Copying an entity

Chapter 4 Building Conceptual Data Models

Copying an entity

You can make a copy of an entity within the same model or between models.

When you copy an entity, the selections for the model options Unique code and Allow reuse determine the way that identifiers and entity attributes are copied and named.

The following rules apply to copied entities. The indicated selections for Unique code and Allow reuse apply to the model that receives the copied entity:

Data item options selected	Result of copying an entity
Unique Code Allow Reuse	New entity with new name and code New identifier with new name code Reuses other entity attributes
Unique Code only	New entity with new name and code New identifier with new name and code New attributes with new names and codes
Allow Reuse only	New entity with new name and code New identifier with same name and code Reuses other entity attributes
None	New entity with new name and code New identifier with same name code New entity attributes with same names and codes

To copy an entity within a model:

Select an entity in the CDM.

Select Edit→Copy.

Select Edit→Paste.

or

Press ctrl and drag the entity to a new position in the diagram.

The new entity appears in the diagram

To copy an entity to a different model:

Select an entity in a CDM.

Select Edit→Copy.

Click in the diagram of the target model.

Select Edit→Paste.

or

Press ctrl and drag the entity to the diagram of the target model.

The new entity appears in the diagram of the target model.