Physical Data Model Quick Reference

A physical data model (PDM) helps you to analyze the tables, views, and other objects in a database, including multidimensional objects necessary for data warehousing. A PDM is more concrete than a conceptual (CDM) or logical (LDM) data model. You can model, reverse-engineer, and generate for all the most popular DBMSs.

Creating a Physical Data Model

To create a new, empty PDM, select File > New Model, and choose Physical Data Model.
To reverse engineer a new PDM from a live database connection, select File > Reverse Engineer > Database.
To create a new PDM by importing one or more ERwin files, select File > Import > ERwin File or File > Import > Multiple ERwin Files.

The following types of diagrams are available:

A physical data diagram provides a graphical view of your database structure, and helps you analyze its tables (including their columns, indexes, and triggers), views, and procedures, and the references between them.
A multidimensional data diagram provides a graphical view of your datamart or data warehouse database, and helps you identify the facts and dimensions that will be used to build its cubes.

Specifying a Modeling Notation and Other Options

To specify a modeling notation, column, reference, and ownership defaults and set other model options, select Tools > Model Options.

Interacting with Databases

To connect to a database, select Database > Connect.
To generate a database, select Database > Generate Database.
To modify a database, select Database > Apply Model Changes to Database.
To reverse engineer from a live database connection into an existing PDM, select Database > Update Model from Database.
To generate test data to a database, select Database > Generate Test Data.
To estimate the size of a database, select Database > Estimate Database Size

Generating Other Models

You can generate other PowerDesigner models from a PDM by selecting Tools >:

Generate Conceptual Data Model (or press Ctrl+Shift+C)
Generate Logical Data Model (or press Ctrl+Shift+L)
Generate Physical Data Model (or press Ctrl+Shift+P)
Generate Object-Oriented Model (or press Ctrl+Shift+O)
Generate XML Model (or press Ctrl+Shift+M)

Working with DBMS Definitions

The DBMS definition file defines features specific to the DBMS being modeled:

To open the DBMS definition file in the Resource Editor, select Database > Edit Current DBMS.
To change the DBMS to model with, select Database > Change Current DBMS.
To set default DBMS-specific physical options, select Database > Default Physical Options.

Documentation

For detailed documentation, see Data Modeling.