The PowerDesigner® modeling environment is powered by XML-format resource files, which define the objects available in each model along with the methods for generating and reverse-engineering them. You can view, copy, and edit the provided resource files and create your own in order to customize and extend the behavior of the environment.
DBMS definition files (.xdb) - define a specific DBMS in the PDM (see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > DBMS Definition Files).
Process, object, and XML language definition files (.xpl) – define a specific language in the BPM, OOM, or XSM (see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Object, Process, and XML Language Definition Files).
Extension files (.xem) – extend the standard definitions of target languages to, for example, specify a persistence framework or server in an OOM. You can create or attach one or more XEMs to a model (see Extension Files).
Report templates (.rtp) - specify the structure of a report. Editable within the Report Template Editor (see Report Templates).
Report language files (.xrl) – translate the headings and other standard text in a report (see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Translating Reports with Report Language Resource Files).
Conversion tables (.csv) - define conversions between the name and code of an object (see Creating a Conversion Table).
You can review all the available resource files from the lists of resource files, available by selecting
.The following tools are available on each resource file list:
Tool |
Description |
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Properties - Opens the resource file in the Resource Editor. |
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New - Creates a new resource file using an existing file as a model (see Creating and Copying Resource Files). |
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Save - Saves the selected resource file. |
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Save All - Saves all the resource files in the list. |
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Path - Specifies the directories that contain the resource files to populate this list and other places in the PowerDesigner interface where resources of this type can be selected. By default, only the directory containing the resource files delivered as part of the PowerDesigner installation is specified, but you can add as many additional directories as necessary. The root of the library belonging to your most recent repository connection is implicitly included at the head of the list (see Sharing Resource Files via the Library) Note: In rare cases, when seeking resource files to resolve broken references in models, the directories in the list are scanned in order, and the first matching instance of the sought for resource is used.
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Compare - Selects two resource files for comparison. |
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Merge - Selects two resource files for merging. |
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Check In - [if the repository is installed] Checks the selected resource file into the repository. For information about storing your resource files in the repository, see Sharing Resource Files via the Library. |
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Update from Repository - [if the repository is installed] Checks out a version of the selected file from the repository to your local machine. |
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Compare with Repository - [if the repository is installed] Compares the selected file with a resource file stored in the repository. |