Chapter 10 PowerDesigner Public Metamodel

Using the metamodel to understand the PowerDesigner XML file format

PowerDesigner models are made up of objects which properties and interactions are explained in the public metamodel. You can use the public metamodel to better understand:

Object names in the XML files, these names correspond to the public names available in the metamodel
Object collections appear as association roles in the metamodel

You can also use the metamodel to view items that do not appear in the XML files:

Derived attributes can be deducted from the metamodel when there is a generalization link between a parent and a child class. These attributes do not appear in the XML code
Objects with the <<internal>> stereotype correspond to temporary features like CheckModelControler, that do not appear in the XML file

For more information on using the public metamodel to understand the XML file format, see section XML and the PowerDesigner metamodel in chapter PowerDesigner File Format Specification.