Shortcuts and Replicas

Shortcuts and object replications allow you to reuse objects defined in one model or package elsewhere. You should use a shortcut when you want to reference an object in another model or package, and a replica when you want to create a local copy of the object and make changes to one or more of its properties.

Note: You cannot transform a shortcut into a replica, or vice versa. When choosing to create a shortcut or replica, you should identify how you want to use it. For example, if you want to reuse an existing table in your PDM, you should create a:
A shortcut or replica is:
Shortcuts and replications allow you to benefit from:

You can create shortcuts or replicas for most PowerDesigner objects (including composite objects and other shortcuts or replicas). When you replicate an object, its sub-objects are also replicated. You cannot create shortcuts or replicas for the following types of objects:

Module

No Shortcuts For...

No Replicas For...

All

Diagrams, Links

Diagrams, Links, Packages

RQM

Traceability link, user allocation

-

EAM

-

-

BPM

Decisions, synchronizations

Starts, ends, synchronizations

CDM/LDM

Associations, Inheritances

Associations, Inheritances

PDM

Privileges

Privileges

DMM

-

Replications not supported

OOM

Decisions, synchronizations, interaction fragments, interaction references, messages

Starts, ends, synchronizations, interaction fragments, interaction references, messages

XSM

Internal shortcuts not supported for any object. External shortcuts not supported for imports, includes, redefines, annotations

-

Note: You cannot create internal shortcuts or replicas to global objects, such as organization units, or business rules, because they belong to the model and cannot be displaced into a sub-package. You can reuse data item shortcuts only if they are internal (same namespace). A duplicated data item shortcut has the same characteristics as the original data item shortcut.