Generating XML Model objects

Chapter 7 Generating Other Models from an XSM

Generating XML Model objects

When you generate an XML model from a PDM, PowerDesigner translates PDM objects into specified XML Model objects as follows:

PDM object	Generated object in an XML model
Domain	Simple type
Table	Element. A table is generated as a child element when it has one outgoing reference link with the Mandatory parent property selected
Column	Element or element attribute (See generation options)
View	Element
View column	Element attribute
Key	Key
Index	Unique
Abstract data type	Complex type
Abstract data type attribute	Complex type attribute

PDM packages are generated into XML diagrams.

A PDM is generated into several XML diagrams:

A global diagram displaying a hierarchical view of all the generated elements
One diagram for each physical diagram in order to keep the PDM design. The generated diagram displays the same object symbols as the source diagram

The Global Diagram displays the symbol of a root element called Database. This Database element (which has no equivalent in the source PDM) groups together all the identity constraints (see Constraints tab of the Database property sheet) generated from the PDM keys, indexes and references.

Select Symbol→Show Symbols to reveal the other generated XML Model objects (simple types and complex types).

XML model naming conventions
If the code of the generated XML Model objects does not correspond to the target language naming conventions, you can define a code naming convention script to convert object names into codes.
For more information on conversion scripts, see section .convert_name & .convert_code macros in chapter Managing Models of the General Features Guide.