SAP PowerDesigner PDM 7.5 to 16.x - Import
Bridge Requirements
This bridge:is only supported on Microsoft Windows.
Bridge Specifications
| Vendor | SAP |
| Tool Name | PowerDesigner PDM (Physical Data Modeling) |
| Tool Version | 7.5 to 16.x |
| Tool Web Site | https://www.sap.com/products/powerdesigner-data-modeling-tools.html |
| Supported Methodology | [Data Modeling] Data Store (Physical Data Model, Stored Procedure Expression Parsing), Graphical Layout via PDM XML File |
| Data Profiling |  |
| Incremental Harvesting | |
| Multi-Model Harvesting | |
| Remote Repository Browsing for Model Selection | |
SPECIFICATIONS
Tool: SAP / PowerDesigner PDM (Physical Data Modeling) version 7.5 to 16.x via PDM XML File
See https://www.sap.com/products/powerdesigner-data-modeling-tools.html
Metadata: [Data Modeling] Data Store (Physical Data Model, Stored Procedure Expression Parsing), Graphical Layout
Component: SybasePowerDesignerPdm07 version 11.2.0
OVERVIEW
This bridge imports data models from a PowerDesigner .PDM (physical data model) file with Tables, Columns, Data Types. This bridge also imports all relationships and their implementation (e.g. PK/FK) as well as the graphical layout (diagrams).
REQUIREMENTS
n/a
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I handle PDM XML files which contain shortcuts to external tables?
A: PDM XML model files may contain relationships which refer to tables defined as 'shortcuts'. Shortcuts are references to external tables. Unfortunately, in this case the PDM XML file does not contain sufficient information to reconstruct the PK/FK relationships properly. If this is the case with the imported file, there will be a message in the log like:
This model may have shortcut dependencies on external model: 'file:///...'
and, by default, the bridge will not attempt to reconstruct those PK/FK relationships to shortcuts.
However, the source tool has the capability to merge these files together so that the shortcuts are resolved. To do so:
- Refer to the log for all the files with shortcuts
- Open the tool and go to the Tools -> Merge Models... menu option
- Create a new merged model
- Save the new model as a PDM XML and import.
Q: I see warnings or errors in the log. How can I validate the model before importing?
A: PowerDesigner allows examining the model for modeling inconsistencies.
Please use menu Tools -> Check Model... and take necessary, yet corrective actions to resolve detected issues.
Q: I imported my model, but the SQL View definitions are incomplete. How can I fix them?
A: PowerDesigner versions 7 and 8 have limited support for SQL Views. It is not possible to retrieve a valid definition of the source tables and columns. PowerDesigner versions 9 and later support the concept of 'View Reference' to associate a View with its source tables and columns. If you upgrade to a version that supports this concept, your models should import correctly.
LIMITATIONS
Refer to the current general known limitations at MIMB Known Limitations or bundled in Documentation/ReadMe/MIMBKnownLimitations.html
PDM files in binary format are not supported.
SUPPORT
Provide a troubleshooting package with debug log. Debug log can be set in the UI or in conf/conf.properties with MIR_LOG_LEVEL=6
Bridge Parameters
| Parameter Name | Description | Type | Values | Default | Scope | ||||
| File | This bridge imports PDM XML files. If you do not have the model saved as a PDM XML file already, you may create a PDM file for import: 1. Physical Data Model is opened in SAP PowerDesigner. 2. Choose 'Save As' from the 'File' menu. 3. In the 'Save as type' list, select 'Physical Data Model (XML) (*.PDM)'. 4. Enter the file name and select a directory to save the file in. 5. Click 'Save'. The bridge will use the generated PDM XML file as input. |
FILE | *.pdm | Mandatory | |||||
| Apply binary characters filter | Specifies if invalid binary characters should be filtered out of the file as a pre-process before parsing the PDM XML file. This option is a workaround for a bug in the PowerDesigner tool which sometimes generates a file that does not conform with the XML specification (contains binary characters). Warning: Applying this filter may remove some Unicode national characters. |
BOOLEAN | True | ||||||
| Import UDPs | A User Defined Property (UDP) is usually defined with a property definition object that has a default value. The objects that the property applies to may have an explicit value for this property. They may instead have no value assigned at all in which case the default value of the property definition (implicit value) applies. Control how property definitions and values are imported: 'As metadata' Import the explicit value as the property value. Implicit values are not imported. The default value is kept on the property type only. 'As metadata, migrate default values' Import the explicit or implicit values as property value. 'In description, migrate default values' Append the property name and value, even if implicit, to the object's description property. This allows you to export the UDP values to another tool which does not support the notion of UDP. 'Both, migrate default values' Import the UDP value, even if implicit, both as metadata and in the object's description. |
ENUMERATED |
|
As metadata | |||||
| Append volumetric information to the description field | Import volumetric information (number of occurrences) and append it to the description field: 'True' Append volumetric information to the description field. 'False' Ignore volumetric information. |
BOOLEAN | False | ||||||
| Remove text formatting | PowerDesigner versions 7.0 to 7.5 store annotations as plain text, while versions 8 and later use RTF. To remove Rich Text Formatting (RTF) from annotations: 'False' The model was generated by PowerDesigner 7.0 or 7.5. 'True' The model was generated by PowerDesigner 8.0 or greater. |
BOOLEAN | True | ||||||
| Reverse role names | Swap relationship role names for each model: 'False' Do not swap role names. 'True' Swap role names. |
BOOLEAN | False |
Bridge Mapping
| Meta Integration Repository (MIR) Metamodel (based on the OMG CWM standard) |
"SAP PowerDesigner PDM 7.5 to 16.x" Metamodel SybasePowerDesignerPdm07 |
Mapping Comments |
| Association | Reference | |
| Aggregation | computed from migrated FK attributes. | |
| Comment | Comment | Reference Comment. |
| Description | Description | Reference Description. |
| Name | Name | Reference Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Reference Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Reference Stereotype. |
| AssociationRole | Reference | |
| ExtraConstraint | Update constraint, Delete constraint | |
| Multiplicity | Cardinality | Cardinality of the reference |
| Source | Set to true for the association role on the parent table's side | |
| AssociationRoleNameMap | Columns/Reference Join | Used when some Columns are renamed in a Reference Join. |
| Attribute | Column, Business Rule | |
| Comment | Comment | Column Comments. |
| Description | Description | Column Description. |
| ExtraConstraint | Business Rule | The business rules attached to this column |
| InitialValue | Default | |
| Name | Name | Column Name. |
| NativeId | Object ID | |
| Optional | Mandatory | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Column Physical Name. |
| Position | The attributes are ordered by position in the PDM file | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Column Stereotype. |
| BaseType | Domain, Attribute Data Type | See DerivedType |
| BusinessRule | BusinessRule | |
| Comment | Comment | |
| Description | Description | |
| Name | Name | |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | |
| Value | ServerExpression | |
| CandidateKey | Key | |
| Comment | Comment | |
| Description | Description | |
| Name | Name | |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | |
| UniqueKey | set to True | |
| Class | Table | |
| Comment | Comment | Mapped only if comment is empty. |
| CppClassType | Set to ENTITY | |
| CppPersistent | Set to True | |
| Description | Description | Table Description. |
| DimensionalRole | Dimensional Type | |
| Name | Name | Table Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Table Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Table Stereotype. |
| ClassDiagram | Physical Diagram, MultiDimensional Diagram | |
| Comment | Comment | Diagram Comment. |
| Description | Description | Diagram Description. |
| Name | Name | Diagram Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Diagram Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Diagram Stereotype. |
| DatabaseSchema | User | Tables and objects belonging to a User are linked to a schema |
| Comment | Comment | |
| Description | Description | |
| Name | Name | |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | |
| DerivedType | Domain, Attribute Data Type | |
| Comment | Comment | Domain Comments |
| DataType | Data type | See datatype conversion array |
| Description | Description | |
| InitialValue | Default | |
| Length | Length | |
| LowerBound | Minimum | |
| Name | Name | Domain Name. Computed from the datatype if no domain is defined |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Domain Physical Name. Computed from the datatype if no domain is defined |
| Scale | Precision | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | |
| UpperBound | Maximum | |
| UserDefined | Set to true for the Model Domains | |
| DesignPackage | Package | A main package "Logical View" is also created to contain all the objects that are defined at the model level |
| Comment | Comment | Package Comments. |
| Description | Description | Package Description. |
| Name | Name | Package Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Package Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Package Stereotype. |
| ForeignKey | Join | |
| Name | Integrity Constraint Name | |
| Identity | Identity | Identity column |
| Index | Index | Indexes are also generated for foreign keys |
| Clustered | Cluster | This option available for some databases. |
| Comment | Comment | Index comments. |
| Description | Description | Index description. |
| Name | Name | Index Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Index Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Index Stereotype. |
| IndexMember | Index Column | |
| Position | The index members are ordered by position in the PDM file | |
| SortOrder | Sort | |
| Note | Notes:Description and Notes:Annotation | When using MIMB, these RichTextFormat descriptions are converted into plain text |
| Projection | Symbol | Graphical Information |
| BackgroundColor | fill color | |
| Bold | bold | |
| FontColor | font color | |
| FontName | font | |
| FontSize | font size | |
| Height | heigth | |
| Italic | italic | |
| LineColor | line color | |
| Width | width | |
| X | x | |
| Y | y | |
| PropertyElementTypeScope | MetaClass | Extended Model Definitions |
| Scope | based on MetaClass type | |
| PropertyType | Extended Attribute | Extended Model Definitions |
| DataType | Data type | |
| Description | Comment | |
| Group | Extended Model Definition | |
| InitialValue | Default value | |
| Name | Name | |
| PropertyValue | Extended Attribute | Extended Model Definitions |
| Value | Value | |
| RelationshipProjection | Symbol | |
| BackgroundColor | fill color | |
| Bold | bold | |
| FontColor | font color | |
| FontName | font | |
| FontSize | font size | |
| Italic | italic | |
| LineColor | line color | |
| SQLViewAssociation | View Reference | |
| Comment | Comment | |
| Description | Description | |
| Name | Name | |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | |
| SQLViewAttribute | View Column | |
| Comment | Comment | |
| Description | Description | |
| Expression | SQL Query | The expression is put in the SQL field of the SQLViewEntity. |
| Name | Name | |
| NativeId | Object id | |
| PhysicalName | Code | |
| Position | The Columns are ordered by position in the PDM file | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | |
| SQLViewEntity | View | |
| Comment | Comment | View Comments. |
| Description | Description | View Description. |
| Name | Name | View Name. |
| NativeId | Object id | |
| PhysicalName | Code | View Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | View Stereotype. |
| WhereClause | SQL Query | |
| Sequence | Sequence | |
| Comment | Comment | Sequence Comments. |
| DataType | Datatype | |
| Description | Description | Sequence Description. |
| Name | Name | Sequence Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Sequence Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Sequence Stereotype. |
| Shape | Shape Symbol | Graphical Information |
| BackgroundColor | fill color | |
| Bold | bold | |
| FontColor | font color | |
| FontName | font | |
| FontSize | font size | |
| Height | height | |
| Italic | italic | |
| LineColor | line color | |
| ShapeType | symbol type | |
| Strike | strikeout | |
| Underline | underline | |
| Width | width | |
| X | x | |
| Y | y | |
| Z | Z order of the shape as reported by position in the PDM file | |
| StoreModel | Model | |
| Comment | Comment | Model Comments. |
| Description | Description | Model Description. |
| Name | Name | Model Name. |
| NativeId | ObjectID | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Model Physical Name. |
| StoredProcedure | Stored Procedure | |
| Comment | Comment | The Stored Procedure Comments. |
| CppAbstract | Not used | |
| CppConcurrency | Not used | |
| CppFriend | Not used | |
| CppScope | Not used | |
| CppStatic | Not used | |
| CppVirtual | Not used | |
| Description | Description | The Stored Procedure Description. |
| Name | Name | The Stored Procedure Name. |
| NativeId | Object id | |
| PhysicalName | Code | The Stored Procedure Physical Name. |
| Postcondition | Not used | |
| Precondition | Not used | |
| Semantics | Definition | |
| Synonym | Synonym | |
| Comment | Comment | Synonym Procedure Comments. |
| Description | Description | Synonym Description. |
| Name | Name | Synonym Name. |
| NativeId | Object id | |
| PhysicalName | Code | Synonym Physical Name. |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | Synonym Stereotype. |
| Trigger | Trigger | |
| Comment | Comment | The Trigger Comments. |
| CppAbstract | Not used | |
| CppConcurrency | Not used | |
| CppFriend | Not used | |
| CppScope | Not used | |
| CppStatic | Not used | |
| CppVirtual | Not used | |
| Description | Description | The Trigger Description. |
| Name | Name | The Trigger Name. |
| NativeId | Object id | |
| PhysicalName | Code | The Trigger Physical Name. |
| Position | The triggers are ordered by position in the PDM file | |
| Semantics | Trigger Code | |
| Stereotype | Stereotype | The Trigger Stereotype. |
| TriggerType | Trigger Type | |
| TypeValue | List of Values | All the values are listed in one tag |
| Name | Label | |
| Position | TypeValues are ordered by position in the PDM file | |
| Value | Value |
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