Conceptual Diagram Basics

A conceptual data diagram provides a graphical view of the conceptual structure of an information system, and helps you identify the principal entities to be represented, their attributes, and the relationships between them.

In the following conceptual diagram, the Teacher and Student entities inherit attributes from the Person parent entity. The two child entities are linked with a one-to-many relationship (a teacher has several students but each student has only one main teacher).

In addition:

• Conceptual Diagram Objects
  PowerDesigner supports all the objects necessary to build conceptual diagrams.
• Creating a Conceptual Diagram
  You can create a conceptual diagram in an existing CDM in any of the following ways:
• Example: Building a Data Dictionary in a CDM
  PowerDesigner supports the definition and maintenance of an enterprise data dictionary in a CDM. A data dictionary defines the data items, entities and attributes of the enterprise, and by managing it in a CDM and linking it (through generation or through the mapping editor) with your data and other models, you can ensure consistency of use and benefit from sophisticated impact analysis and "where used" reporting.