Working with the target models referenced by the model

Chapter 8 Shortcuts and Object Replications

Working with the target models referenced by the model

In addition to external shortcuts that you create yourself, PowerDesigner also creates shortcuts automatically when you perform certain tasks, such as linking requirements to design objects, mapping objects, or selecting a library during OOM reverse engineering.

To open the list of target models:

Select Model→Target Models:

Opening a model from the list of target models
If a target model is presently closed, you can open it in the List of Target Models by selecting it and clicking the Open Model tool. You can also open a closed model and review its property sheet by clicking the Properties tool.

Changing a target model

You can change a target model that supplies shortcuts to your model from the List of Target Models.

You cannot undo a change of target model
You cannot use the Undo feature to cancel a Change Target Model action.

For example, you create a model, Project.pdm, which contains shortcuts to objects in a target model, Library.pdm. A copy of the target model, Library2.pdm, is made, in which different versions of the target objects are developed. You can switch between Library.pdm and Library2.pdm in the List of Target Models.

To change a target model:

Select Model→Target Models to open the List of Target Models.

Select a target model in the list, and then click the Change Target Model tool to open a file chooser dialog.

Browse to the new target model, select it, and click OK.

A confirmation dialog box informs you that this change cannot be undone. If you click OK to proceed:
- And the new target model is open in the workspace - the shortcuts are updated to the new target objects. Otherwise they will be opened the next time you open the target model.
- And a shortcut cannot find its target object - a message box warns you. You can either delete the shortcut, or choose a new target object.

Click OK to close the list of target models.

Deleting a target model

If you delete a target model, you delete all its shortcuts.

To delete the shortcuts of a target model:

Select Model→Target Models to open the List of Target Models.

Select a target model in the list and click the Delete tool.

A message warns you that all the shortcuts related to the target model will be deleted during this operation.

Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the target and of all its shortcuts.