Introduction

PowerDesigner DataArchitect is the industry-leading data modeling tool. It offers a model-driven approach to empower and align business and IT. PowerDesigner enables enterprises to more easily visualize, analyze and manipulate metadata for effective enterprise information architecture.

PowerDesigner uniquely combines several data modeling techniques (traditional conceptual, logical and physical modeling with unique business intelligence and data movement modeling) to bring business analysis together with formal database design solutions. PowerDesigner works with more than 60 relational database management systems.

Models are fully integrated using unique Link and Synch technology. Models integrate across all model types for complete enterprise-wide or project-wide impact analysis. Impact analysis streamlines communication and collaboration to dramatically increase the entire organization’s responsiveness to change.

Modeling techniques

PowerDesigner supports the following Modeling techniques

Data Modeling

PowerDesigner supports Conceptual, Logical and Physical Data models, including Warehouse Modeling extensions, based on Information Engineering or IDEF 1/x notation.
More about data modeling

Application Modeling

PowerDesigner supports all UML diagrams and offers advanced object/relational mapping for persistence implementation management. PowerDesigner also supports XML-specific modeling techniques linked to UML and Data models.
More about Information Architecture

Business Process Modeling

PowerDesigner supports intuitive, non-technical business process description and definition diagrams as well as process execution language modeling for BPEL4WS and ebXML.
More about Information Architecture

Modeling for Enterprise Architecture

PowerDesigner supports Enterprise Architecture from business goals through implementation using unique Link and Sync technology. This allows users to remove silos, increase alignment and improve business agility to respond to changes in economics, technology, competition and regulations.
More about Enterprise Architecture

PowerDesigner models are fully integrated

Using PowerDesigner's Link and Synch technologies. PowerDesigner Models integrate meta-data across all model types.

PowerDesigner offers specific modeling techniques for specific individuals

Data modelers, data analysts, Architects and developers can take advantage of technology-centric metadata management capabilities while IT managers and non-technical folks can benefit from business-centric techniques: all integrated into one common, easy to use, framework.

Enterprise Repository

PowerDesigner's Enterprise Repository is a fully integrated design-time repository, hosted by your choice of relational database. PowerDesigner's highly scale-able; remote-user friendly Enterprise Repository offers capabilities like: Role-based security on models and sub-models, version control and configuration management, merge, delta reports between models and versions, and comprehensive full repository search capabilities.

Open support for all major development platforms

Supporting 60+ RDBMS, leading application development platforms like Java J2EE, Microsoft .NET, Web Services and PowerBuilder, and process execution languages like ebXML and BPEL4WS.

Customizable

PowerDesigner offers fully scriptable MDA support, advanced support for UML profiles, common task automation through scripting languages and fully customizable DDL or code generation through templates and scriptable code generators.

Data Modeling Highlights

PowerDesigner is the industry leading data modeling tool that offers a model-driven approach to empower and align business and IT. PowerDesigner enables enterprises to more easily visualize, analyze and manipulate metadata for effective enterprise information architecture.

Highlights

PowerDesigner uniquely combines several data modeling techniques (traditional conceptual, logical and physical modeling with unique business intelligence and data movement modeling) to bring business analysis together with formal database design solutions. PowerDesigner works with more than 60 relational database management systems (RDBMS).

Requirements Management

Detailed requirements analysis linked to all models for traceability. Import and synchronization with Microsoft® Word places the business users directly into the analysis and design lifecycle.

Document Generation

Wizard-driven list, multi-model RTF and fully hyperlinked HTML document reporting provides any non-modeling user direct, controlled access to metadata. This fosters greater communication among all members of the project team.

Impact Analysis

Models are fully integrated using unique Link and Synch technologies. Models integrate across all model types for complete enterprise-wide or project-wide impact analysis. Impact analysis streamlines communication and collaboration to dramatically increase the entire organization’s responsiveness to change.

Information Mapping

Drag-and-drop mapping editor allows for easy, fast and accurate dependency documentation. Simply drag to or from any supported source to target model pair and create comprehensive mapping definitions used in data dictionary definitions, impact analysis and warehouse ETL documentation.

Open Support

All major RDBMS platforms are supported together in one tool. With more than 60 RDBMS definitions supported, PowerDesigner leads with the most comprehensive and complete support.

Customizable

Optimize productivity by controlling everything from the user interface to the way PowerDesigner manages modeling tasks and generates code.

Integrated

Plug into Eclipse, Microsoft Visual Studio® and PowerBuilder for seamless integration to leading development environments and synchronize models and code automatically. Plug-in supports all modeling techniques and requirements management. Requirements integrate with Microsoft Team System.

Enterprise Repository

A fully integrated design-time repository, hosted by many choices of relational databases. As a highly scalable centralized metadata management facility, the Enterprise Repository offers capabilities like: Role-based security on models and sub-models; version control; configuration management; version compare; and comprehensive search capabilities. New repository notifications ensure all users have the latest metadata available and take appropriate actions based on changes committed to the server.

Metadata Sharing

PowerDesigner’s Repository Web Browser ensures all users have full thin client access to all authorized (by role-based security) metadata, including graphics and full element definitions and descriptions

Information Architecture

PowerDesigner provides complete modeling for information architecture and unequaled traceability from data source to warehouse or mart and one cohesive, integrated metadata repository.

PowerDesigner, the industry-leading modeling and metadata management tool, offers a model-driven approach to empower and align business and IT.

Your data governance, business intelligence, integration and consolidation efforts benefit from metadata management as PowerDesigner establishes a single version of accurate, key information assets. PowerDesigner's enterprise-wide impact analysis reduces time, risk and cost associated with changes throughout your information architecture.

PowerDesigner enables information architects to:

  • Establish a single version of key information assets
  • Implement data governance best practices by managing the flow of information between all phases of IT and Business
  • Capture, articulate manage and share all levels of metadata
  • Provide consistent information, when and where needed, to improve decision making
  • Enforce governance and accountability for key information assets in support of compliance
  • Enable information to be shared and exchanged, with appropriate safeguards
  • Support efficiency, collaboration and transparency needs
  • Leverage information assets to support business goals and strategies

Enterprise Architecture

Modeling plays a fundamental role in the enterprise architecture and PowerDesigner is the ideal solution. PowerDesigner federates all project stakeholders around a common communication base, help them share their knowledge and work together.

With its proprietary link-synchronization technology, PowerDesigner is capable of supporting the company's architecture from objectives definition to implementation. It gives users the tools to identify critical structures, strengthen IT and business collaboration and provide IT systems with the necessary agility to respond to business, technological and regulatory changes.

Fully integrated models

The enterprise architecture model can describe and represent visually the essence of architecture. This model can be combined with other representations (data, processes, requirements, etc.) thanks to the link-synchronization technology.

Change management

The impact analysis diagram provides a visual representation of the changes to enable fast and effective decisions.

Enterprise repository

Highly scalable and remote user friendly, the enterprise repository offers multiple features: centralized management models, role-based security, versioning, comparing, merging and searching between models.

Enterprise Documentation

By identifying connections and intersections between systems, applications, databases and other components, PowerDesigner offers technical and business experts a comprehensive vision, and allow them to work more closely and achieve common objectives.

What's New in 16.7?

Core Features [Web Client]
  • Export from Web privilege.
    • A new privilege has been added to the list of existing privileges for repository users. This new Export from Web privilege can be used to allow or restrict exporting content from the repository for individual users and groups. This privilege controls the Export Diagram to PowerPoint, Generate Report and Export to Repository Zip File features.
  • Limit the choice of model types offered in New Model dialog
    • You can create a model template in the Library/Resources/Model Templates folder to override a standard model template and define its permission in order to remove the corresponding model type from the New Model dialog Type list for some specific users and groups.
  • New models added
    • PowerDesigner Web can now create and edit conceptual data models, physical data models, NoSQL models and data movement models.
  • Customize link symbol labels
    • You can now customize the displayed labels (source, center and destination) for link symbols.
  • Generate Models using the CSN notation
    • You can now generate some model objects using CSN notation (Core Schema Notation) in order to import your objects in Web IDE.
  • OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials authentication
    • You can now use OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials authentication for your APIs.
Data Architecture [Desktop Client]
  • New or Enhanced DBMS Support
    • The following DBMS versions are added or updated:
      o Oracle 18
      o Oracle 19
      o Snowflake

What's New in 16.6?

  • PowerDesigner Desktop Client
    • Business Process Modeling
      • Enhanced Solution Manager 7.1 support, ease alignment with BPMN2
      • Data Support Enhancement
    • Data Modeling
      • SAP HANA Calculation Views
      • SAP HANA Core Data Services (CDS)
      • Others
        • Reworked tool box for relationship tools
        • Prefix-suffix in model generation
        • Enable Procedure with same name and different signature
    • General
      • Unplug name and code synchronization
      • Property Sheet Notes Tab becomes Definition
      • Manage Users repository privileges becomes Manage Users & Permissions
      • Improved Object Sorting in browser and menus
  • PowerDesigner Web
    • Enterprise Architecture Model - creation and editing
    • Requirements Model - creation and editing
    • Search and reuse
    • Impact Analysis
    • Customizable Diagram Reports
    • Translatable Diagrams
    • Simplified Diagram Creation
    • Repository Explorer Enhancements
      • Move models
      • Delete folders and models, delete versions
      • Rename folders and models
      • External documents support
    • Administration Enhancements
      • New list of locks, activities, and change lists
      • Test connection to database, license and LDAP servers
      • Enhanced user list