If you export a dependency Matrix in Excel, how do you import it again.

[former_member552607]

If you export a dependency Matrix in Excel, how do you import it again.

What are the excel import options for importing the dependency matrix, please?
I'm struggling with identifying the method of importing the extended links that appear on the excel export of the matrix.

many thanks

[GeorgeMcGeachie]

The Excel Import Wizard course I mentioned is available now - see www.powerdesigner.training.

[GeorgeMcGeachie · Accepted solution]

Use the standard "Excel Import" model extension to do this. Your spreadsheet needs to import the type of object that owns the collection.

For example, assume you've created a matrix of Attributes vs. Domains. Your spreadsheet needs to update Attributes; an Attribute can only reference one domain, so it's simple - the sheet needs three columns:

* Parent - the name of the entity that owns the attribute (qualified by package name if required - .e.g "Customer Subject Area.Customer Name")

* Name - the name of the Attribute

* Domain - the name of the property that links the attribute to a Domain

If the property can link to multiple objects, it works much the same way; each row in the spreadsheet wil create a link from one object to another. Alternatively, you can provide a list of objects to link to. For example, any object can have a list of associated Business Rules. To import such a list, you need to edit the object's list of rules. So, to add a list of business rules to an attribute, you need a sheet that contains:

* Parent & Name - see above

* Rules (e.g. Rule 1,Rule 2,Rule 3)

- if any of the Business Rule names contain a comma ("Weekly, Monthly Review") , you'll need to be careful, or the import will assume that there are two rules here - to import this link you'll need to use a different List Value Separator (see the options for the import).

The default import options will automatically create all the objects referenced, even if you've made a typo - again, check the options if you don't want this to happen (disable "Create associated objects if found", and you'll be told about objects that didn't already exist).

One final point - your Excel workbook can contain many sheets, but each sheet can only import one type of object.

[former_member624271 · Accepted solution]

Hi George,

The topic is very much relevant to what our team is trying to do. I am very new to PowerDesigner and our team is looking at doing what you have answered here. However, I am still clueless as regards the content and structure of the excel file that can be exported back to PD. Here is what we are looking at:

Context: We have a Dependency Matrix between entities (row) and Subject Area (column). We have already exported the matrix and already have the Excel file copy. We have already made the changes to the Excel file. When we import the file back to PD to be (or overwrite the current Dependency Matrix) we were lost with the selections to make (e.g., As Attributes? my row is only the entity names)?

I checked the PD documentation I did not get much clarity on what to choose.

We would be glad to hear your recommendations.

Regards,

Peter G.

[GeorgeMcGeachie · Accepted solution]

p-gee2019

How you connect Entities and Subject Areas together will influence the structure you need for the Excel Import. Remember, the link can only be updated from the end that you edit in PD. You can't 'import' a dependency matrix, you actually import the individual dependencies.

• if you have a "Subject Area" property on the Entity that links to a subject area (I'm assuming it will be only one subject area) then your Excel sheet is simple - one row per entity containing the entity name and the subject area name
• if the Subject Area object (I assume this is an extended object) has a collection of entities, then you need one row per subject area containing two colummns - the first column contains the subject area name and the senond column contains the list of all the entities it contains (see the Import Options for the default separator)

I've almost finished building an online course for the Excel Import - I'll add this scenario to my list of special cases - thanks

George

[former_member624271 · Accepted solution]

Hi George,

Thank you for the prompt response. Looking forward to your online course on the Excel import.

Kind regards,

Peter G.

[former_member552607]

Hi,
Apologies for the very long delay, although still very much a current requirement, for me.
Thanks for the explanation, most useful and appreciated.
Thank you, once again.