Chapter 4 Building Physical Diagrams

Enforcing non-divergence from a domain in a data model

You can enforce non-divergence between a domain and the columns/entity attributes that use the domain.

To enforce domain non-divergence in a data model:

1. Select Tools→Model Options to open the Model Options dialog box. In a PDM, you have to click the Column and Domain sub-category in the left-hand Category pane to display the Enforce non-divergence option:
   
2. Select the check boxes of the column/entity attribute properties that are not permitted to diverge from the domain definition. You can specify any or all of:
   
   
   • Data type - data type, length, and precision
   • Check - check parameters such as minimum and maximum values
   • Rules – business rules
   • Mandatory – mandatory property of the column
   • [PDM only] Profile - test data profile
   
   
   If you subsequently modify in your domain any of the properties specified as non-divergent here, then the corresponding properties of the columns/entity attributes attached to that domain are automatically updated.
   
   Column/entity attribute properties specified as non-divergent appear dimmed and are non-editable in the List of Columns/Entity attributes and Column/Entity attribute property sheets. If you want to modify a non-divergent column/entity attribute property, you must detach the column/entity attribute from its domain.
3. Click OK to close the Model Options dialog box.
4. When you set the Enforce non-divergence options, you are asked if you want to apply domain properties to columns/entity attributes currently attached to the domain. If you click OK, the column/entity attribute properties are modified in order to be consistent with the properties of the domain to which they belong.

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