Creating an ERwin Data Modeler Template

You probably have some default settings or shop standards (Yes, I have standards!) for your ERwin data models.  A time saving method for ensuring that you don’t have to set those defaults for every model file is to create a data model template, then use that when you create a new model.

The steps for creating and using a template:

1. Open ERwin Data Modeler with a blank model (choose the type: Logical, Physical, or Logical/Physical)
2. Set your defaults, create standard objects like domains or UDTs or UDPs – anything you’d like to appear or be enforced in future data models that make use of this template.
3. Save the model as a template:

   Notice that I’ve chosen to use underscores in the template file name.  ERwin seems to force the name to all upper case, so spaces or underscores will be needed to make the file name readable when you go to open again.  The file will be saved with a special extension, .erwin_tmpl .  This tells ERwin it is a template file.

   Once you have saved this, it will be available on the FILE, NEW menu option for use when you create new models: 

4. Once you have this open, you’ll need to remember to do an immediate FILE, SAVE AS… to save it as a regular .erwin file.

At this point you have created an ERwin template file and used it to create a model that will have the reusable objects you want to share as well as enforce some standards.

1 Comment

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