Defining XML model generation options

The Detail page of the XML Model Generation Options dialog box displays the following options:

Option	Description
Check model	When selected, it verifies the model before generating the XML model, and stops generation if an error is found
Save generation dependencies	When selected, PowerDesigner keeps track of the identity of the origin of each generated object. It is useful when merging two XML models which have been generated from the same OOM. Objects can be compared and recognized as the same object, even if the object has been modified in the merged XML model. If not selected, origin objects have no link with generated objects
Convert names into codes	When selected, object codes are generated from names using the corresponding conversion script. This is useful when generating models with very different naming conventions. With this option selected, both objects will have their codes generated from their names. If you do not select this option, generated object codes will be copied from original object codes
Generate mapping	When selected, allows to define the current OOM as the data source of the generated XML model and to create object correspondence between OOM and XML model. If you select the Generate mapping option, the Save Generation Dependencies option is automatically selected because the mapping uses object identifying numbers. You cannot deselect the Save Generation Dependencies option as long as the Generate mapping option is selected
Enable transformations	This button is used to activate transformations during generation. When you click this button, the Pre-generation tab appears if the source model contains transformations. You can select the transformations to execute before generation. The Extended Model Definitions tab also appears for you to select extended model definition files to attach to the generated model. These files may contain post-generation transformations, in this case, the Post-Generation tab appears to let you select the transformations you want to be executed in the generated model. If the generation is an update, and the generated model contains extended model definitions with post-generation transformations, the Post-generation tab automatically appears as soon as you click the Enable Transformations button
Generate attributes as elements	When selected, attributes in the OOM classes are generated as child elements (instead of attributes) in the XML model. You can then set attributes to these child elements

Option

Description

Check model

When selected, it verifies the model before generating the XML model, and stops generation if an error is found

Save generation dependencies

When selected, PowerDesigner keeps track of the identity of the origin of each generated object. It is useful when merging two XML models which have been generated from the same OOM. Objects can be compared and recognized as the same object, even if the object has been modified in the merged XML model. If not selected, origin objects have no link with generated objects

Convert names into codes

When selected, object codes are generated from names using the corresponding conversion script. This is useful when generating models with very different naming conventions. With this option selected, both objects will have their codes generated from their names. If you do not select this option, generated object codes will be copied from original object codes

Generate mapping

When selected, allows to define the current OOM as the data source of the generated XML model and to create object correspondence between OOM and XML model. If you select the Generate mapping option, the Save Generation Dependencies option is automatically selected because the mapping uses object identifying numbers. You cannot deselect the Save Generation Dependencies option as long as the Generate mapping option is selected

Enable transformations

This button is used to activate transformations during generation.

When you click this button, the Pre-generation tab appears if the source model contains transformations. You can select the transformations to execute before generation.

The Extended Model Definitions tab also appears for you to select extended model definition files to attach to the generated model. These files may contain post-generation transformations, in this case, the Post-Generation tab appears to let you select the transformations you want to be executed in the generated model. If the generation is an update, and the generated model contains extended model definitions with post-generation transformations, the Post-generation tab automatically appears as soon as you click the Enable Transformations button

Generate attributes as elements

When selected, attributes in the OOM classes are generated as child elements (instead of attributes) in the XML model. You can then set attributes to these child elements

For more information on conversion scripts, see chapter Managing Models in the General Features Guide .

Check model before generation
If you select the Check model option, the procedure to generate an XML model starts by checking the validity of the OOM. An XML model results when no errors are found. You can set check options by selecting Tools→Check Model.