Conceptual Diagrams

A conceptual data diagram provides a graphical view of the conceptual structure of an information system, and helps you identify the principal entities to be represented, their attributes, and the relationships between them.

Note: To create a conceptual diagram in an existing CDM, right-click the model in the Browser and select New > Conceptual Diagram. To create a new model, select File > New Model, choose Conceptual Data Model as the model type and Conceptual Diagram as the first diagram, and then click OK.

In the following conceptual diagram, the Teacher and Student entities inherit attributes from the Person parent entity. The two child entities are linked with a one-to-many relationship (a teacher has several students but each student has only one main teacher).

In addition:

a teacher can teach several subjects and a subject can be taught by several teachers (many-to-many).
a teacher can teach several lessons and a lesson is taught by only one teacher (one-to-many).
a student attends multiple lessons and a lesson is followed by multiple students (many-to-many).
a student studies multiple subjects and a subject can be studied by multiple students (many-to-many).

Conceptual Diagram Objects
PowerDesigner supports all the objects necessary to build conceptual diagrams.
Example: Building a Data Dictionary in a CDM
PowerDesigner supports the definition and maintenance of an enterprise data dictionary in a CDM. A data dictionary defines the data items, entities and attributes of the enterprise, and by managing it in a CDM and linking it (through generation or through the mapping editor) with your data and other models, you can ensure consistency of use and benefit from sophisticated impact analysis and "where used" reporting.

Parent topic: Conceptual and Logical Diagrams