New Symbol Features v16.0

PowerDesigner v16.0 includes new features for symbols available for all models.

Enhanced Symbol Editing

You can now edit most object properties directly from diagram symbols. You can also add, edit, and delete sub-objects, and drag and drop sub-objects from one symbol to another.

Documented in:

Core Features Guide > The PowerDesigner Interface > Diagrams, Matrices, and Symbols > Symbols

Horizontal and Vertical Symbol Layouts

New options provide greater flexibility for organizing properties on symbols, allowing multiple properties on a line and columns of properties.

Documented in:

Core Features Guide > The PowerDesigner Interface > Diagrams, Matrices, and Symbols > Display Preferences

Attribute Value Icons

You can now create sets of icons to represent extended attribute values on diagram symbols. In the following example, each entity symbol displays an icon at its top-right corner to indicate progress:

Documented in:

Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Extension Files > Extended Attributes (Profile)

Automatic Link Routing and Link Bridges

Most diagrams now support a new algorithm for automatically optimizing link paths and routing them around object symbols. When link paths must cross, a bridge or "line hop" is added to clarify the flows.

Note: These display preferences are enabled by default for new models, but need to be set manually for models created in previous versions of PowerDesigner.

Documented in:

Core Features Guide > The PowerDesigner Interface > Diagrams, Matrices, and Symbols > Symbols