Generating a Database

PowerDesigner can generate a database creation script that you can run in your DBMS environment or generate a database structure directly to a live database connection.

1. Select Database > Generate Database to open the Database Generation dialog box (for more information, see Database Generation dialog General tab).
   
   
2. Type a destination directory and a filename for the script file in the Directory and File Name boxes.
3. Select the Script generation or Direct Generation radio button.
4. [optional] Click the Options tab, and specify creation options for your database objects (for more information, see Database Generation dialog Options tab).
5. [optional] Click the Format tab, and specify format options for your database objects (for more information, see Database Generation dialog Format tab).
6. [optional] Click the Selection tab, and specify the database objects to be created (for more information, see Database Generation dialog Selection tab).
7. [optional] Click the Summary tab to view the summary of your settings and selections (for more information, see Database Generation dialog Summary tab).
8. [optional] Click the Preview tab to preview the database script to be used (for more information, see Database Generation dialog Preview tab).
9. Click OK to begin the generation.

   If you are creating a database script: The output window shows the progress of the generation process, and indicates the syntax for running the script. At the end of script generation, a Result box is displayed. It lists the file path of the generated script file. Click Edit to open the script in a text editor or Close to close the Result box.

   If you are generating a database directly: If you are not currently connected to a database, a dialog box asks you to identify a data source and connection parameters.

   
   
   

   Select a machine data source or file data source, type your user ID and password and then click Connect. You may be prompted for additional connection parameters.

• Database Generation Dialog General Tab
  The General tab is the main tab for controlling database generation.
• Database Generation Dialog Options Tab
  The Options tab allows you to specify what script elements to generate for each object type.
• Database Generation Dialog Format Tab
  The options on the Format tab allow you to control the format of database generation scripts.
• Database Generation Dialog Selection Tab
  The Selection tab allows you to specify individual objects to generate.
• Database Generation Dialog Summary Tab
  The Summary tab allows you to view a summary of your generation options. The option summary is not editable, but you can search, save, print, and copy its contents.
• Database Generation Dialog Preview Tab
  The Preview tab allows you to view the SQL script. The script is not editable, but you can search, save, print, and copy its contents.
• Generating a Microsoft Access 97 Database
  PowerDesigner and MS Access 97 use .DAT files to exchange information. These files are created from the PDM files via the script generation. The access.mdb database uses or creates .DAT files to generate or reverse Access databases.
• Customizing Scripts
  You can customize scripts as follows: