Customizing the Generation of Files for an Object

In PowerDesigner, you can define a generated file on a selected metaclass (or stereotype or criterion), in this case a file is generated for each instance of the metaclass existing in your model.

The generated files mechanism is defined in Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Extension Files > Templates and Generated Files (Profile).

You can modify the default generation of files using artifacts. Artifacts are used to generate files only for selected instances of a metaclass in order to:

• Using Artifacts in a Model
  To be able to use an artifact in a model, you have to declare it in a resource file attached to your model. You must create a template called "DefaultTemplate" under an artifact stereotype or criterion bearing the name of the corresponding file type to generate.
• Defining an Artifact
  Artifacts can replace the standard generation of files; by default, an artifact generates the same code as the generated file but only for selected instances of a metaclass.
• Managing Artifacts
  Artifacts appear in the Artifact category of the Browser. You can perform the following actions to customize an artifact. You can drag and drop authorized objects from the diagram or the Browser onto an artifact in order to add the code of this instance to the artifact.
• Generated Files Tab
  In the Generation dialog box, the Generated Files tab displays a checkbox tree with generated files (with a dimmed icon) and artifacts. You can select or deselect the files you want to generate.