Working with Design Layers › Design Layers › New Design Layers › The Model Source

The Model Source

A model source is the parent model that is linked to another model for the purpose of synchronizing changes. Hidden identifiers are automatically assigned to objects in the model source and the linked model. Changes made to both models are tracked using the object identifier. Then, you can synchronize the changes even if the object's name changes.

Sometimes building a design layer hierarchy requires linking two models that already exist rather than deriving a new model from an existing model. For example, you may have a generic model that you want to designate as the model source to other database-specific models. In this case, you can add the generic model as the model source to the database specific model. When you add a model source, you designate the objects and properties that you want the model source to contribute to the target model.