30 Ways to Customize Sybase PowerDesigner – Data Modeling

Here is a beginning list of ways to customize Conceptual, Logical or Physical data model behavior within PowerDesigner.  Please comment on your thoughts, additional ideas or corrections.

1.      Alter datatype mapping when generating from CDM to LDM or PDM.

2.      Customize generated DDL to include standard SQL header / comment block.

3.      Customize generated triggers.

4.      Customize default stored procedure templates.

5.      Customize default function templates.

As a PowerDesigner consultant, I have many opportunities to make suggestions to optimize PowerDesigner usage to increase efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance overall consistency.   Many can be easily implemented by changing or enhancing the way PowerDesigner behaves out of the box. 

My minimum goal is to list 100 distinctive, practical ways for you to customize PowerDesigner Studio Enterprise.  70 are already done -at least 30 more should be easy!

Suggestions are grouped by product modules.  As this will be a dynamic list, a master list will be maintained in the resources section titled Ways to Customize PowerDesigner.

Please add comments about questions, corrections, clarifications, details, additional ways to customize, and which ideas were helpful.

• 30 ways to customize PowerDesigner’s Data Modeling functionality
• n ways to customize PowerDesigner’s Object Modeling functionality
• n ways to customize PowerDesigner’s Business Process Modeling functionality
• 25 ways to customize PowerDesigner’s non-module specific functionality
• n ways to customize PowerDesigner’s Inter-model and Repository functionality
• n new ways to customize PowerDesigner in version 15
• etc.

If you need help figuring out how customizing PowerDesigner could make your SDLC more efficient or to implement any of these ideas, then contact me here.

The PowerDesigner 15 beta just ended last week.  This means we are getting close to the release of PD 15. I still have good friends in the PowerDesigner marketing, sales, engineering and support organizations so I have an unfair advantage when it comes to finding out what is coming next in the PowerDesigner product.  Most of you, I realize, do not have these kinds of contacts.  Even with these contacts I have found that the best way to get a head-start on new PowerDesigner versions is to get on the PowerDesigner Beta mailing list and participate.  For years I helped manage the beta process for PowerDesigner, but for the last 4 years it has been one of my primary methods for discovering PowerDesigner futures. Here are some of my arguments for joining the beta:

• PowerDesigner has historically been extremely stable in beta releases - Few if any crashes.  I did not have any this beta cycle that I can blame on PD.
• PowerDesigner releases play well with prior versions of the product.  I am currently running on one laptop PD 11, 12.5 and 15 and they do not step on each other.  The only caveat to this is you need to maintain different versions of your models.  I create folders for the different versions.
• The process gives me an opportunity to provide feedback to Sybase.  Things not working, enhancement requests and usage aggravations.
• The beta program is usually accompanied by supporting information like webcasts, testing guidelines and documentation
• Newsgroup support specific to the beta release
• I can choose how much time to invest in the new version.  If the new version has something I am particularly interested in, then I spend more time.  If not I at least can get an overview of new features.

When I start to review what is new in PowerDesigner 15 I am overwhelmed by exactly how much has been added in this version. Here is a summarized list of just the major areas of the product that have been enhanced.  I can not guarantee that all of these will make the final released version.

I was very pleased with Techwave 2008. I had an unfair advantage since due to my TeamSybase status it did not cost me anything to attend. My objectives for the week were, in no particular order:

• Reconnect with PowerDesigner Product Management, Engineering and Support
• Education, see if I could learn any new tricks
• Network, get acquainted with potential customers and or Sybase people that might need my services for their customers
• Receptions