To create an entity, you must either:
Select the Entity tool
from the CDM palette.Click the Create button of the Repository - Entities dialog box.
To modify a conceptual entity, you must either:
Double-click an entity of the CDM.
Click the Modify button of the Repository - Entities dialog box.
This dialog box displays the general characteristics of the selected entity which include, among other items, the list of properties assigned to this entity.
Data entry
Name
Name of the entity.
This name must be a valid entity name (as defined by IBM), unique among the names of conceptual entities, logical entities, subtype entities, and relationships in the environment.
Length: 15 characters maximum.
Mandatory entry.
Description
Description clearly identifying the entity.
Length: 250 characters maximum.
If, in the environment's attributes the "Size 50 exceeded warning" option for AS/400 object description has been activated, then the text turns red when the description exceeds 50 characters.
Mandatory entry.
Size
Size of the entity: integer number with 9 positions maximum.
Optional entry.
Growth rate
Growth rate of the entity: real number on 7 positions maximum, including 2 decimal positions.
Optional entry.
Radio buttons
Visibility
The visibility of an entity can be either public or private. Only the owner of the entity, or a software engineer with modification authorities, can change the visibility.
A public entity cannot be changed into a private entity if it is attached to more than one application area.
In creation mode, the visibility is by default set to public.
Lists
Properties assigned to the entity
List of the properties assigned to the entity and attached to the current application area.
The properties are classified according to their sequence number with the following details for each: name, characteristic (a check mark indicates that the property is dummy), sequence number, key where applicable and description.
You can drag-and-drop properties to change their order in the list.
You can sort the list according to a column, in ascending or descending order, by clicking the corresponding column header (except for the Key column which supports only the ascending order).
The context-sensitive menu offers the same options as the buttons to the right of the list.
To open the dialog box of the selected property, double-click this property.
Multiple-selection list.
With correction environments, there may be a check mark in front of each property name.
A red check mark shows that the property is being held by the default correction.
A black check mark shows that the property is being held by a correction other than the default correction.
Buttons
Create
Opens a dialog box allowing to create a conceptual property.
The created conceptual properties are attached to the application area, assigned to the entity and added at the end of the list. The sequence numbers are calculated automatically based on the greatest existing number.
Modify
Opens a dialog box allowing to display or to modify the general characteristics of the selected conceptual property.
This button is active only if one or more conceptual properties are selected in the list.
Delete
This button deletes the properties selected in the list, provided that the authorities on these properties exist and that the property complies with the rules for deleting properties.
Confirmation is requested before deletion.
Otherwise, deletion is impossible or just results into a detachment from the current application area. A warning message appears to mention this.
This button is only active when at least one property is selected in the list.
Copy
Opens a dialog box allowing to copy the selected conceptual property.
The created conceptual properties are attached to the application area, assigned to the entity and added at the end of the list. The sequence numbers are calculated automatically based on the greatest existing number.
This button is only active when one ore more properties are selected in the list.
Assign (properties)
This button opens a dialog box displaying the list of properties assigned to the entity, as well as the list of available properties which can be assigned to the entity.
This button is not active in display mode.
De-assign
This button de-assigns the properties selected in the list, provided that those properties are not dummy properties and that they are not used in a dummy property.
If the property is a key, it loses its key quality. The de-assigned property is removed from the list of properties.
This button is only active when at least one property is selected in the list.
Sequence (properties)
This button opens a dialog box displaying the list of properties assigned to the entity, in order to resequence this list by modifying the sequence numbers of the listed properties.
This button is not active in display mode.
Attach
This button attaches the selected properties to all the application areas to which their subtype entity is attached.
This button is not active in display mode.
Analyze (properties)
For each of the selected properties, this button opens a dialog box displaying the list of logical properties which have the selected conceptual property as an origin.
This button is not active in display mode.
Hold
Opens a dialog box allowing to hold the selected properties by the default correction.
This option is available only in correction environments. It is active if one or several properties are selected in the list and if the default correction exists for the user.
Display / Assign (rules)
This button opens a dialog box displaying the list of management rules assigned to the entity, as well as the list of available management rules which can be assigned to the entity.
Sequence (rules)
This button opens a dialog box displaying the list of management rules assigned to the entity, in order to resequence this list by modifying the sequence numbers of the listed management rules.
This button is not active in display mode.
App. areas
This button opens a dialog box displaying the various application areas to which the entity is attached.
Analyze (entity)
This button opens a dialog box displaying the entity's relationships and subtypes.
Graphs
This button opens a dialog box displaying the CDM graphs to which the entity is placed.
Information
This button opens a dialog box displaying information on the current entity, such as the name of the software engineer-owner, the dates and times of creation and modification.
Comments
This button opens a dialog box for entering a comment text which will be associated with the current entity.
Enter/Create/Modify (validation)
The Enter button (in display mode) closes the dialog box.
The Create button (in creation mode) or Modify button (in modification mode) validates the dialog box.
The various fields of the dialog box are verified. If all are valid, the entity definition is updated in the database before the box is closed; otherwise, an error message is displayed.
Cancel
This button closes the dialog box without validating the modifications made.
However, the processing operations performed on properties are not canceled.
If an entity creation is canceled, the possible comment and the dummy properties are deleted, and the management rules and the non-dummy properties are de-assigned.
Keyboard shortcut: Esc.