Working with PowerDesigner Resource Files

You can view, copy, and edit the XML-format resource files in order to customize and extend the behavior of the environment.

The following types of resource files are provided:

Target languages: define the standard objects available in a model. Types of target language files include:
- Process languages (.xpl) – define a specific business process language in the BPM.
- Object languages (.xol) - define a specific object-oriented language in the OOM.
- DBMSs (.xdb) - define a specific DBMS in the PDM (see DBMS Resource File Reference).
- XML languages (.xsl) - define a specific XML language definition in the XSM.
Extensions (.xem) – extend the standard definitions of target languages to, for example, specify a persistence framework or server in an OOM. You can create or attach one or more XEMs to a model (see Extensions).
Report templates (.rtp) - specify the structure of a report. Editable within the Report Template Editor (see Chapter 6, Reports in the Core Features Guide ).
Report language files (.xrl) – translate the headings and other standard text in a report (see Translating Reports with Report Language Resource Files).
Conversion tables (.csv) - define conversions between the name and code of an object (see "Naming Conventions" in Chapter 8, Customizing Your Modeling Environment of the Core Features Guide ).

Lists of Resource Files
You can review all the available resource files from the lists of resource files. You access a resource file list by selecting Tools Resources Type.
Working with the Resource Editor
The resource editor allows you to view and edit the resources files provided with PowerDesigner. The left-hand pane shows a tree view of the entries contained within the resource file, and the right-hand pane displays the properties of the currently-selected element:
Opening Resource Files
When working with a BPM, PDM, OOM, or XSM, you can open the target language file that defines your modeling environment in the Resource Editor for viewing and editing.
Opening a Resource File from a Resource File List
In addition, you can, at any time, open, inspect, and edit any resource file from the lists of resource files.
Editing Resource Files
When you right-click a category or an entry in the resource file tree view, the following editing options appear:
Category and Entry Properties
Each category and entry you select in the resource editor tree view can display the following properties to the right hand side of the editor.
Searching in Resource Files
You can use the navigation list in the upper part of the resource editor to search for target items. This box lets you type queries on target items, you can also use it to type the fully qualified path of the item you are looking for.
Copying Resource Files
Since each resource file has a unique id, you should only copy resource files within PowerDesigner, and not in Windows Explorer.
Comparing Resource Files
You can select two resource files and compare them.The comparison process allows you to highlight the differences between resource files.
Merging Resource Files
You can select two resource files and merge them. Merging means that you use information from a given resource file to modify another resource file.

Parent topic: Resource Files and the Public Metamodel