TTCN-3 can be considered a programming language where users should consider best programming practices when developing code. The selection of common naming conventions for identifiers are for example one simple and often used mechanism to implement test suites which are consistent, maintainable, and understandable to multiple users involved in a project.
ETSI has investigated this issue and developed the naming conventions which are shown here in the context of the IP testing project. The use of these particular naming conventions is not binding when using TTCN-3. They are just intended to give visitors of this site an idea of how they could develop their own naming conventions. Next to such general naming conventions it is also wise to develop more project specific naming conventions for, e.g., application or protocol specific identifiers, etc.
ETSI Generic Naming Conventions
| Language element | Naming convention | Prefix | Example identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module | Use upper-case initial letter | none | IPv6Templates |
| Group within a module | Use lower-case initial letter | none | messageGroup |
| Data type | Use upper-case initial letter | none | SetupContents |
| Message template * | Use lower-case initial letter | m_ | m_setupInit |
| Message template with wildcard or matching expression ** | Use lower-case initial letters | mw_ | mw_anyUserReply |
| Modifying message template * | Use lower-case initial letter | md_ | md_setupInit |
| Modifying message template with wildcard or matching expression ** | Use lower-case initial letters | mdw_ | mdw_anyUserReply |
| Signature template | Use lower-case initial letter | s_ | s_callSignature |
| Port instance | Use lower-case initial letter | none | signallingPort |
| Test component instance | Use lower-case initial letter | none | userTerminal |
| Constant | Use lower-case initial letter | c_ | c_maxRetransmission |
| Constant (defined within component type) | Use lower-case initial letter | cc_ | cc_minDuration |
| External constant | Use lower-case initial letter | cx_ | cx_macId |
| Function | Use lower-case initial letter | f_ | f_authentication() |
| External function | Use lower-case initial letter | fx_ | fx_calculateLength() |
| Altstep (incl. Default) | Use lower-case initial letter | a_ | a_receiveSetup() |
| Test case *** | Use ETSI numbering | TC_ | TC_COR_0009_47_ND |
| Variable (local) | Use lower-case initial letter | v_ | v_macId |
| Variable (defined within a component type) | Use lower-case initial letters | vc_ | vc_systemName |
| Timer (local) | Use lower-case initial letter | t_ | t_wait |
| Timer (defined within a component) | Use lower-case initial letters | tc_ | tc_authMin |
| Module parameters *** | Use all upper case letters | none | PX_MAC_ID |
| Formal Parameters | Use lower-case initial letter | p_ | p_macId |
| Enumerated Values | Use lower-case initial letter | e_ | e_syncOk |
*: This prefix must be used for all template definitions which do not assign or refer to templates with wildcards or matching expressions, e.g. templates specifying a constant value, parameterized templates without matching expressions, etc.
**: This prefix must be used in identifiers for templates which either assign a wildcard or matching expression ( e.g., ?, *, value list, ifpresent, pattern, etc) or reference another template which assigns a wildcard or matching expression.
***: In this case it is acceptable to use underscore within an identifier.
