Chapter 7 Linking and Synchronizing Models in PowerDesigner

Preserving shortcuts links during generation

Shortcuts allow you to share objects between different models. A shortcut references a target object in a target model. You can preserve the link between a generated shortcut and its target object during generation.

By default, shortcuts are generated as shortcuts during generation: the Generate check box is selected and the Generated as property is set to Shortcut in the shortcut property sheet. If you want to modify these properties to a large number of shortcuts, you can do it from the List of Shortcuts. This feature allows you to preserve the link between a shortcut and its target object through generation.

To generate shortcuts you have to select the generated models containing the target objects of the generated shortcuts in the Target Models tab of the generation dialog box. Shortcuts can then be correctly linked to target objects in the correct target model.

The Target Models tab displays the following columns:

The model generation process allows you to define the target object of a shortcut in a generated model.

For example, here is the proper sequence of events for shortcuts generation:

1. Model 2 contains a shortcut of an object from Model 1.
2. Model 1 is generated into Model 1.1
3. Model 2 is prepared for generation to Model 2.2 by associating appropriate parameters in the Target Models tab
   If Model 1 is open in the workspace The Target Model column displays the original target model (Model 1), and its path. The Generated Models column displays the name of the last generated model from Model 1; the next time you generate Model 1, the Generated Models column displays the last model selected. You can click the arrow in the Generated Models column to modify the model selection and choose another generated model.
   
   If Model 1 is closed in the workspace The Target Model column displays the original target model (Model 1), and its path. The Generated Models column displays <none>. When you click into the Generated Models column, the original target model Model 1 opens in the workspace in order to find the models generated from Model 1. You can use the arrow to select Model 1.1, the new target that will allow the creation of a correctly linked shortcut in Model 2.2.
   
4. The shortcut in Model 2.2 is correctly generated with a link to its target object in Model 1.1.

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