Common Object Properties

This topic describes the common object properties supported across multiple databases in Quest Data Modeler. While each database can expose additional or database‑specific options, the core properties described here are applicable to most relational and analytical platforms.

The following section describes how to create an object and access its properties in the Quick Editor, where you can set the common properties listed in this topic.

Note: You can use the Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y keyboard shortcuts to undo and redo changes in any property field.

Creating Objects and Defining Object Properties

To create objects and define their properties:

  1. In the Model Explorer, select More options on the object, and then select Create New.

    An instance of the object is created.

  2. On the new object, select More Options, and then select Properties. You can also double-click the object in the diagram or Model Explorer to access properties.

    The Quick Editor opens and displays the object properties tabs.

  3. Set the required property values.

  4. Select Close.

The following table describes the common properties available across most objects.

Tab Section Property Description Additional Properties
Properties General Name Specifies the name of the object  
Physical Name Specifies the physical name of the object  
Harden Strategy Specifies the name of the hardening strategy for a table

  • Inherit: Indicates to adopt the existing naming conventions established by your organization

  • Override: Indicates that the existing naming conventions are overwritten with the new one

  • Harden: Indicates that the naming conventions are hardened across the organization
Comments Specifies the comment added by the user  
Update Entity Definition to Match Specifies the comments in an object to appear as a definition for the corresponding entity  
Physical Only Specifies whether the object is suppressed from a logical model and appears in a physical model only  
Initial Row Count Specifies an initial number of records for the selected table  
Max Rows Specifies the maximum allowable number of records that the object is designed to hold. You can leave this field empty to achieve open-ended growth. This option and the Grow By Month option determine when an object will reach its designed record limit.  
Growth By Month Specifies the estimated number of records that you expect the object to grow per month. If you have a maximum record number in the Max Rows field, object growth will stop at that record number  
Comment   Comment Specifies the comment added by the user for the object. Use the toolbar to cut, copy, or paste text, restore inheritance from definition, work with the Text Editor, download, or run a spell check. If your target server supports comments, you can generate comments in the schema DDL script.
  Update Entity Definition To Match Specifies whether to update the entity definition to match comments  
Where Used   Name Specifies the name of the object used by the selected object in the editor  
  Type Specifies the object type  
  Parent Specifies the parent object of the selected object  
  Parent Type Specifies the parent object type  
UDP   Name Specifies the name of the UDP  
Data Type Specifies the UDP datatype

Select the cell and select one of the following datatypes from the drop-down:

  • Int: Specifies to create an Int UDP so you can enter an integer (whole number)

  • Text: Specifies to create a Text UDP so you can enter ASCII text

  • Date: Specifies to create a Date UDP to allow dates in MM/DD/YYYY format

  • Real: Specifies to create a Real UDP so you can enter a real number (with decimal)

  • List: Specifies to create a List UDP so you can create a list box with user-defined choices
Values List Specifies selectable values  
Default Value Specifies a user-defined property default value when applicable  
Description Specifies a description for the UDP  
Business Terms Mapping   Name Specifies the name of the business term  
Definition Specifies the definition of the business term  
Description Specifies the description of the business term  
SDI Sensitive Data Indicator (SDI), specifies whether the asset is sensitive  
SDI Classification Specifies the SDI classification of the asset  
Path Specifies the asset path  
History   Event Specifies the history events that you have selected to track for the model or object  
Description Specifies the description of the event  
Source Path Specifies the source of the object. The Source Path column is empty for the Create event. Source Path is formatted as follows:

$ModelPath\<$ModelName>\$EntityName\$AttributeName

$ModelPath is the path for a model in the Mart Portal.

  
Comment Specifies the notes entered by the user  
Date Created Specifies the date and time the event was created  
Created By Specifies the name of the user that created the event  
Notes   Event Specifies the note events that you have selected to track for the model or object  
Comment Specifies the comment that is entered in the Notes tab  
Date Created Specifies the date and time of the created note  
Created By Specifies the name of the user that created the note  
Date Updated Specifies the date and time of the updated note  
Updated By Specifies the name of the user who updated the note  
Extended Notes   Name Specifies the name of the extended note  
Event Specifies the extended events that you have selected to track for the model or object  
Comments Specifies the user's note  
Modified By Specifies the name of the user that modified the extended note  
Importance Specifies the importance that you would like to provide to the extended note  
Note Status Specifies the status of the extended note  
Date Modified Specifies the date and time of the modified extended note  

User-Defined Properties

You can define custom properties and assign them to different classes of model objects. User-defined properties (UDPs) help document and describe logical and physical object classes.

A user-defined property can be any value that you consider useful for managing a specific object class. For example, as a database administrator (DBA) in a team environment where multiple developers maintain many tables, you can create a user-defined property in the Table Editor that lets each developer select their name to indicate responsibility for a table.

You can assign UDPs to any object class in its editor. Each object editor includes a UDP tab that lets you assign UDPs. The UDP tab works the same way in all editors. You can view each UDP name and add values.

Adding a User-Defined Property to a Physical Object

To add a user-defined property to a physical object:

  1. Open Quick Editor for the physical object for which you want to add a user-defined property.
  2. Select the UDP tab, and then select .
  3. The User Defined Properties page opens. You can add, edit, or delete UDPs based on their classes.
  4. Select New Property to add a new UDP.
  5. Enter name, data type, values, and description as required.
  6. Select Close.

User-defined propertie is created and the User Defined Properties dialog closes.

Although Quest Data Modeler provides a unified experience, each database can support additional properties or impose restrictions that are not common across all platforms.

For database-specific behavior, refer to the individual database support topics listed under Database and API Support.