Shapes

SHACL shapes drive the user interface. They supply the fields of Properties, the predicates of the relation pickers, the tools of the palette, and the validation.

Node shapes

• A node shape card shows its target class under the name, and its properties as rows or lines.
• A new node shape opens its name for edit. The typed name also sets the target class: the known class with that name, else a new class IRI from the name. Escape keeps the default name and sets no class.
• Shape cards show their targets. Dashed arrows show predicate targeting and node constraints. These arrows do not change the data.
• Enter shape IRIs in Node constraints. These shapes check the same focus node. A property-level node constraint checks property values.
• The applicable-shape control shows unplaced shapes for an instance. The checked-instance control shows unplaced instances for a shape.

Property shapes

• A property with a datatype, a node kind or no range is a row of the card. + attribute adds an xsd:string property with cardinality 0..1.
• A property to a node shape, a value set, an "in" box or a class pill is a line to that box. When a card arrives on the view, the lines between it and the shown boxes are placed.
• Click the cardinality badge to cycle 0..* → 0..1 → 1 → 1..*.
• Double-click a path or line label to edit the path. Double-click a pill to edit the target.
• ⇥ on a row shows the line; the return arrow on the line shows the row again.
• A change of a path or a target class can propose a data migration. Apply it with Apply to data, or dismiss it.

Logical constraints

• A logical constraint (sh:or, sh:xone, sh:and) without a hub on the view is a row group: the operator, then its members. ⇥ on the operator row shows the hub and its member lines.
• Drag the logic handle of a property onto another property of the same shape to make an Or constraint.
• A property under sh:not is a row with the tag «not».

Value sets

A SKOS scheme or collection can be the range of a property. + concept and + member add concepts. Drag a concept onto another to add a broader parent.

Shapes from data

Propose Node Shapes from Data (on a class or instance) and Model → Propose Missing Shapes create shapes from the existing data. The result opens in a new view "proposed shapes". Review it: it describes the data, it is not a rule.

Validation

Catenary validates after each change, in the mode of the workspace settings (Off, Open views, All). A violation shows as a dashed border and a badge on the card, as a cross next to the field in Properties, and as a row in Problems.