on that item, followed by clicking on the OK button to perform the default action.

Subsidiary Panels

Some of the commands activated from the Main panel popup a subsidiary panel associated with output from the B-Platform. This panel displays information as the tool is executed, after which it is popped down leaving a copy of the display in the Display area in the Main panel.

Other panels are described under the appropriate tool descriptions.

The Top Bar

Except for Interrupt, each item on the Menu bar activates a pull-down menu; selection is either by clicking with the mouse, or from the keyboard by using the 'command' key (marked with a diamond) simultaneously with the underlined letter in the menu name (its mnemonic).

Whilst a pull-down menu is activated, little other screen or keyboard action is permitted other than to select an item on that menu with the mouse. A menu can be de-activated by clicking elsewhere on the Menu bar. All pull-down menus may be ``torn off'' and displayed in a separate window (the resource setting tearOffModel should be set to TEAR_OFF_ENABLED in the XBMotif resource file).

On-line Help

Extensive on-line help information is available through the Help menu, which displays a list of subjects. Selecting a subject calls up an editor window to display the corresponding text.

Other on-line help can be obtained by clicking with the mouse on many of the entities on the main panel. (Try clicking, for instance, on the environment name.)

A full on-line help listing is available in the Contents Page Also available in the form of a complete Index. Blogo