Relationships in the Logical Model › Assign a Rolename to an Attribute

Assign a Rolename to an Attribute

When a primary key attribute or an alternate key attribute migrates from a parent entity to a child entity, it becomes a foreign key attribute in the child entity. Since a foreign key can have a different role than the role of the related primary key or alternate key, you can assign a rolename to a foreign key attribute. You assign a rolename to a foreign key to describe its role in a particular entity and to distinguish it from another attribute with the same name.

Use the options in the Rolename tab in the Relationships editor to define attribute rolenames for relationships in a logical model.

To assign a rolename to an attribute

1. Click Relationships on the Model menu.

   The Relationships editor opens.

2. Select the relationship from the Relationship drop-down list, then click the Rolename tab.

   The Rolename tab opens.

3. Select from the following options and click OK:

   Migrated Key

   Lets you select the primary key or the alternate key that migrates from the parent entity to the child entity.

   Migrated Attribute/Rolename

   Displays the primary key attribute or the alternate key attribute that is migrated from the parent entity to the child entity and the rolename associated with the attribute in the current relationship.

   Rolename

   Lets you enter a rolename for the attribute you selected from the Migrated Attribute/Rolename list.

   The rolename is assigned. When working in a Logical/Physical model, you have the option to apply the rolename to the physical model. When prompted, click Yes to apply the rolename to the physical side of the model. Click No to apply the rolename only on the logical side.

Note: The rolename is displayed as the migrated key. When you select the Rolename/Attribute entity display option, a period is inserted after the rolename and before the basename.