Object language overview

You can use many different object languages in an OOM, these are also called resource files. For each object language, a standard definition file is included and provides an interface between PowerDesigner and the object language so as to establish the best relationships between them.

Different types of resource files are used to complement or further define standard PowerDesigner features. If you need more information about resource files, see chapter The Resource Editor in the General Features Guide .

Caution
You should never modify the object languages shipped with PowerDesigner. For each original object language you want to modify, you should create a corresponding new object language. To do so, you have to create a new object language from the List of Object Languages, available from the Resources command in the Tools menu, then define a name and select the original file in the Copy From dropdown listbox. This allows you to create a new object language that is identical to the original file apart from the name.

What is an object language?

The object language is a required component when working with Object-Oriented Models (OOM). Each object language has its own object language definition in XML format that contains specifications for a particular object language in a format understandable by an OOM. It provides with the syntax and guidelines for generating objects and implementing stereotypes, data types, scripts and constants for an object language.

Each OOM is by default attached to one object language. When you create a new OOM, you must choose an object language: you can create a new object language or use the object languages delivered with the OOM.

The definition of an object language is available from its property sheet in Tools→Resources→Object Languages. You can select and configure parameters used when defining objects or generating from an OOM.

What does an object language contain?

All object languages have the same structure made up of a number of categories. A category can contain other categories, entries, and values. These entries are parameters recognizable by an OOM.

The values for object language entries vary for each object language. Some entries may not be available if the feature does not apply to the object language.

Object language examples

Even if one particular object language is used to illustrate an example, the mechanism explained in this chapter applies to all object languages supported in an OOM.