Chapter 7 Working with Business Process Models


Working with BPM Extended Model Definitions

Extended model definitions (.XEM files) provide means for customizing and extending PowerDesigner metaclasses, parameters and generation. Extended model definitions are typed like models in PowerDesigner. You create an extended model definition for a specific type of model and you cannot share these files between heterogeneous models.

When you create a new BPM, or when you reverse into a new BPM, you can select one or several extended model definitions and attach them to the model from the Extended Model Definitions page of the New dialog box:


When you attach an extended model definition to a process model, you can choose between one of the following options:

Option Definition
Share the extended model definitions Current extended model definition constantly refers to the extended model definition stored in the Resource Files\Extended Model Definitions directory. Any changes made to the extended model definition are shared by all linked XEM.
Copy the extended model definitions Current extended model definition is a unique copy of the extended model definition stored in the Resource Files\Extended Model Definitions directory. The current extended model definition is independent of the original one, so modifications made to the extended model definition in the Resource Files\Extended Model Definitions directory are not available to the copied XEM. This one is saved with the BPM and cannot be used without it.

For more information about extended model definitions, see "Extended Model Definitions" in the Resource Files and the Public Metamodel chapter of the Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner manual.

 


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