Custom Symbols (Profile)

Custom symbols modify the appearance of object symbols in diagrams along with the content displayed on them. You can choose to enforce certain aspects of the symbol format and content, while allowing users some liberty to change others.

  1. Right-click a metaclass, stereotype, or criterion and select New > Custom Symbol.


  2. Specify a default Width and Height for the symbol and then click the Modify button to open the Symbol Format dialog, and set appropriate properties on the various tabs.
    Note: If you customize the line style and arrows of a link symbol (such as a PDM reference), your styles will override those selected in the Display Preferences dialog, and may cause confusion and inconsistency in the model. To ensure coherence in a model governed by a notation, select Notation for the Style and Arrows properties on the Line Style tab.

    For more information on the Symbol Format dialog (including the custom symbol options that let you control the default format options for the symbol, and whether users can edit them, on a per-tab basis) see Core Features Guide > Modeling with PowerDesigner > Diagrams, Matrices, and Symbols > Symbols > Symbol Format Properties.

  3. Click OK to return to the resource editor and view your changes in the Preview field.
  4. Click Apply to save your changes.