Manage complex relation types

You can create, edit, and delete complex relation types.

Prerequisites

You have a global role with the Product Rights > System administration global permission.

Create a complex relation type

You can create a complex relation type if the out-of-the-box complex relation types don't meet your needs.

Steps

1. On the main toolbar, click → Settings.
   The Settings page opens.
2. Click the Operating Model tab.
   Operating Model settings are shown.
3. In the tab pane, click Complex relation types.
4. In the tab pane, click Characteristics → Complex Relations.
5. Above the table, to the right, click Add.
   The Create complex relation type dialog box appears.
6. Enter the required information.
   

   Field	Description
   Name	Name of the complex relation type. Note The name of the complex relation type must be globally unique.
   Description	Description of the complex relation type.
   Display options	Fields in this section allow you to edit how complex relations of this type are represented in diagrams.
   Color	Color for complex relation nodes. Tip For a custom color, use the Color hex value field instead.
   Color hex value	Hexadecimal code of the color for complex relations. Tip For a list of colors and their hexadecimal codes, go to ColorHexa.
   Symbol	Graphical representation for complex relations of this type. You can select one of the following values: None: No graphical representation is used for complex relations. Code: Complex relations are represented with a code before them. You can specify the required code in the Code field. Icon: Complex relations are represented with an icon before them. You can select the required icon in the Icon reference field.
   Code	Code shown before complex relations. This code is also shown in the legend of diagrams. Note This field is shown only if you selected Code in the Symbol field.
   Icon reference	Icon shown before complex relations. This icon is also shown in the legend of diagrams. Note This field is shown only if you selected Icon in the Symbol field.
   Preview	Two previews of the representation of complex relations of this type: The left preview is the title bar on a complex relation page. The right preview is a diagram node.
   Relations	Relation types of the complex relation type. At least one relation type is required.
   Role	Description of the relation type originating from the head asset and directed toward the tail asset. A role represents the direction in a relationship between two assets. It describes how the head asset interacts with or is related to the tail asset. For example, in the relation type Column is part of / contains Table, the role is is part of, which indicates the relationship from the perspective of the head asset (Column) toward the tail asset (Table).
   Corole	Description of the relation type originating from the tail asset and directed toward the head asset. A role represents the inverse direction in a relationship between two assets. It describes how the tail asset interacts with or is related to the head asset. For example, in the relation type Column is part of / contains Table, the co-role is contains, which indicates the relationship from the perspective of the tail asset (Table) toward the head asset (Column).
   Asset type	Asset type of the head of the relation. The complex relation type can only be used by assets of this asset type or its children if the complex relation type is in the asset type's assignment. The complex relation is always the tail of the complex relation type.
   Min.	Minimum amount of relations of this type. You must have at least one relation with a minimum cardinality of 1 or greater.
   Max.	Maximum amount of relations of this type.
   Attributes	Attribute types of the complex relation type.
   Attribute Type	Attribute type used by this complex relation type.
   Min.	Minimum amount of attributes of this type.
   Max.	Maximum amount of attributes of this type.

7. Click Save.
8. Click Create.

What's next

You can now assign the complex relation type to an asset type and then add a complex relation to an asset.

Edit a complex relation type

You can edit the name, description, and display options of a complex relation type. You can't edit existing relations and attributes in the complex relation, but you can add relations and attributes to the complex relation type. If you want to edit the relations or attributes of a complex relation type, you need to delete the complex relation type first and then create a new one. Note that the new complex relation type will have a new ID.

Steps

1. On the main toolbar, click → Settings.
   The Settings page opens.
2. Click the Operating Model tab.
   Operating Model settings are shown.
3. In the tab pane, click Complex relation types.
4. In the tab pane, click Characteristics → Complex Relations.
5. In the row of the complex relation type you want to edit, click .
   The Edit complex relation dialog box appears.
6. Enter the required information.
   

   Field	Description
   Name	Name of the complex relation type. Note The name of the complex relation type must be globally unique.
   Description	Description of the complex relation type.
   Display options	Fields in this section allow you to edit how complex relations of this type are represented in diagrams.
   Color	Color for complex relation nodes. Tip For a custom color, use the Color hex value field instead.
   Color hex value	Hexadecimal code of the color for complex relations. Tip For a list of colors and their hexadecimal codes, go to ColorHexa.
   Symbol	Graphical representation for complex relations of this type. You can select one of the following values: None: No graphical representation is used for complex relations. Code: Complex relations are represented with a code before them. You can specify the required code in the Code field. Icon: Complex relations are represented with an icon before them. You can select the required icon in the Icon reference field.
   Code	Code shown before complex relations. This code is also shown in the legend of diagrams. Note This field is shown only if you selected Code in the Symbol field.
   Icon reference	Icon shown before complex relations. This icon is also shown in the legend of diagrams. Note This field is shown only if you selected Icon in the Symbol field.
   Preview	Two previews of the representation of complex relations of this type: The left preview is the title bar on a complex relation page. The right preview is a diagram node.
   Relations	Relation types of the complex relation type. At least one relation type is required.
   Role	Description of the relation type originating from the head asset and directed toward the tail asset. A role represents the direction in a relationship between two assets. It describes how the head asset interacts with or is related to the tail asset. For example, in the relation type Column is part of / contains Table, the role is is part of, which indicates the relationship from the perspective of the head asset (Column) toward the tail asset (Table).
   Corole	Description of the relation type originating from the tail asset and directed toward the head asset. A role represents the inverse direction in a relationship between two assets. It describes how the tail asset interacts with or is related to the head asset. For example, in the relation type Column is part of / contains Table, the co-role is contains, which indicates the relationship from the perspective of the tail asset (Table) toward the head asset (Column).
   Asset type	Asset type of the head of the relation. The complex relation type can only be used by assets of this asset type or its children if the complex relation type is in the asset type's assignment. The complex relation is always the tail of the complex relation type.
   Min.	Minimum amount of relations of this type. You must have at least one relation with a minimum cardinality of 1 or greater.
   Max.	Maximum amount of relations of this type.
   Attributes	Attribute types of the complex relation type.
   Attribute Type	Attribute type used by this complex relation type.
   Min.	Minimum amount of attributes of this type.
   Max.	Maximum amount of attributes of this type.

7. Click Save.

Delete a custom relation type

You can delete a custom complex relation type. You can't delete out-of-the-box complex relation types.

Steps

1. On the main toolbar, click → Settings.
   The Settings page opens.
2. Click the Operating Model tab.
   Operating Model settings are shown.
3. In the tab pane, click Complex relation types.
4. In the tab pane, click Characteristics → Complex Relations.
5. In the row of the complex relation type you want to delete, click .
   The Delete <complex relation type> dialog appears.
6. Click Yes.
7. Click Delete.