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Astract: The urgent demand for optimistic version control support for software models induced active research within the modeling community. Recently, several approaches have been proposed addressing the task of detecting conflicts when merging two concurrently changed versions of a model. In this context, the holistic representation and supportive visualization of detected merge conflicts pose a challenge. In this paper, we present a modeling language independent conflict model comprising all necessary information to profoundly represent merge conflicts. From this conflict model, we leverage the dynamic extension power of UML profiles by introducing a dedicated conflict profile to visually assist modelers in resolving merge conflicts of UML models. As a result, modelers may resolve conflicts in the concrete graphical syntax conducting their familiar UML editors without tool extensions.

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Astract: One of the key challenges in the development of model transformations is the resolution of recurring semantic and syntactic heterogeneities. Thus, we provide a systematic classification of heterogeneities building upon a feature model that makes the interconnections between them explicit. On the basis of this classification, a set of benchmark examples was derived and used to evaluate current approaches to the specification of model transformations. We found, that approaches on the conceptual level lack expressivity whereas execution level approaches lack support for reuse. Moreover, only few of the approaches evaluated provide key features such as an automatic trace model or the ability to reuse specifications by inheritance.

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Astract: Standardized business documents are a prerequisite for successful information exchange in electronic business transactions. The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and eBusiness (UN/CEFACT) provides a conceptual modeling approach, called Core Components, used by Business Partners (BPs) for defining business document models (BDMs). These BDMs are essential for defining service interfaces in service-oriented systems. However, in such a highly dynamic environment with ever-changing market demands, BPs are confronted with the need to revise their BDMs resulting in new versions of BDMs. Furthermore, BPs may dictate the use of new versions of BDMs. However, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may not always adopt new BDM versions due to the cost and effort involved, inhibiting electronic information exchange. In this paper, we present a framework for dealing with interoperability issues in service-oriented systems through providing BPs with Business Document Interoperability as a Service. Having such a framework at hand provides SMEs with a low-cost and light-weight approach for dealing with evolving market requirements and hence evolving business documents. Furthermore, we present a prototypical implementation as well as an evaluation of the framework proposed.