Namespace
You define a VB .NET namespace using a package.
Project
You can reverse engineer VB .NET projects when you select VB .NET projects from the Reverse Engineer list in the Reverse Engineer VB .NET dialog box.
Accessibility
To define accessibility for a class, an interface, an attribute or a method, you have to use the visibility property in PowerDesigner. The following accessibility attributes are supported in PowerDesigner:
Class
You design a VB .NET class using a class in PowerDesigner. VB .NET classes can contain events, variables, constants, methods, constructors and properties.
Structure
You design a VB .NET structure using a class with the <<structure>> stereotype. Structures can implement interfaces but do not support inheritance; they can contain events, variables, constants, methods, constructors, and properties.
Interface
You design a VB .NET interface using an interface in PowerDesigner. VB .NET interfaces can contain events, properties, and methods; they do not support variables, constants, and constructors.
Nested Types
You design a VB .NET nested type using an inner class or interface.
Module
You design a VB .NET module using a class with the <<Module>> stereotype and attributes, functions, subs and events.
Enumeration
You design a VB .NET enumeration using a class with the <<enumeration>> stereotype. The code of the class attributes is used as enumeration values.
Custom Attributes
To define custom attributes for a class, an interface, a variable, a parameter or a method, you have to use the Custom attributes extended attribute in PowerDesigner. You can use the Custom attributes input box to type all the custom attributes you wish to add using the correct VB .NET syntax.
Shadows
Shadows indicates that an inherited element hides a parent element with the same name. To design a shadows class or interface, you have to set the class or interface Shadows extended attribute to True.
Variables
You design a VB .NET variable using an attribute in PowerDesigner. The following table summarizes the different types of VB .NET variables and attributes supported in PowerDesigner:
Property
To design a VB .NET property you have to design an attribute with the <<Property>> stereotype, another attribute with the <<PropertyImplementation>> stereotype is automatically created, it is displayed with an underscore sign in the list of attributes. The corresponding getter and setter operations are also automatically created.
Method
You design a VB .NET method using an operation. Methods can be functions or subs.
Constructor & Destructor
You design VB .NET constructors and destructors by clicking the Add→Default Constructor/Destructor button in the list of operations of a class. This automatically creates a constructor called New with the Constructor stereotype, and a destructor called Finalize with the Destructor stereotype. Both constructor and destructor are grayed out in the list, which means you cannot modify their definition, but you can still remove them from the list.
Delegate
You can design the following types of VB .NET delegates:
Event
To define an event in VB .NET you must declare its signature. You can either use a delegate as a type for this event or define the signature on the event itself. Both declarations can be mixed in a class.
Event Handler
To define a VB .NET event handler you should already have an operation with the <<event>> stereotype in your class. You then have to create another operation, and type the name of the <<event>> operation in the Handles extended attribute Value box.
External Method
You define a VB .NET external method using an operation with the <<External>> stereotype. External methods share the same properties as standard methods.