1. A method in a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a request to generate a data model from a data definition file containing a data structure with a plurality of data elements, each data element having a name and a definition; generating a diagram for each data element, the diagrams having names corresponding to the data elements; determining whether an attribute in the data structure is associated with one of the data elements; when it is determined that an attribute in the data structure is associated with one of the data elements, displaying a graphical representation of the attribute with the diagram corresponding to the one data element; determining whether the data structure includes a reference between two of the data elements; when it is determined that the data structure includes a reference between two elements, displaying a reference link from the diagram associated with a first of the two elements to the diagram associated with a second of the two elements; determining whether the data structure includes a group attribute identifying at least one of the data elements as group attribute member; when it is determined that the data structure includes a group attribute, displaying a group symbol; displaying a first link between the group symbol and the diagram that is associated with the identified at least one data element; and displaying a second link between the group symbol and the diagram of the data element having the associated group attribute.