Linking Child Objects to Elements

XML objects do not support standard PowerDesigner link objects. To link a child object to an element, you must click the child object tool in the Toolbox and then click the element symbol in the diagram. This will automatically create a link between both objects.

The following table lists the allowed links:

Tool

Action

If you click a parent element symbol with the Element tool, a sequence group particle and a child element symbol are created. You can modify the group particle via its property sheet



If you click the upper part of a child element symbol with the Element tool, a brother element symbol is displayed above the child element symbol



If you click the middle part of a child element symbol with the Element tool, a sequence group particle and a grand child element symbol are created. You can modify the group particle via its property sheet



If you click the lower part of a child element symbol with the Element tool, a brother element symbol is displayed below the child element symbol



If you click an element symbol with the Any tool, a sequence group particle and an any symbol are created. You can modify the group particle via its property sheet



If you click an element symbol with the Group tool, a referencing group is created. You must now select a group for the reference



If you click an element symbol with the Complex Type tool, a complex type symbol is displayed superposed, but not linked, to the element symbol. A global complex type cannot be the child of an element

If you click an element symbol with the Sequence tool, a sequence group particle is displayed linked to the element symbol



If you click an element symbol with the Choice tool, a choice group particle is displayed linked to the element symbol



If you click an element symbol with the All tool, an all group particle is displayed linked to the element symbol



Note: When you cannot click a symbol or an empty space in a diagram, the Pointer displays a forbidden sign. When there is a possibility to create a symbol above, below or next to another one, the Pointer displays an arrow indicating the corresponding direction.