Even though a Conceptual Data Model and a Physical Data Model host different type of objects, the functionality and behaviour of the Diagram Editor itself stays the same. This topic holds the basic information to get your familiar with the feel of the Diagram Editor.
Make sure to read the Diagram Editor Overview first.
This topic holds the following subjects:
| 2. | Creating a link (relationship, foreign key or documentation link) |
| 3. | Creating and deleting non-diagram objects (non visual objects, like a Domain) |
After starting a new diagram, you can create new diagram objects. You do this by using the Diagram Toolbox: click the Entity or Table button, this will start the "insert mode" for the selected object type and change the cursor in order to notify you of this change. You can cancel this by clicking the Select or Pan buttons in the toolbar. If "insert mode" is active, click inside the Editor Workspace to create a new object of the selected type.
A New Entity, just inserted into the Workspace
After inserting the newly created item, the Diagram Toolbox will switch back to the Select tool unless you have used the CTRL key when starting the "insert mode", then it will allow you to continue inserting new items.
For each new item in the diagram, an entry will be added to the correct treenode in the Diagram Explorer.
After inserting an item, you can edit it.
See also:
| • | Creating an Entity (CDM) |
| • | Creating a Domain (CDM) |
| • | Creating a Table (PDM) |
| • | Creating a View (PDM) |
| • | Creating a Domain (PDM) |
In order to create a link (any "link" available), you first need to have other objects in your diagram. After that, click one of the link buttons and you will see the cursor change in the Editor Workspace. When you hover over an item that supports links, the cursor will change into a hand cursor, press the mouse button and keep it pressed. If you move away from the item, you can move to another item and release the mouse button. This will establish a link between the two items.
By default, there will be a direct link. You can also create a link with one or more static points in between the two linked objects. After selecting the first object, click outside that object in an empty area of the Workspace, this will create a point, next continue drawing the link or selecting the second object.
Halfway through creating a "documentation link"
If you want to remove these secondary points from a link, press CTRL and click a point and it will be removed. Adding new points is done in the same way, press CTRL and click on a line, the Diagram Editor will add a point that can be moved.
Use the link context menu and select Straighten Line to remove all secondary points.
See also:
| • | Creating a Relationship (CDM) |
Creating and deleting non-diagram objects
Non diagram objects, like a Domain cannot be created using the Toolbox, but have to be created using the Diagram Explorer. Use the context menu on the Domains treenode and select New Domain from the popup menu.
By using the context menu on a certain non-diagram object, you can select Delete Domain from the popup menu and delete the item from the Diagram Explorer.
You can double click an item in the Editor Workspace or the Diagram Explorer to show the Object Properties dialog. You can also use the context menu and select Properties from the menu to show this dialog.
Depending on the object type, an object has different properties.
Many diagram objects also support a Formatting Properties dialog that allows you to select colors and font types, use the context menu and select Format to edit these properties.
You can select any diagram object and simply press the Delete button in the toolbar or your keyboard.
In a sub-diagram, deleting will simply remove the visual representation of the object.
In the main diagram, you can choose to remove the visual representation of the object from the Editor Workspace or to delete the object completely, that is: it's visual representation in the main and sub-diagrams as well as from the Diagram Explorer.
The Delete Objects confirmation dialog
When you delete an item in the Diagram Explorer by using the context menu, this will always delete the object completely.
Note: When selecting a region, this will automatically select all objects inside it, watch out with deleting a region.
Selecting and moving diagram objects
By using the arrow button (Select button) in the Diagram Toolbox, you can select items in the diagram. Either click an item directly or by clicking op an empty spot in the Editor Workspace, hold the mouse button down and drag a rectangle.
You can also select multiple items if you hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard and select individual items.
To select all items inside a region, simply select the region header or border.
You can move selected items by pressing the mouse button on a selected item, keeping it pressed and moving the mouse around. When you release the mouse button, the items will be transferred to their new position.
If you select a point on a line, you can move that point only. If you move both the source and destination object of a line, the line will move completely, if you move only one of those items, the line will move up to the next point.