Chapter 5 Managing Models

Using the Free Model

The Free Model (FEM) allows a user to create any kind of chart, diagram, in a context-free environment. You can use the Free Model to create different graphics for your specifications, to explain the architecture of your system and applications, the use-case scenarii of the applications, the flowcharts, or to define your own method.

If there is something you want to graphically represent, but there is no easy way to build a model using a standard BPM, CDM, PDM, OOM, ILM, RQM or XSM, you can use the Free Model to create it.

By taking advantage of advanced features like the Generic Generator, Extended Attributes, and Custom Symbols you can create very specific diagrams tailored to your specific use.

You can enrich the diagrams in the Free Model by selecting different bitmaps for each symbol and add extended attributes to collect specific metadata. VBScript and the Generic Generator make it possible to program your own semantics into this model and create specific generated code or other output particular to your own interpretation.

The Free Model makes you free to explore representations beyond the standards set by the other, more specific models in PowerDesigner.

What to represent with a Free Model?

A model representing how your models and documents relate to each other
A model representing the organizations in your enterprise and how they interrelate
A model representing a flowchart
A model representing a hierarchy diagram
A model representing the graphics you use in PowerPoint presentations and link them to the presentations they are used in
A model representing the users in your Enterprise Repository and link them to symbols representing the groups they belong to
A model representing an ORM model using ORM specific extended model definitions

There are many more ways you can use this model. You are free to explore easy or complex implementations.