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Creating Models › Creating a Logical Model › Attributes › Entity Attribute Editor

Entity Attribute Editor

Use the following options and tabs in the Entity Attribute Editor to view and update the properties for each attribute in each entity in the logical model. You can also access other editors to work with constraints, domains, key groups, and user-defined properties.

Entity

Displays the entity to which the current attribute belongs. You can select another entity using the drop-down list.

property editor PREVIOUS icon Previous

Positions the editor on the previous attribute in the Navigation Grid.

property editor NEXT icon Next

Positions the editor on the next attribute in the Navigation Grid.

Column Editor Toolbar-Sort Button-Column Order Sort Sort

Sorts the attributes by alphabetic, reverse alphabetic, or attribute order. You select the method you want using the drop-down menu that opens after you click the Sort button. Visual cues are provided for how the attribute list is currently sorted:

property editor SORT icon

Specifies that the attribute list is sorted in alphabetic order.

Property editor Reverse Alpha Sort Button

Specifies that the attribute list is sorted in reverse alphabetic order.

Attribute Editor Toolbar_Attribute Order Sort Button

Specifies that the attribute list is sorted in attribute order.

New icon in property editors to create a new object New

Creates a new attribute that becomes the current object in the editor.

property editor DELETE button Delete

Deletes the selected attribute.

Up Arrow_Up to Top of List

Moves the selected attribute to the top of the list.

Up Arrow_Up One Position in List

Moves the selected attribute up one position in the list.

Down Arrow_Down One Position in List

Moves the selected attribute down one position in the list.

Down Arrow_Down to Bottom of List

Moves the selected attribute to the bottom of the list.

Attribute Editor General Tab_Domain Option_Restore Inheritance from Definition Button

Resets all properties to restore inheritance for the selected attribute.

property editor HELP button Help

Opens online help for the editor.

enter filter text box in a property editor to filter object list

Lets you filter a very large list of attributes in the Navigation Grid to quickly locate the attribute for which you need to view or define properties.

Name

Displays the attribute name. You can change the attribute name in this field using in-place editing.

Parent Domain

Displays the current parent domain. You can change the domain using the drop-down control.

Logical Data Type

Specifies the logical data type for the attribute. You can change the data type using the drop-down. The drop-down list contains the data types related to the current domain.

Primary Key

Lets you specify that the selected attribute is the primary key (PK) attribute. Select the check box to set this property.

Logical Only

Specifies to include the selected attribute in the logical model only. You can clear this check box to have a corresponding column for this attribute in the physical model. If you are working with a logical-only model and select this check box, when you derive a new physical-only model, the selected attributes will not appear in the new model.

General Tab

Consolidates most of the information about an attribute into a single page. Horizontal and vertical splitters enable you to rearrange the area so you have more room in which to edit. This ability, combined with a resizable editor, lets you allocate as much or as little space as you want to the Navigation Grid, the Domain Parent list, or the other attribute properties. The Domain list contains a toolbar that lets you sort the domains. If you only need to edit attribute name, domain parent, or logical data type you can do so in the Navigation Grid. However, if you need to inherit, override, or harden an attribute's name, or inherit or override an attribute's logical data type or null option, you can perform this within the General tab. Visual cues are provided for the Name, Logical Data Type, and Null Option options so that you can see the inheritance setting for each:

Inherit Button for Restoring Property Inheritance Inherit

Specifies to inherit the attribute name, logical data type, or null option setting.

Override Property Inheritance Override

Specifies to override inheritance for the attribute name, logical data type, or null option setting.

Harden Button for Hardening a Property or Name Harden

Specifies to harden the attribute name.

Constraint Tab

Lets you specify a validation rule and default value for an attribute. You can select a validation rule and default value using the drop-down controls, or select the check box to use an inherited constraint or default value.

Link Tab

Lets you work with the Link Wizard so you can link selected attributes and select the properties to synchronize between the linked objects.

Key Groups Tab

Lets you manage key group membership for the selected attribute.

Style Tab

Lets you work with style sheets which are used to format the font used in the display of the attribute.

Where Used Tab

Lets you view where the selected attribute is used in the model.

Definition Tab

Lets you enter text used as an attribute definition. Use the toolbar to cut, copy, or paste text, open the Text Editor, or check spelling. The definition serves as internal documentation for your model.

UDP Tab

Lets you enter user-defined property values for the attribute.

Notes Tab

Lets you view history information and view or edit user notes.