# Automated Column Abbreviations "Person Name" to PERSON\_NAME **URL:** \ **Category:** General Questions/Discussions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2019, 7:16am UTC](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/t/automated-column-abbreviations-person-name-to-person-name/14989 "2019-02-14T07:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArchenROOT](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/user_avatar/forums.visual-paradigm.com/archenroot/32/3527_2.png) [@ArchenROOT](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/u/ArchenROOT)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 7:16am UTC](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/t/automated-column-abbreviations-person-name-to-person-name/14989/1 "2019-02-14T07:16:29Z")
Hi, abbreviations set used from Logical to Physical model are nice feature keeping logical model more business looking. But imagine we have hundreds of tables each with tens of columns… creating abbreviations sets is some quite large amount of work. Instead of this we would like to use automated abbreviation. In Logical model I have column: “Person Name” “Phone Number” Those will become in Physical: PERSON\_NAME PHONE\_NUMBER How can I achieve this functionality? Suggestion: Maybe some kind of function editor will help where I can use standard Java functions: String.replace(" “,”\_").toUpperCase(); So the user will be able to write its own more complex abbreviation logic: If (String.indexOf(“Lookup Table”) \> 1) { PhysicalTablename = “L” + LogicalTableName.replace(" “,”\_").toUpperCase(); } Thank you for any suggestions. Regards, Ladislav ---
**Author:** ![ShelLuser](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/user_avatar/forums.visual-paradigm.com/shelluser/32/204_2.png) [@ShelLuser](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/u/ShelLuser)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/t/automated-column-abbreviations-person-name-to-person-name/14989/2 "2019-02-14T11:18:33Z")
The best solution I can come up with is a [plugin](https://www.visual-paradigm.com/support/documents/pluginuserguide.jsp). Visual Paradigm doesn’t provide functions or keyboard macros, but it does provide the option to develop plugins which can perform automative tasks. You basically need the SDK (which is the openapi.jar file that is already included with the program), an editor and some basic understanding of Java. I wrote a brief guide on how to develop plugins using VS Code just the other day: > [@Using VS Code to develop VP plugins](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/t/using-vs-code-to-develop-vp-plugins/14987): > > Hi gang! Editorial It’s been a while since I’ve been here, I missed this community! The nice thing about getting a new PC and then installing all your software again is that it gives you a good fresh look at your current setup which may even help you to improve on some things. And sometimes things turn out to be a bit of a disappointment frowning I’ve been using the NetBeans Java IDE for as long as I’ve been using Visual Paradigm. Fun fact: It’s because of NetBeans that I discovered Visu… I also wrote a more extensive guide on plugin development a while back which also explains a bit more about the environment itself: > [@\[Guide\] Getting started with plugin development](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/t/guide-getting-started-with-plugin-development/13915): > > Hi gang, Editorial Visual Paradigm, the design and management tool we all know and love, provides many different features. But there’s one in particular which really manages to excite me and that is the ability to write your own plugins. And trust me: it doesn’t even have to be all that difficult. But of course some requirements need to be met… Requirements A copy of Visual Paradigm desktop, this is to get the actual openapi jarfile. A basic understanding of the Java programming language. H… And of course there’s also [official documentation](https://www.visual-paradigm.com/support/documents/pluginapi.jsp) about the VP OpenAPI. Hope this can help! ---
**Author:** ![ArchenROOT](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/user_avatar/forums.visual-paradigm.com/archenroot/32/3527_2.png) [@ArchenROOT](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/u/ArchenROOT)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 6:24am UTC](https://forums.visual-paradigm.com/t/automated-column-abbreviations-person-name-to-person-name/14989/3 "2019-02-15T06:24:06Z")
@ShelLuser - Thx a lot, I will be examinating the plugin api definitely to bring more functionality. Temporarily I export to Excel, rename via macro and import back the whole diagram. It requires some time, but doable. Still, I am already working on concept of dynamic compilation of functions: > **[Runtime Classpath vs Compile-Time Classpath - DZone Java](https://dzone.com/articles/runtime-classpath-vs-compile)** > > This should really be a simple distinction, but I’ve been answering a slew of similar questions on Stackoverflow, and often people misunderstand the matter. So,...