Reference Model Options

To set model options for references, select Tools > Model Options, and select the Reference sub-category in the left-hand Category pane.

You can set the following options on this tab:

Option	Function
Unique code	Requires that references have unique codes. If this option is not selected then different references can have the same code (except when two references share the same child table).
Auto-reuse columns	Enables the reuse of columns in a child table as foreign key columns if the following conditions are satisfied: Child column has same code as migrating primary key column Child column is not already a foreign key column Data types are compatible For more information, see Automatic Reuse and Migration of Columns.
Auto-migrate columns	Enables the automatic migration of primary key columns from the parent table as foreign key columns to the child table. If you select both Auto-migrate columns and any of the following sub-options, then the relevant column property of the PK will also be migrated to the FK at reference creation: Domain Check Rules Last position For more information, see Automatic Reuse and Migration of Columns.
Mandatory parent	Specifies that the relationship between child and parent tables is, by default, mandatory, i.e., each foreign key value in the child table must have a corresponding key value, in the parent table.
Change parent allowed	Specifies that a foreign key value can change to select another value in the referenced key in the parent table.
Check on commit	Specifies that referential integrity is checked only on commit, rather than immediately after row insertion. This feature can be useful when working with circular dependencies. Not available with all DBMSs.
Propagate column properties	Propagates changes made to the name, code, stereotype, or data type of a parent table column to the corresponding child column.
Default link on creation	Specifies how reference links are created. You can select either: Primary key – automatically create links from primary key to foreign key columns at creation. If the Auto-migrate columns option is: Selected - Joins created between primary and foreign key columns. Not selected - Joins created and linked to primary key columns, but foreign key columns must be specified manually. User-defined – manually create your own links
Default implementation	Specifies how referential integrity is implemented in the reference. You can select either: Declarative – referential integrity is defined by constraint in foreign declarations Trigger – referential integrity is implemented by triggers For more information on referential integrity, see Reference Properties.
Default Constraints: Update	Controls how updating a key value in the parent table will, by default, affect the foreign key value in the child table. Depending on your DBMS, you can choose from some or all of the following settings: None – no effect Restrict – cannot update parent value if one or more matching child values exist (no effect) Cascade - update matching child values Set null - set matching child values to NULL Set default – set matching child values to default value
Default Constraints: Delete	Controls how deleting a key value in the parent table will, by default, affect the foreign key value in the child table. Depending on your DBMS, you can choose from some or all of the following settings: None – no effect Restrict – cannot delete parent value if one or more matching child values exist (no effect) Cascade - delete matching child values Set null - set matching child values to NULL Set default – set matching child values to default value