Conceptual Objects

Go Up to Elements

The commands on the shortcut menus for the Conceptual Modeling Objects are very similar. However additional commands appear on each of the objects. Shortcut menus are available for the following objects:

• Subject Area
• Business Entity
• Business Entity
• Business Attribute
• Interaction
• Relationship

Subject Area

Conceptual Modeling allows Business Users to create high-level designs of the core “concepts” and subject areas that drive the business, which can be passed onto data and process modelers to drive more detailed logical and physical design. A Subject Area can reference a collection of entities.

Shortcut Menu Item	Icon	Description
Show Name		This is a toggle command. If it is selected the element label shows.
Show As Expanded		Shows or hides the expand/contract control that appears in the right-hand corner of the object.
Show Expansion Control		You can hide or show the expander indicator located in the lower right-hand corner of the object. The expander is shown as the default setting.
Appearance...		Opens the Appearance tab in the Property View where you can edit the font and color options, horizontal and vertical alignment, Diagram display options, Line display options, and shape options of the object.
Connections		This command shows or hides the following connection objects: All, Relationships, Interactions, Line Shapes, Links, or Usages.
Grouping		Group: Groups two or more selected elements into a single entity that can be moved around a diagram in a block. Ungroup: Removes the selected grouping. This command is available only if the element selected is in a group.
Align Objects		When two or more objects are selected, the alignment commands are available on a pull-right menu.
Order		This is a pull-right menu displaying two commands that control stacking of elements in the Diagram View: Bring to Front and Send to Back.
Edit		This opens a pull-right menu allowing you to cut, copy, paste, delete, or select all elements in the diagram.
Create Mapping/Edit Mapping		You can map a Subject Area to one or more Conceptual Model diagrams or Business Entities.
Diagram Mapping		This command is available once you have mapped a diagram to a Subject Area. When it is selected a pull-right menu opens displaying the mapped diagram(s).
Links		If you are creating a new link, click Links>New and the Create Link wizard opens. If you are editing an existing link, click Links>Edit. If there are multiple links, the pull-right menu displays a list of the existing links. Click the name on the pull-right and the Edit Link wizard opens. If there is only one link the command is Links>Edit.   You can also select to show or hide the link in the Diagram View.
Usage (CRUD)		If you are creating a new usage, click Usage>New and the Usages wizard opens. If you want to edit or view an existing usage, click Usage (CRUD)>Edit or View. The Usage (CRUD) tab opens in the Property View for the selected element.   You can also select to show or hide the Usage in the Diagram View.
Create Diagram from Selected Elements...		This function gives you the ability to create a diagram from the Subject Area element that exists on the diagram.
Grid Editor...		The Grid Editor is an spreadsheet-like display format that is an alternative to the Model View tree view. This is valuable for large objects or business-related objects, such as business rules. The Grid Editor can be printed or exported as a report.
Impact Analysis		You have two commands available from the pull-right menu: You can generate an Impact Analysis Diagram which graphically displays all the associated relationships and elements. You can also show the Impact Analysis Report.
Find in Model View		Select this command to locate the selected element in the Model View tree.
Properties		Opens the Property View dialog for the selected element.

Business Entity

A Business Entity is a high-level “container” for businesses/organizations. They can stand alone or can be containers for other Business Entities or Business Attributes.

Shortcut Menu Item	Icon	Description
Show Name		This is a toggle command. If it is selected the element label shows.
Show As Expanded		Shows or hides the expand/contract control that appears in the right-hand corner of the object.
Show Expansion Control		You can hide or show the expander indicator located in the lower right-hand corner of the object. The expander is shown as the default setting.
Appearance...		Opens the Appearance tab in the Property View where you can edit the font and color options, horizontal and vertical alignment, Diagram display options, Line display options, and Business Attribute display options of the object.
Connections		This command shows or hides the following connection objects: All, Relationships, Interactions, Line Shapes, Links, or Usages.
Grouping		Group: Groups two or more selected elements into a single entity that can be moved around a diagram in a block. Ungroup: Removes the selected grouping. This command is available only if the element selected is in a group.
Align Objects		When two or more objects are selected, the alignment commands are available on a pull-right menu.
Order		This is a pull-right menu displaying two commands that control stacking of elements in the Diagram View: Bring to Front and Send to Back.
Edit		This opens a pull-right menu allowing you to cut, copy, paste, delete, or select all elements in the diagram.
Insert Attribute		Inserts a Business Attribute in the Business Entity.
Links		If you are creating a new link, click Links>New and the Create Link wizard opens. If you are editing an existing link, click Links>Edit. If there are multiple links, the pull-right menu displays a list of the existing links. Click the name on the pull-right and the Edit Link wizard opens. If there is only one link the command is Links>Edit.   You can also select to show or hide the link in the Diagram View.
Usage (CRUD)		If you are creating a new usage, click Usage>New and the Usages wizard opens. If you want to edit or view an existing usage, click Usage (CRUD)>Edit or View. The Usage (CRUD) tab opens in the Property View for the selected element.   You can also select to show or hide the Usage in the Diagram View.
Create Diagram from Selected Elements...		This function gives you the ability to create a diagram from the Business Entity element that exists on the diagram.
Grid Editor...		The Grid Editor is an spreadsheet-like display format that is an alternative to the Model View tree view. This is valuable for large objects or business-related objects, such as business rules. The Grid Editor can be printed or exported as a report.
Impact Analysis		You have two commands available from the pull-right menu: You can generate an Impact Analysis Diagram which graphically displays all the associated relationships and elements. You can also show the Impact Analysis Report.
Find in Model View		Select this command to locate the selected element in the Model View tree.
Properties		Opens the Property View dialog for the selected element.

Business Attribute

Business Attributes are the low-level details (i.e., properties), of a Business Entity. You can reorder the Business Attributes within a Business Entity.

Shortcut Menu Item	Icon	Description
Unique Identifier		This a toggle that turns the Unique Identifier setting (#) on or off for the selected attribute.
Data Type		The Data Types available are high level: binary, BLOB/Image, boolean, char, CLOB/Large Text, Decimal, Date, Integer, Time Stamp, Varchar, and XML. The data type selected appears in the Property View for the selected attribute.
Optionality		You can set the Optionality for an attribute. If you select Mandatory it becomes a “required” property and a plus sign (+) appears to the left of the attribute. If it is optional, a minus sign (-) appears to the left of the attribute. You can set a preference under the Display Options for Business Entities to always show the optionality indicator for Business Attributes.
Appearance...		Opens the Appearance tab in the Property View where you can edit the font and color options and horizontal alignment of the object.
Connections		This command shows or hides the following connection objects: All, Relationships, Interactions, Line Shapes, Links, or Usages.
Grouping		Group: Groups two or more selected elements into a single entity that can be moved around a diagram in a block. Ungroup: Removes the selected grouping. This command is available only if the element selected is in a group.
Edit		This opens a pull-right menu allowing you to cut, copy, paste, delete, or select all elements in the diagram.
Links		If you are creating a new link, click Links>New and the Create Link wizard opens. If you are editing an existing link, click Links>Edit. If there are multiple links, the pull-right menu displays a list of the existing links. Click the name on the pull-right and the Edit Link wizard opens. If there is only one link the command is Links>Edit.   You can also select to show or hide the link in the Diagram View.
Usage (CRUD)		If you are creating a new usage, click Usage>New and the Usages wizard opens. If you want to edit or view an existing usage, click Usage (CRUD)>Edit or View. The Usage (CRUD) tab opens in the Property View for the selected element.   You can also select to show or hide the Usage in the Diagram View.
Impact Analysis		You have two commands available from the pull-right menu: You can generate an Impact Analysis Diagram which graphically displays all the associated relationships and elements. You can also show the Impact Analysis Report.
Find in Model View		Select this command to locate the selected element in the Model View tree.
Properties		Opens the Property View dialog for the selected element.

Interaction

An interaction represents an action, process, or transaction between two objects. These interactions are often expressed as action verb phrases.

Shortcut Menu Item	Icon	Description
Show		You can show the name, verb phrase and inverse verb phrase for the Interaction.
Appearance...		Opens the Appearance tab in the Property View where you can edit the font and color options, Diagram display options, and Line display options of the object.
Connections		This command shows or hides the following connection objects: All, Relationships, Interactions, Line Shapes, Links, or Usages.
Edit		This opens a pull-right menu allowing you to delete, or select all elements in the diagram.
Layout		You can change the layout on individual connections. The commands e available on the pull-right menu are: Curved: Orthogonal bend points with “curved” corners are placed on the line. Elbowed: Orthogonal bend points are placed on the line. Straight: The line is always straight. However there can be bend points on the connection. Remove Bend Points: Removes all bends so the line traverses the shortest distance between two elements. Reset to Default Docking Position: The docking position of the line/element intersection is reset to its default setting.
Links		If you are creating a new link, click Links>New and the Create Link wizard opens. If you are editing an existing link, click Links>Edit. If there are multiple links, the pull-right menu displays a list of the existing links. Click the name on the pull-right and the Edit Link wizard opens. If there is only one link the command is Links>Edit.   You can also select to show or hide the link in the Diagram View.
Usage (CRUD)		If you are creating a new usage, click Usage>New and the Usages wizard opens. If you want to edit or view an existing usage, click Usage (CRUD)>Edit or View. The Usage (CRUD) tab opens in the Property View for the selected element.   You can also select to show or hide the Usage in the Diagram View.
Impact Analysis		You have two commands available from the pull-right menu: You can generate an Impact Analysis Diagram which graphically displays all the associated relationships and elements. You can also show the Impact Analysis Report.
Find in Model View		Select this command to locate the selected element in the Model View tree.
Properties		Opens the Property View dialog for the selected element.

Relationship

Relationships can only be defined between common object types. For example two business entities can have a relationship, but a business entity and a subject area cannot.

Shortcut Menu Item	Icon	Description
Show		You can show the name, verb phrase inverse verb phrase, and unique identifier for the Relationship.
Relationship Type		Sets the Relationship type. You can view and/or change this setting in the Property View. Your choices are: Generic Many-to-Many Many to One One to Many
Optionality		Sets the Source to Target Optionality. You can view and/or change this setting in the Property View. You choices are: Optional to Optional Optionality to Mandatory None Mandatory to Optional Mandatory to Mandatory
Appearance...		Opens the Appearance tab in the Property View where you can edit the font and color options, Diagram display options, and Line display options of the object.
Connections		This command shows or hides the following connection objects: All, Relationships, Interactions, Line Shapes, Links or Usage.
Edit		This opens a pull-right menu allowing you to delete, or select all elements in the diagram.
Layout		You can change the layout on individual connections. The commands e available on the pull-right menu are: Curved: orthogonal bend points with “curved” corners are placed on the line. Elbowed: orthogonal bend points are placed on the line. Straight: the line is always straight. However there can be bend points on the connection. Remove Bend Points: Removes all bends so the line traverses the shortest distance between two elements. Reset to Default Docking Position: The docking position of the line/element intersection is reset to its default setting.
Links		If you are creating a new link, click Links>New and the Create Link wizard opens. If you are editing an existing link, click Links>Edit. If there are multiple links, the pull-right menu displays a list of the existing links. Click the name on the pull-right and the Edit Link wizard opens. If there is only one link the command is Links>Edit.   You can also select to show or hide the link in the Diagram View.
Usage (CRUD)		If you are creating a new usage, click Usage>New and the Usages wizard opens. If you want to edit or view an existing usage, click Usage (CRUD)>Edit or View. The Usage (CRUD) tab opens in the Property View for the selected element.   You can also select to show or hide the Usage in the Diagram View.
Impact Analysis		You have two commands available from the pull-right menu: You can generate an Impact Analysis Diagram which graphically displays all the associated relationships and elements. You can also show the Impact Analysis Report.
Impact Analysis Report...		An Impact Analysis Report can be generated for any node on the Model View tree. It shows the interrelationships between objects. Impact Analysis reports can be printed or exported.
Find in Model View		Select this command to locate the selected element in the Model View tree.
Properties		Opens the Property View dialog for the selected element.