Chapter 3 Building Conceptual Data Models

Creating an inheritance

You can create an inheritance in any of the following ways:

• Use the Inheritance tool in the diagram Palette (see below).
• Select Model→Inheritances to access the List of Inheritances, and click the Add a Row tool. You will be required to specify a parent entity.
• Right-click the model or package in the Browser, and select New→Inheritance. You will be required to specify a parent entity.

For general information about creating objects, see the chapter "Getting Started with PowerDesigner" in the General Features Guide .

To create an inheritance link using the Inheritance tool:

1. Click the Inheritance tool in the Palette.
2. Click the child entity, while continuing to hold down the mouse button, drag the cursor to the parent entity. Release the mouse button inside the child entity.
   
   The link is displayed between the two entities and has a half-circle in the middle and an arrowhead that points to the parent entity.
   
3. If you want to create additional child entities for the same link, drag and drop an inheritance link from the half-circle to the additional child entity.
   
   The symbol links all the child entities to the parent.
   
   
   
      Dragging an inheritance link to a different child entity
   You can change the child entity at the end of an inheritance link by clicking the inheritance link and drag one of its attach points to a different entity.
   
   
4. Double-click the new link in the diagram to display the inheritance property sheet.
5. Type an inheritance name and an inheritance code.
   
6. Click OK.

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