Creating Traceability Links

You can specify any kind of connection between PowerDesigner objects through traceability links. These links can be created between objects of any type of model. They are used for documentation purposes only, and are not interpreted or checked by PowerDesigner.

You create an traceability link between objects in the same diagram by selecting the Link/Traceability Link tool in the Toolbox. Click inside the influent object symbol and, while continuing to hold down the mouse button, drag the cursor and release it on the dependent object symbol.

In the following example, the CDM entities School and Work do not have any direct calculable connection, but Work is shown as being dependent on School through a traceability link:

You can refine the meaning of traceability links by applying stereotypes to them to identify the kind of dependency represented. You can enter a stereotype name by hand in the Stereotype column of the Traceability Links tab of the dependent object, or select a value from the list if you have previously defined stereotypes in an extension (see Resource Files and Extensions).

• Creating Traceability Links Between Objects from Different Models
  You can create traceability links between any objects (including objects in different models) from the dependent object's property sheet. The model that contains the influent object must be open in the workspace.
• Creating New Types of Traceability Links
  You can enter a type directly into the Link Type column, or populate the list with link types for re-use.
• Grouping Traceability Links by Object or Link Type
  You can display the links on an object's Traceability Links tab as a single list or grouped by object type or link type by clicking the Types and Grouping tool and selecting the appropriate grouping command.