Creating reports in PowerDesigner

Report output flexibility

The data model as collective memory

A data model is much more than a vehicle for designing new systems. A well documented data model can communicate design intent as well as design costruction to both technical staff and business users.

As people go and come, as the technical team changes through time, a data model is often the most effective way to keep alive an organization's collective memory of a system's structure and purpose. The data model provides visual, text, and data dictionary descriptions of data structures and their underlying business rules.

Almost every system will, sooner or later, undergo some revision or enhancement. When that time comes, reference to a well built model, with all its descriptive properties, will reduce the cost and exposure to errors in new work.

Meta-model driven system tests

PowerDesigner's open relational data dictionary (MetaWorks) can be accessed and manipulated through standard SQL. This offers many opportunities for automating system life-cycle processes such as running quality analysis scripts and linking the S-D model with autotesting tools.