Chapter 1 About This Book

Subject

This book describes the PowerDesigner Object-Oriented Model environment. It shows you how to do the following:

Build an Object-Oriented Model (OOM) using the UML diagrams
Use modeling elements in diagrams
Verify the model, merge models and import a Rose model
Reverse engineer PowerBuilder objects, EJB, Java, and XML files
Generate files for Java, PowerBuilder, XML, C++, Visual Basic and other languages
Generate a Conceptual Data Model (CDM), a Physical Data Model (PDM), or an Object-Oriented Model from the OOM
Generate EJB TM, JSP TM, servlets, ASP.NET
Create Web services in Java and .NET platforms

Audience

Anyone who will be designing or building an OOM with PowerDesigner Object-Oriented Model will find this book useful. It requires an understanding of object modeling, as well as familiarity with UML and SQL. Some experience with programming languages is helpful. For more information, see the bibliography at the end of this chapter.

Terminology

Most of the terms used along the Object-Oriented Model come from the Unified Modeling Language (UML), defined by the Object Management Group, Inc . (OMG). It is a visual modeling language developed in the mid 90's in an effort to summarize and simplify the large number of object oriented methods that existed at that time. In this manual, we refer to version 1.3 of the UML specification, with some updates from version 1.4.

Documentation primer

The PowerDesigner modeling environment supports several types of models:

Conceptual Data Model (CDM) to model the overall logical structure of a database, independent from any software or data storage structure considerations
Physical Data Model (PDM) to model the overall physical structure of a database, taking into account DBMS software or data storage structure considerations
Object Oriented Model (OOM) to model a software system using an object-oriented approach for Java or other object languages
Business Process Model (BPM) to model the means by which one or more processes are accomplished in operating business practices
XML Model (XSM) to model the structure of an XML file using a DTD or an XML schema
Requirements Model (RQM) to list and document the customer needs that must be satisfied during a development process
Information Liquidity Model (ILM) to model the replication of information from a source database to one or several remote databases using replication engines
Free Model (FEM) to create any kind of chart, diagram, in a context-free environment

This book only explains how to use the OOM. For information on other models or aspects of PowerDesigner, consult the following books:

General Features Guide To get familiar with the PowerDesigner interface before learning how to use any of the models.

Conceptual Data Model User's Guide To work with the CDM.

Physical Data Model User's Guide To work with the PDM.

Business Process Model Getting Started To learn the basics of the BPM.

Business Process Model User's Guide To work with the BPM.

XML Model User's Guide To work with an XSM.

Information Liquidity Model User's Guide To work with an ILM.

Requirements Model User's Guide To work with an RQM.

Reports User's Guide To create reports for any or all models.

Repository User's Guide To work in a multi-user environment using a central repository.

Typographic conventions

PowerDesigner documentation uses specific typefaces to help you readily identify specific items:

monospace text (normal and bold)

Used for: Code samples, commands, compiled functions and files, references to variables.

Example: declare user_defined..., the BeforeInsertTrigger template.
bold text

Any new term.

Example: A shortcut has a target object.
small caps

Any key name.

Example: Press the enter key.

Bibliography

James Rumbaugh, Ivar Jacobson, Grady Booch – The Unified Modeling Language Reference Manual – Addison Wesley, 1999

Grady Booch, James Rumbaugh, Ivar Jacobson – The Unified Modeling Language User Guide – Addison Wesley, 1999

Ivar Jacobson, Grady Booch, James Rumbaugh – The Unified Software Development Process – Addison Wesley, 1999

Doug Rosenberg, Kendall Scott – Use Case Driven Object Modeling With UML A Practical Approach – Addison Wesley, 1999

Michael Blaha, William Premerlani – Object-Oriented Modeling and Design for Database Applications – Prentice Hall, 1998

Geri Schneider, Jason P. Winters, Ivar Jacobson – Applying Use Cases: A Practical Guide – Addison Wesley, 1998

Pierre-Alain Muller – Instant UML – Wrox Press Inc, 1997

Bertrand Meyer – Object-Oriented Software Construction – Prentice Hall, 2nd Edition, 1997

Martin Fowler, Kendall Scott – UML Distilled Applying The Standard Object Modeling Language – Addison Wesley, 1997