Getting Started with Innovator for Information Architects

Get to grips with the most important Innovator for Information Architects functions.

What do you want to do?

Task Help Topic
Implement technical requirements in an Entity Relationship model  Structure of an Entity Relationship Model
Maintain a database with an Entity Relationship model  Comparing ER Models and Databases
Reverse Engineering of an external database schema  Importing External Database Schematas
Create an entity relationship model from a database schema  Creating an Initial ER Model from a Database Schema
Describe and comment on model elements  Creating Specification Texts and Comments

Structure of an Entity Relationship Model

Implement technical requirements in an entity relationship model

How to proceed

  1. Activate the Start tab in the ribbon.

    This tab contains the New group.

  2. Activate the  New Diagram button from the New group.

    The gallery with templates for new diagrams appears.

  3. Select the Entity Relationship Diagram template from the gallery.

    An empty entity relationship diagram is created and opened in the document area. You can now use this diagram to create entities and their relationships.

Tip

You can create various types of diagrams in Innovator models in this way. The types of diagram templates available in the gallery primarily depend on the model template used and the user role selected in a model.

 PAGE START

How to proceed

  1. Activate the Design tab in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

    This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

  2. Drag the Entity icon from the gallery of the Create Diagram Content group to the diagram area with the left mouse button pressed.

  3. Let go of the mouse where you want to position the entity.

    The entity is created and is initially given a default name.

  4. Enter the name and confirm with the [Enter] key.

    The selected entity has a blue frame around it. There are various semitransparent icons on the right-hand side that are highlighted if you hover the mouse over them – this is called the carousel.

  5. Select the 1 : C (relationship) icon from the carousel and keep the left mouse button pressed.

  6. With the left mouse button pressed, drag the icon to a free point in the diagram.

    The position of the association that will be created is shown when you drag the icon by a blue rubber band line.

  7. Release the left mouse button on a free point in the diagram.

    A drop-down list with the partner elements permissible for this type of relationship appears. An entity is the only element shown in the list in this case.

  8. Left mouse click on this entry.

    The entity and the relationship for the entity first created are created; the entity is initially assigned a default name. You can immediately change this.

Tip

You can create various types of diagram elements in Innovator diagrams in this way. The types of elements available in the diagram editor's gallery primarily depend on the diagram type used, the model template used and the user role selected in a model.

 PAGE START

Context

You can use the table editor for editing an entity's attributes and keys.

You can edit fields with a white background. Fields with a light gray background are read-only fields. Fields with a dark gray background are not defined for the table row's element.

How to proceed

  1. Double-click on an entity.

    The table editor opens with three tabs: Entity Attribute, Unique Key and Foreign Key.

  2. Click in the row below which you want to create a new element or use drag-and-drop afterwards to drag it to the correct position.

  3. Click in the bottom row marked by the asterisk.

    A corresponding element is created in a new row below the selected row.

  4. Click in an editing field in the table.

    The field is active.

  5. Change the field's value by inputting text or by making a selection from the list of values provided.

    The target element's property has been modified.

  6. To edit a unique key, double-click on the row marker in front of a unique key.

    The table editor for the unique key opens.

  7. Click in the bottom row marked by the asterisk.

    The Create new using template dialog opens.

  8. Select one or more attributes of the entity as part of the key and click on OK.

    The selected attributes are part of the key.

 PAGE START

Comparing ER Models and Databases

Maintaining a Database with an Entity Relationship Model

Note

The standard ER-DB mapping here requires a corresponding mapping profile. The Information Architect for <database type> model templates each contain a Mapping ER - <database type> mapping profile and support the specified database type.

Prerequisites

The mapping of a conceptual model to a database schema is carried out using an engineering action. Your role needs to have the appropriate configuring privileges to be able to run an engineering action.

Context

You want to map a business ER diagram to a database schema in order to use this as the basis for a database.

You can initially select the elements (ER diagrams, entities) to be mapped or drag them from the model tree in the Mapping editor's Selection elements left-hand area.

You can use the Mapping>Map Model>Determine Source Elements command in the Mapping editor to specify the resulting source elements from the previous selection elements that would actually be mapped and add them to the selection.

How to proceed

  1. Activate the Extras tab in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

    This tab contains the Map Model group.

  2. Select Extras>Map Model>Mapping.

    The configured Mapping Operations are shown in a drop-down list.

  3. Select the Map DB schema to ER model mapping process.

    The Selection elements editor with the left-hand area for Target model and the right-hand area for the Mapping appears.

  4. Drag the ER diagram created at the top and drop it in the Selection elements area.

  5. Select Mapping>Map Model>Determine Source Elements.

    The engineering action starts and takes some time. A progress window appears. The Calculated Source Elements dialog appears once the calculation has been made.

  6. Click on Add to Selection.

    The calculated source elements are added to the Selection elements area.

  7. Select Mapping>Map Model>Preview.

    The engineering action starts and takes some time. A progress window appears. The existing modifications are highlighted in the right-hand area upon simulation.

  8. Activate the Mapping>Filter>Show All switch if you want to see more than just the modified elements.

    Elements that are not affected by the mapping are also shown.

  9. Click on  Close preview.

    The preview is closed.

  10. Select Mapping>Map Model>Execute.

    The engineering action starts and takes some time. A progress window appears. The mapped elements are shown in the Target model area.

 PAGE START

Context

The dialog uses DDL configurations for all commonly used relational database systems.

You want to export a database schema or database element in it (tables, views) from your Innovator database model into a database-specific DDL file so that you can use this in a respective database at a later stage or align the content.

How to proceed

  1. Select the database schema in the model that you want to export.

  2. Select Import/Export>Export>(Nicht definierte Variable:UIVar_Menu.DdlFile).

    The Export DDL File dialog appears.

  3. Select the appropriate configuration for the database from the DDL Configuration drop-down list.

    The default values or last settings of the user for the selected database type appear in the Options area.

  4. Enter the path and name of the output file in the Output File input field or select the file using the Select... button.

  5. To define the content and format of the DDL file, activate the corresponding check boxes.

  6. Confirm settings with OK.

    The selected DB schema is exported as a DDL file with these definitions.

    The generated DDL file and an XML log file are output to the specified directory.

    A dialog informs you about the result of the export.

    The dialog displays a link to the output file and information about the generation of the DDL file.

    You can import the created DDL file into an existing relational database.

 PAGE START

Prerequisites

You require

  1. A relational database with the respective login information or
  2. A DDL file

and

  • A model with at least one database schema that contains physical elements, i.e. tables and views.

Context

You can use the comparison to show the differences between physical elements of the relational database or the DDL file and the elements mapped in the database model. The differences are always shown on the left source side. You can use this information to decide which database elements you want to put in your model or which ones you want to update.

How to proceed

  1. If you want to compare a modeled database schema with the content of a relational database, establish a connection to the database and import its comparison information.

    Select Import/Export>Import>Relational Database.

    The Database Import Wizard appears.

    Click on  to create a database connection. Make all required specifications about the desired connection on the Connection and Advanced tabs.

    To test the configured data connection, click on Check Connection.

    If the test is successful, click on the Next button.

    The wizard jumps to the next step. A connection is made to the configured database selected in the database connection. The database objects from the schema of the relevant relational database are listed.

    To select the database objects that you want to import from the connected database, activate the relevant check boxes and click on Next.

    The wizard jumps to the next processing step, where you select the import variant. To compare the imported database schema with the modeled schema, click the Advanced import button.

    The wizard closes and you are connected to the database.

    The  DB Manager opens and the Database Connection ribbon tab is active. A list of the database objects from the schema of the relational database is displayed on the left-hand side.

  2. If you wish to compare a modeled database schema with the content of a DDL file, perform a DDL import.

    Select Import/Export>Import>DDL File.

    The DDL Import Wizard appears. To select a DDL file, click on . The Open dialog appears. Select the DDL file and confirm with Open. The DDL file's path is shown.

    Select a database schema for the comparison and click on Next.

    The wizard jumps to the next step. All available database objects in the DDL file are displayed in the wizard.

    To select the database objects that you want to compare from the DDL file, activate the relevant check boxes and click on Next.

    To open the  DB Manager editor for the comparison, click on Advanced Import.

    The wizard closes.

    The  DB Manager opens and the Database Connection ribbon tab is active. A list of the database objects from the DDL file is displayed on the left-hand side.

  3. If the target package is not yet preallocated or if you wish to select another schema as target, select this from the drop-down list at the top right in the editor.

    All database elements found in the schema are shown in the list on the right-hand side.

  4. To select a database element you want to show the differences for, activate the relevant check box.

  5. To show the differences, select the toggle command Database Connection>Source>Compare with Model.

    All differences between the selected elements from the DDL file and/or the relational database and the existing database schema in the model determined and visualized in the editor. The differences are shown in the left-hand list of imported elements and in the list of subelements in the bottom area of the editor in a different color and with a tool tip. The elements that already exist in the target schema are displayed in Black, non-existent elements are displayed in Green, elements with different properties and subelements are displayed in Blue, and deleted subelements are displayed in Red.

 PAGE START

Importing External Database Schematas

Reverse engineering of an external database schema by means of the following:

  1. Import the database schema from a connected database or
  2. Import DDL files

Prerequisites

You need a database schema as the import's target; you can create this as you would an ER diagram (see above).

Context

In order to be able to import a database schema from a database, a connection to the database must be set up.

How to proceed

  1. Select Import/Export>Import>Database.

    The Database Import Wizard appears.

  2. Click on  to create a database connection. Make all required specifications about the desired connection on the Connection and Advanced tabs.

  3. To test the configured data connection, click on Check Connection.

  4. If the test is successful, click on Next.

    The wizard jumps to the next step. A connection is made to the configured database selected in the database connection. The database objects from the schema of the relevant relational database are listed.

  5. To select the database objects that you want to import from the connected database, activate the relevant check boxes and click on Next.

    The wizard jumps to the next processing step, where you select the import variant.

  6. To import a database schema, click on the Standard Import button.

    The wizard jumps to the next step. The database elements of the previously selected database objects are offered for selection.

  7. Select the database elements that you want to import into your model. Then click on Next to select the target package and carry out the import.

  8. Select the target package into which you want to import the database objects and then click on Import.

    The wizard closes. The selected database objects are imported into the selected target package and displayed in the DB Manager editor.

 PAGE START

Prerequisites

You need a database schema as the import's target; you can create this as you would an ER diagram (see above).

Context

You can directly import a DDL file.

How to proceed

  1. In the model, select the database schema that you want to import.

  2. Select Import/Export>Import>(Nicht definierte Variable:UIVar_Menu.DdlFile).

    The DDL Import Wizard for selecting the file to be imported appears.

  3. To select a DDL file, click on .

    The Open dialog appears.

  4. Select the DDL file and confirm with Open.

    The DDL file's path is shown.

  5. In the model, select the target package into which you want to import the tables of the DDL file and click on Next.

    The wizard jumps to the next step. All database objects available for import in the DDL file are displayed in the wizard.

  6. To select the database objects that you want to import from the DDL file, activate the relevant check boxes and click on Next.

  7. To select the import variant, click on Standard Import.

    The wizard jumps to the next step.

  8. Select the database elements that you want to import into the target package.

  9. To import the selected database elements, click on Import.

    The selected database elements are imported into the target package and displayed in the DB Manager editor.

    You can see information and errors issued during the import in the Info tool window. Read these through to see what the import has created and problems that may have occurred throughout the import.

 PAGE START

Creating an Initial ER Model from a Database Schema

Creating an Entity Relationship Model from a Database Schema

Note

The standard ER-DB mapping here requires a corresponding mapping profile. The Information Architect for <database type> model templates each contain a Mapping ER - <database type> mapping profile and support the specified database type.

Prerequisites

The mapping of a database schema to a conceptual model is carried out using an engineering action. Your role needs to have the appropriate configuring privileges to be able to run an engineering action.

Context

You want to map a database schema to a business ER diagram in order to use this as the basis for a conceptual model.

You can initially define the elements to be mapped (DB diagrams, tables) by means of a selection or you can drag them from the model tree in the Selection elements area on the left-hand side of the Mapping editor.

You can use the Mapping>Map Model>Determine Source Elements command in the Mapping editor to specify the resulting source elements from the previous selection elements that would actually be mapped and add them to the selection.

How to proceed

  1. Activate the Extras tab in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

    This tab contains the Map Model group.

  2. Select Extras>Map Model>Mapping.

    The configured Mapping Operations are shown in a drop-down list.

  3. Select the mapping process Map Oracle DB schema to ER model.

    The Mapping editor appears, with the left-hand area for the Selection elements and the right-hand area for the Target model.

  4. Drag the DB schema imported above from the model tree and drop it into the Selection elements area.

  5. Select Mapping>Map Model>Determine Source Elements.

    The engineering action starts and takes some time. A progress window appears. The Calculated Source Elements dialog appears once the calculation has been made.

  6. Click on Add to Selection.

    The calculated source elements are added to the Selection elements area.

  7. Select Mapping>Map Model>Preview.

    The engineering action starts and takes some time. A progress window appears. The existing modifications are highlighted in the right-hand area upon simulation.

  8. Activate the Mapping>Filter>Show All switch if you want to see more than just the modified elements.

    Elements that are not affected by the mapping are also shown.

  9. Click on  Close preview.

    The preview is closed.

  10. Select Mapping>Map Model>Execute.

    The engineering action starts and takes some time. A progress window appears. The mapped elements are shown in the Target model area.

 PAGE START

Creating Specification Texts and Comments

Describe and comment on model elements

Context

Lots of model elements can have a textual specification to describe a certain aspect of a model element in more detail. Specification texts are primarily used for documenting the model and its model elements.

How to proceed

  1. (Optional) Select one or more model elements in the diagram that you want to edit their specification with the left mouse button.

    If you have not selected a diagram element, Innovator assumes that the diagram itself should be given a specification.

  2. Activate the Design tab in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

    This tab contains the Edit group, which contains the Specification (F3) icon. If this icon is inactive, then you have selected an element that textual specifications cannot be created for.

  3. Click on the Specification (F3) icon.

    A new window opens for each selected element in the right-hand half of the document area; it shows all available specification texts for this element.

  4. Enter the text in the respective text definition.

    The name of the text definition to be edited is shown in red if your changes have been made.

  5. Format the text using the Text tab or the context menu.

  6. Close the text with Text>Specification>Save (Ctrl+S).

    The name of the edited text definition is shown in black again if the save was successful.

  7. Close the window with the specification texts once you have finished editing.

 PAGE START

Context

You can add comments to diagrams to e.g. help other users better understand a diagram.

How to proceed

  1. (Optional) Select one or more diagram elements that you want to comment on with [Ctrl] and the left mouse button.

  2. Activate the Design tab in the ribbon if this is not the active tab.

    This tab contains the Create Diagram Content group.

  3. Click on the Comment icon.

    If you selected parts of the diagram in part 1, a comment is created for all selected diagram elements. It initially contains a default text, is positioned in the middle and linked with all selected diagram elements by a dotted line. The comment is placed left above this element if only one diagram element was selected.

  4. If you missed out step 1, move the mouse in the direction of the element you want to comment on.

    The comment icon is "attached" to your mouse pointer and follows the movement of the mouse.

  5. Click with the left mouse button on the diagram element you want to comment on.

    The comment is created for the diagram element you clicked on. It initially contains a default text, is positioned top-left above this element and is linked with this by a dotted line.

  6. Overwrite the default comment text directly with your own comment. Use the [Enter] key for hard returns.

  7. To finish the comment, click on [Ctrl]+[Enter] or [(Nicht definierte Variable:UIVar_Menu.KeyTab)].

Another way to proceed using the context menu:

  1. Select one or more diagram elements that you want to make a comment for and press the right mouse button to open the context menu for this selection.

  2. Click on  New Comment.

    A comment is created for all selected diagram elements. It initially contains a default text, is positioned in the middle and linked with all selected diagram elements by a dotted line. The comment is placed left above this element if only one diagram element was selected.

  3. Overwrite the default comment text directly with your own comment. Use the [Enter] key for hard returns.

  4. To finish the comment, click on [Ctrl]+[Enter] or [(Nicht definierte Variable:UIVar_Menu.KeyTab)].

 PAGE START