Object properties

Chapter 8 Managing Objects

Object properties

You define an object with properties that appear in its property sheet. Property sheets organize object properties on tabs.

To display an object's property sheet:

Double-click the object symbol or its entry in the Model Explorer.

or

Right-click the object symbol or its entry in the Model Explorer, and select Properties from the contextual menu.

Different types of objects have different tabs, but almost all PowerDesigner object property sheets have the following tabs:

General – provides basic information about the object. Almost all objects have the following properties:
- Name - clearly identifies the object. By default names can have up to 254 characters, and can include upper, lower, and mixed case strings.
- Code – is a reference for the object. It is used in scripts that are generated from the model. By default, codes can have up to 254 characters, and can include upper, lower, and mixed case strings.
- Comment – [optional] provides a more detailed description of the object. You can display (and edit) object comments on their many diagram symbols using the "Comment" Display Preference. This feature can be useful when importing an ERwin model into a CDM or PDM.
Notes – lists additional information about the object. For more information, see Attaching notes to an object.
Rules – lists the business rules that the system must follow. A business rule could be a government-imposed law, a customer requirement, or an internal guideline. For more information, see Business Rules.
Version Info - provides details about the object owner, creation, and modification date.
Dependencies - lists all the objects that depend on the object
Extended dependencies - lists all the objects on which the object depends

Navigating between tabs
Use ctrl + page down or ctrl + page up to move to the next or to the previous tab and display the corresponding object type tab.

Opening property sheets at last accessed tab
Property sheets open to the General tab by default. However, you can choose to open property sheets at the last accessed tab by selecting Tools→General Options→Dialog, and selecting the Keep Last Tab option in the Property Sheets groupbox.