Creating External Data Objects

Go Up to External Data Objects

You can create and define generic External Data Objects to represent a high-level description of what data is accessed or data for which a model or database structure is not known (for example external data feeds from a company like JD Edwards). Once you create an external data object, you can create individual elements as well.

To create an external data object:

1 In the Model View, right-click the External Data Objects node in the Reference Objects node and select New. The pull-right menu lists all the available types that can be created.

2 Select the type from the list and the selected type is placed in the External Data Object node. The label, which you can edit, is the type name. You can then drag this object onto the diagram.

OR

Select the external data object icon from the External Data Objects Palette and click once in the Diagram View to place it. The object placed in the Diagram View automatically appears in the Model View tree.

OR

Select the external data object icon from the External Data Objects Toolbar and click once in the Diagram View to place it. The object placed in the Diagram View automatically appears in the Model View tree.

You can define all elements of the newly created external data object in the Property View.

Creating Individual Elements

1 In the Model View, right-click the External Data Object you have created. For example, you can right-click on an Entity EDO and create an Attribute.

2 From the pull-right menu select the individual element (attributes/columns, or data) you want to create.

Note: You can also create an element from an External Data Object node by pressing insert, or by pressing insert on an existing individual element.

3 The individual element appears in the Model View in an editable mode. Rename the element.

4 Double-click on the element to open the Property View where you can set or change the element’s properties.