Convert PDM to PDF

Organizations convert SAP PowerDesigner models to PDF when reviewers, printers, or archives need a fixed document without requiring PowerDesigner. PDF also makes a database diagram easier to distribute to people who cannot open the original model.

What the PDM format is

In the Documents category, .pdm denotes a Physical Data Model created by SAP PowerDesigner, formerly Sybase PowerDesigner. It stores database tables, columns, keys, relationships, indexes, database-specific properties, diagram layouts, and other schema-design metadata.

Database architects and developers use PDM files to design and document relational databases. A PDM is a proprietary, editable model rather than a finished document; Microsoft Word, web browsers, and ordinary PDF viewers do not normally open it.

What the PDF format is

PDF preserves a fixed page layout, including visible text, lines, symbols, and pagination, across operating systems and printers. It is suitable for distributing entity-relationship diagrams, database specifications, approval copies, and archived design records.

PDF conversion does not preserve the PDM as editable tables, relationships, or database objects. Editing the PDF will not update the source model, and importing the PDF into another database-design application will not reconstruct the original PDM reliably.

How to convert a PDM file

Using SAP PowerDesigner and a PDF printer

1. Make a backup copy of the .pdm file and open it in a compatible version of SAP PowerDesigner.
2. Open the physical data model and prepare the diagram. Remove irrelevant objects, choose the page size and orientation, and check label readability at the intended print scale.
3. Choose File → Print. Select Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows, Save as PDF on macOS, or another installed PDF printer.
4. Choose the paper size and orientation. Use fit-to-page for an overview, or tile the output across multiple pages when a single page would make table and column names unreadable.
5. Enter a filename such as physical-data-model.pdf, save the file, and inspect every page in a PDF viewer.

PowerDesigner menu names and print options vary by release. If the application offers diagram export to PDF directly, use that command instead of a system PDF printer; otherwise, printing is the dependable method.

Generating a model specification

Use PowerDesigner's report-generation feature when the result must contain object definitions as well as diagrams. In releases that provide it, open the reporting command under the Report menu, select the PDM objects and diagrams, and choose PDF as the output format. Depending on the edition and release, direct PDF output may not be available.

If direct PDF reporting is unavailable, generate an HTML or RTF report and print that report to a PDF printer. Use diagram printing when the required result is only the model canvas.

Quality and compatibility limits

A compatible SAP PowerDesigner installation is normally required to interpret the PDM structure. Generic online conversion services generally do not support SAP PowerDesigner PDM files, so no direct online converter can be recommended for this format. Avoid uploading models containing confidential schema names, customer information, or security-related structure; keep the conversion local.

Large diagrams may produce tiny text, excessive page breaks, or overlapping content. Increase the paper size, adjust the diagram layout, split it into subject-area diagrams, or print across multiple pages. A PDF printer normally retains vector lines and selectable text, but the result remains a visual record rather than an editable relational model.