Example: Specifying a Script Action

In the following example, we will specify an action in a framework diagram node that enables the user to execute a script that generates a model from another model. The result of this example is the same as that of a Generation action, but the script is intended to demonstrate the possibilities that you can script in your own projects. You could, for example, write a script to connect to a live database and reverse engineer it into a cell. For information about writing scripts for use in your models and projects, see Customizing and Extending PowerDesigner > Extension Files > Methods (Profile).

Before you can specify a script action, you have to create a method script on the FrameworkAction metaclass in an extension, and then attach it to your project. In this case, the following script is called GenerateModel, and will generate a PDM:

Sub %Method%(obj)

   ' This is a sample method that can be used in a script action
   ' It generates a PDM from a source cell CDM and attaches it to the current cell
   ' Steps:
   ' 1- Get the source cell: found by its code "mySourceCell"
   ' 2- Get the source model: first document in the source cell
   ' 3- Generate a PDM from the source model
   ' 4- Attach the generated model to the current cell
   ' 5- Set current action as source action for the new document
   ' => That will prevent generating twice if the action is not multiple
   
   If obj Is Nothing Then Exit Sub

   Dim sourceCell, targetCell, modelDoc, sourceModel, targetModel

   ' The script is defined on the action so the current cell is simply the action parent
   Set targetCell = obj.Parent

   ' First check if we can execute the action on the current cell
   ' for non multiple actions, the CanExecute should return true only the first time
   If obj.CanExecute(targetCell) Then
      ' Get Source cell
      Set sourceCell = FindCellByCode(targetCell.Parent, "mySourceCell") ' See function code below End Sub statement

      ' Get source model (supposed to be the first in its artifact document list)
      Set modelDoc = sourceCell.ArtifactDocuments.Item(0)
      Set sourceModel = modelDoc.TargetModelObject

      ' Generate PDM Model
      Set targetModel = sourceModel.GenerateModel (Nothing, PdPDM.cls_Model)

      ' Attach generated model to current cell
      Set modelDoc = targetModel.SourceModelDocument
      targetCell.AttachDocument(modelDoc)

      ' Set current action as source for the new model document
      obj.SetAsSource(modelDoc)
   Else
      ' In this sample, the action is supposed to be non-multiple
      ' Therefore, CanExecute fails if it's already a source action for an existing document
      output "The action has already been executed"
   End If
End Sub


' FindCellByCode function (Global Script function):

Function FindCellByCode (fmx, Code)
   Set FindCellByCode = Nothing
   Dim Cell
   For Each Cell In fmx.cells
      If Cell.Code = Code Then
         Set FindCellByCode = Cell
         Exit For
      End If
   Next 
End Function

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