Previous Topic: Change the Null Option for a Non-Identifying RelationshipNext Topic: Assign a Rolename to an Attribute


Attribute Rolenames

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.

You can use the Relationships editor to assign the rolename to the foreign key attribute. To display the Relationships editor, switch to the logical model, right-click the relationship, and then click Relationship Properties. The rolename is displayed as the foreign key.

You can optionally display the basenames for the attributes in an entity. The basename is the attribute name that is migrated from the parent entity to the child entity. A period is inserted after the rolename and then appends the attribute's basename. If you want to display basenames, select the Rolename/Attribute Display option.

Note: If you migrate an alternate key (AK) and your DBMS does not support the referencing of an alternate key by a foreign key (FK), a foreign key constraint will not be generated.