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The Designer/2000 components are shown in Figure 15.1.

FIG. 15.1
The Designer/2000
components.


Understanding the Repository

The heart of Designer/2000 is the repository that records all the information entered into Designer/2000. It is the basis for generation in the build stage of the SDLC. Features include:

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as the project progresses; the reports are available easily. There are over 100 standard reports that can be run.

Several reports can be obtained from the repository, as shown in Figure 15.2.

FIG. 15.2
The reports available
from the repository.


Using the Diagrammers

Features common to all diagrammers of the Designer/2000 toolset are as follows:

All diagrammers and utilities provided with DES2K have certain common aspects, and you can use similar steps to interface with them. After Designer/2000 has been installed, you will see an Oracle Designer/2000 icon in the Designer/2000 group. Double-click this icon and log on

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to the Oracle database where the repository resides. If you are opening an existing application system, choose it at this point. Otherwise, you can create a new application system at this point.

NOTE
The Designer/2000 window can be started from the command line using the following syntax:
DES2KXX username/password@database /A:apps_system,version /S where username/password@database is the connect string; /A specifies the application system and the version; and /S is used to suppress the splash screen.

To create a new application system, complete the following steps:

  1. Select RON and choose File, New.
  2. Create a name for the application system.

You can continue working with this application system or change it by choosing a different one from the File menu.

The main DES2K window has buttons to start all diagrammers and utilities as well as context-sensitive links to the help system. The status line of the different tools and utilities contains valuable information about the current session, such as the application system, version, and logged-on user. All the diagrammers have a similar look and feel. They have a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) and enable the user to look at the same object from different views and through different diagrams at the same time.

The diagrammers make extensive use of the mouse to manipulate objects and also respond to dialog boxes. All the standard Windows mouse actions such as drag-and-drop, selecting, double-clicking to change the properties, moving, resizing, and so on are supported. A full-featured menu system allows easy manipulation of the objects and the application systems. A toolbar is also provided as an extension of the menu system and makes the most frequently used functions easily accessible to the developers. The DES2K utilities also have a common look and feel. Two types of utilities are used:

Diagramming Techniques Used by Designer/2000

During the logical and physical design of a system, diagrams help us accurately document the proposed system and communicate with the users and other team members. The following Designer/2000 diagrammers are commonly used during the logical and physical design of the database:

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FIG. 15.3
An example of a two-
entity relationship
diagram.



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