Templates and Generated Files (Profile)

You can define templates and generated files for metaclasses, stereotypes, and criteria. If a template applies to all metaclasses, then you should create it in the Shared category.

The PowerDesigner Generation Template Language (GTL) is used to generate files from metaclasses and for scripting (see Customizing Generation with GTL). You write a template in GTL, using variables that allow you to access properties of the current object or any other object in the model.

In the following example, the Generated Files category for classifiers contains a Java Source entry, which contains a reference to the template %source%. When the file is generated for a given classifier or for the instances of a classifier with a selected stereotype or criterion, it will have the name specified in the File name field, and will contain the contents generated by this template:

Note: If you position your cursor between the percent signs surrounding this or any other template name and press F12, you will either jump directly to the referenced template or, if several templates share the same name, a Results diaglog will open allowing you to select the template you want to navigate to.

The referenced template, source, contains GTL code to generate the contents of the file, including references to other templates called:

%isSourceGenerated%
%sourceHeader%
%package%
%imports%

Creating a Template
Templates can be created in the Shared category when they apply to all metaclasses. They can also be created at the metaclass level or for a given stereotype or criterion.
Creating a Generated File
The Generated Files category contains an entry for each type of file that will be generated for the metaclass, stereotype, or criterion. Only files defined for objects belonging directly to a model or a package collection will be generated. Sub-objects, like attributes, columns, or parameters do not support file generation, but it can be interesting to see the code generated for these sub-objects in their Preview tab.
Generated File Examples
A file is generated for each entry in the Generated File category under a metaclass, stereotype or criterion when the File name field is not empty. If no file name or only an extension is specified, the content of the generated file can still be viewed in the object's Preview tab.

Parent topic: Extension Files