Attribute repository

[OleN]

I love my EA and try to use it where I can even though it isn't a standard in the company thet employs me or the one that hires me. I'm working on it though.  

One of the thing I use it for is database modelling. The standard product is ERWIN, but it's so expensive that only a few db experts actually have it. One of the reasons they stick to it is that it has a repository of all attributes in the model, and when you "refer" or reuse an attribute (foreign key or a general thing like a timestamp) they just pick the attribute from the repository. The clear advantage here is one definition of common attributes with one description which is reused everywhere. Additional local comments can be added.

Are there a way to achiece something similar in EA? It is based on a model så it doesn't seem completely hopeless, but I cant find anything about attribute repositorys in general and certainly not anything about using it.

That you have to write the attribute name does remove some hope.  

If it was possible with an attribute repository I'm fairly certain that I can outcompete erwin.  

[thomaskilian]

I've never used ERWIN and I'm really no data modeller. So I don't know whether that helps: Create a class (give it a stereotype like <<attr-container>> or something like that. Keep it to save all your attributes. Whenever you need one, drag it from the Project View onto the target table on a Diagram (!). That will make a copy of the attribute. Dont drag from Project View to Project View since that will only move it.