PowerDesigner Resource Files

The SAP® Sybase® 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.

The following types of resource files, based on or extending the PowerDesigner public metamodel are provided:

Definition file: customize the metamodel to define the objects available for a specific DBMS or language:
- 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, .xol, and .xsl) – 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).
Impact and lineage analysis rule sets (.rul) - specify the rules defined for generating impact and lineage analyses (see Analysis Rule Sets).
Object permission profiles (.ppf) - customize the PowerDesigner interface to hide models, objects, and properties (see Controlling the Availability of Models, Objects, and Properties).
User profiles (.upf) - store preferences for model options, general options, display preferences, etc (see User Profiles).
Model category sets (.mcc) - customize the New Model dialog to guide model creation (see Customizing the New Model Dialog).
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 Tools > Resources > type.

The following tools are available on each resource file list:

Tool	Description
	Properties - Opens the resource file in the Resource Editor.
	New - Creates a new resource file using an existing file as a model (see Creating and Copying Resource Files).
	Save - Saves the selected resource file.
	Save All - Saves all the resource files in the list.
	Path - Specifies the directories that PowerDesigenr should search to populate the list (see Specifying Directories to Search for Resource Files).
	Compare - Selects two resource files for comparison.
	Merge - Selects two resource files for merging.
	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.
	Update from Repository - [if the repository is installed] Checks out a version of the selected file from the repository to your local machine.
	Compare with Repository - [if the repository is installed] Compares the selected file with a resource file stored in the repository.

Sharing and Embedding Resource Files
Resource files can be shared and referenced by multiple models or copied to and embedded in a single model. Any modifications that you make to a shared resource are available to all models using the resource, while modifications to an embedded resource are available only to the model in which it is embedded. Embedded resource files are saved as part of their model and not as a separate file.
Creating and Copying Resource Files
You can create a new resource file in the appropriate resource file list. To create a copy of an existing resource file, select it in the Copy from field of the New... dialog.
Specifying Directories to Search for Resource Files
Use the Path tool in the resource list toolbar to specify directories to search to populate the list. If you plan to modify the standard resource files or create your own, you must store these files in a directory outside the PowerDesigner installation directory.
Extension Files
Extensions files (*.xem) allow you to customize and extend the PowerDesigner metamodel to support your exact modeling needs. You can define additional properties for existing objects or specify entirely new types of objects, modify the PowerDesigner interface (reorganizing and adding property sheet tabs, Toolbox tools and menu items), and define additional generation targets and options.

Parent topic: Customizing Your Modeling Environment