SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture Streamline Communication and Collaboration to Increase Responsiveness to Change

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1 SAP Technology SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture Streamline Communication and Collaboration to Increase Responsiveness to Change

2 Table of Contents 3 Powerful Support for Effective Database Design and Data Architecture Implementation Powerful Features Modeling Techniques Powerful Benefits Find Out More

3 EMPOWER DATABASE DESIGNERS, ADMINISTRATORS, ARCHITECTS, AND BUSINESS USERS Powerful Support for Effective Database Design and Data Architecture Implementation SAP PowerDesigner software, an industryleading data modeling tool, provides enterprise scalability and support for over 80 relational database management systems (RDBMSs). It empowers database designers and administrators with robust support for all leading databases. When combined with an enterprise repository, the software enables cross-functional teams to easily visualize, analyze, and manipulate metadata for effective database design and data architecture implementation. POWERFUL FEATURES SAP PowerDesigner combines powerful features, such as impact analysis, traceability of requirements, and information mapping, with formal database design techniques. Ease of use A state-of-the art interface aligns with Microsoft Windows, version 7, to streamline effective communication throughout the enterprise. Requirements management Detailed requirements analysis is the link to all models for traceability. Importing to and synchronizing with Microsoft Word places business users directly into the analysis and design lifecycle. Document generation Wizard-driven lists, multimodel documents, and fully hyperlinked Web reporting provide any nonmodeling user with secure, controlled access to metadata. This fosters greater communication among all members of the project team. Impact analysis Models are fully integrated using our unique link and sync technology. This integration ties all model types together for complete enterprise-wide or projectwide impact analysis. Impact analysis streamlines communication and collaboration to dramatically increase the entire organization s responsiveness to change. Information mapping A drag-and-drop mapping editor allows for easy, fast, and accurate dependency documentation. Users simply drag to or from any supported source to a target model and create comprehensive mapping definitions used in data dictionary definitions, impact analysis, and documentation for warehouse extract, transform, and load (ETL) activities. Open support All major RDBMS platforms are supported in one tool. With over 80 RDBMS definitions supported, SAP PowerDesigner offers comprehensive and complete support. Customizable A highly customizable interface makes common tasks easier while empowering advanced users with rapid access to all features. It optimizes productivity by controlling everything from the end-user interface to the way SAP PowerDesigner manages modeling tasks and generates code. Metadata sharing The portal of SAP PowerDesigner provides all users with thin-client access to all authorized (by role-based security) metadata, including graphics and full element definitions and descriptions. With the Portal Composer license, users have the ability to make edits to certain meta data directly through the Web interface. This allows for greater participation among a broader community, fostering a more collaborative atmosphere. SAP PowerDesigner improves collaboration and communication between all stakeholders in the enterprise, facilitating quicker response to change for better business agility. SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture 3

4 Enterprise repository This fully integrated, design-time repository (see Figure 1) is hosted by popular relational databases. As a highly scalable, centralized, metadata management facility, the enterprise repository offers functionality such as role-based security on models and submodels, version control, impact analysis, configuration management, version compare, and comprehensive search. Repository notifications help ensure that all users have the latest metadata available, enabling them to take appropriate actions based on changes committed to the server. Enterprise glossary To fully align data models with the language of the business, the enterprise glossary (see Figure 2) provides definitions of business terms and categories, complete with aliases, supporting management of naming conventions throughout all models. Centrally managed by the enterprise repository, the enterprise glossary helps ensure that business terms and definitions are established and consistently managed throughout all models. This enforces consistent naming standards and business language alignment and supports data stewardship and governance efforts. In addition, the glossary streamlines the communication process by enabling everyone to speak the same language. Figure 1: Role of Enterprise Repository in SAP PowerDesigner Figure 2: Enterprise Glossary in SAP PowerDesigner Requirements model Glossary REPOSITORY Logical data model XML model Physical data model Document type definition schema Data definition language Open database connectivity 4 SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture

5 MODELING TECHNIQUES SAP PowerDesigner supports several types of modeling. All models are fully integrated, enabling you to integrate metadata across all model types. Logical Data Modeling Logical data models based on information engineering, Barker, or IDEF1X (integration definition for information modeling) notation provide database-independent relational structures for use by developers and designers for optimization and understanding (see Figure 3). Logical data models can be developed independently or generated from physical data models. Logical data models can generate to one or more physical data models. Figure 3: Example of a Logical Data Model Data Warehouse Modeling Multidimensional diagrams document the online analytical processing environment by representing cubes, facts, dimensions and dimensional hierarchies, and queries, inde pendent of the physical table structures used to store the warehouse or data mart information. The data mapping editor (see Figure 4) links source definition, warehouse, data mart, and reporting environments together. This provides for clear impact analysis and design-time change management of the business intelligence environment. Figure 4: Example of a Data Mapping Editor Used in Data Warehouse Modeling # indicates that column is a key in the model SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture 5

6 Physical Data Modeling Physical data models (see Figure 5), based on information engi neering or IDEF1X notation, document, generate, and reverse-engineer structures for over 80 RDBMSs (including the latest from Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Teradata, and MySQL). Support includes all database artifacts and advanced techniques such as XML and Web services in the data base, security modeling, and specialized handling of views. Figure 5: Example of a Physical Data Model 6 SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture

7 XML Modeling XML-specific modeling techniques document, generate, and reverse-engineer XML schema and XML document type definition (DTD) structures. The XML models (see Figure 6) are mapped to data models to document XML/relational mappings as well as for definitions of XML in the database for RDBMS engines that support this concept. POWERFUL BENEFITS Combining industry-leading modeling and metadata management techniques, SAP PowerDesigner is uniquely equipped to support all architectural environments. It improves collaboration and communication between all stakeholders in the enterprise, facilitating quicker response to change for better business agility. With SAP PowerDesigner, you can: Improve individual productivity. The model-driven approach features a series of customizable data definition language (DDL) generators as well as reverse-engineering and synchronization functionality, all of which significantly reduce database creation, maintenance, and reengineering efforts. Figure 6: Example of an XML Model Rely on a market leader. Our market-proven commitment to innovations in data, unified modeling language, and business modeling makes SAP PowerDesigner a safe choice for your modeling requirements and a standard in many organizations worldwide. Take advantage of a graphical interface. A highly customizable interface makes common tasks easier while empowering advanced users with rapid access to all features. Improve team productivity. Modelers work in an ideal teamsharing environment with a complete and secure metadata repository for all modeling types. Document existing systems. Your employees can experience greater collaboration through flexible, wizard-driven, listbased or multimodel RTF files and fully hyperlinked HTML document based reporting. Experience open support. The software benefits heterogeneous system understanding by supporting all leading development, XML, database, and process-language standards within a single tool and framework. Customize to meet your needs. You can program SAP PowerDesigner to enforce corporate or regulatory standards and practices through built-in VBScript, a fully scriptable component object model interface, customizable metamodel, and fully documented application programming interface. FIND OUT MORE To learn more about SAP PowerDesigner, contact your local SAP representative or visit us at /technology/database/model-driven-architecture/index.epx. SAP PowerDesigner for Data Modeling and Data Architecture 7

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