1<p> The libSBML “comp” extension implements support for the SBML Level 3 2<em>Hierarchical Model Composition</em> package. It can be used in SBML Level 3 Version 1 and Version 2 documents. 3 4<h2>Introduction</h2> 5 6<p> In the context of SBML, <em>hierarchical model composition</em> refers to 7the ability to include models as submodels inside another model. The goal is 8to support the ability of modelers and software tools to do such things as 9(1) decompose larger models into smaller ones, as a way to manage complexity; 10(2) incorporate multiple instances of a given model within one or more 11enclosing models, to avoid literal duplication of repeated elements; and (3) 12create libraries of reusable, tested models, much as is done in software 13development and other engineering fields. SBML Level 3 Version 1 Core, by 14itself, has no direct support for allowing a model to include other models as 15submodels. The Level 3 Hierarchical Model Composition package adds the 16missing capabilities. The figure below illustrates some of the scenarios 17targeted by this package. 18 19<figure> <object class="centered" type="image/svg+xml" data="comp-examples.svg" height="330px"></object> 20<figcaption>Two examples of model configuration supported by the 21“comp” package: (left) a model composed of a submodel 22that is itself composed of submodels; (right) a model composed of submodels, 23one of which is defined in an external file.</figcaption> 24</figure> 25 26<h2>Authors</h2> 27 28The primary authors of the SBML Level 3 Hierarchical Model Composition specification are Lucian P. Smith, Michael Hucka, Stefan Hoops, Andrew Finney, Martin Ginkel, Chris J. Myers, Ion Moraru and Wolfram Liebermeister. 29 30<h2>The specification for this SBML package</h2> 31 32<p style="color: #880000"> This API documentation for libSBML does not 33provide a complete explanation of the SBML Level 3 Hierarchical Model 34Composition (“comp”) package. If you are developing software 35that uses “comp”, you are strongly urged to read the actual 36specification for the package. A link to the specification document current 37is provided below, along with a link to the page of known issues (if any). 38 39<table border="0" class="centered text-table normal-font alt-row-colors" style="padding-bottom: 0.5em"> 40 <caption class="top-caption">Specification for SBML Level 3 41 Hierarchical Model Composition, current at the time of this libSBML release 42 (@PACKAGE_VERSION@). Note: an Internet connection is required to access 43 these documents.</caption> 44<tr> 45<th style="text-align: left">Specification (in PDF format)</th> 46<th style="text-align: left">Known issues</th> 47</tr> 48 49<tr><td> 50<a class="spec-link" target="_blank" href="@PACKAGE_COMP_SPEC_URL@"> 51 <img class="big-icon" width="22px" src="icon-format-pdf-44px.jpg">Hierarchical Model Composition package, Version @PACKAGE_COMP_VERSION@ Release @PACKAGE_COMP_RELEASE@</a> 52</td><td> 53<a class="spec-link" target="_blank" href="@PACKAGE_COMP_ERRATA_URL@"> 54 <img class="big-icon" width="22px" src="icon-format-html-44px.jpg">Errata page</a> 55</td></tr> 56</table> 57
