Data are physical or information items that are created, manipulated, or otherwise used during the execution of a process. Data references are objects that reference data objects for reuse. You can create data objects and references in collaboration and process diagrams.
Note: PowerDesigner does not support the association of data objects with sequence flows.
The following kinds of data are available:
To create a data object, use the appropriate Toolbox tool. To create a data
reference, use the Data Object Reference tool. When you click in the diagram, you will
be prompted to choose the data object to reuse.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
  |
Data object / Collection data object - Information flowing through the process. |
  |
Data input / Collection data input - External input for the entire process, which can be read by an activity. |
  |
Data output / Collection data output - Variable available as the result of the entire process. |
 |
Data store - Place where the process can read or write data, such as a database or filing cabinet, and which persists beyond the lifetime of the process instance. |
Data and Data Reference Properties
Data are based upon and share the properties of standard BPM variables (see Processes (BPM)), and have the following additional properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Object | [data references] Specifies the data object to reference. Select an object from the list, or use the tools to the right of this field to create, delete, select an object, or review the properties of the selected object. |
| State | [data references] Specifies the state of the data
object. You can select:
|
| Collection | Specifies that the data object represents a collection of data, such as a list of order items. |
Note: You can change the type of a data object by right-clicking its
symbol or Browser entry and selecting the appropriate Change to... command.