Transforming data models with transformation configurations

You can create a transformation configuration file to transform a data model from one type to another type. For example, you can create a file to transform a dimensional-physical data model into a Cognos or Cubing Services-compatible data model.

Before you begin

About this task

Transformation configurations are reusable, editable files that you use to transform data models from one type to another type. You use the New Transformation Configuration wizard to create the file, and then you run the file to generate a new data model.

Procedure

To create a transformation configuration file, then run the transformation configuration file to complete the transformation process, complete the following steps:

  1. Open the data model that you want to transform:
    1. Locate the data model. In the Data Project Explorer view, you can find the data model in the XML Schemas folder or the Data Models folder of your data design project.
      Figure 1. Locating data models in the Data Project Explorer view
      XML schemas and Cognos and Cubing Services models are stored in the XML Schemas folder. Logical, physical, dimensional, and UML models are stored in the Data Models folder.
    2. Open the file by double-clicking it.
  2. Create a new transformation configuration file by using the New Transformation Configuration wizard:
    1. From the main menu, click File > New > Transformation Configuration. The New Transformation Configuration wizard opens.
    2. On the Specify a Configuration Name and Transformation page of the wizard, specify a name for the configuration, then select a transformation type.
    3. If you are transforming a physical data model, on the Source and Target page, first select a valid database, schema, or diagram from a data model in the data design project. If you are transforming a logical data model, on the Source and Target page, first select a valid package, entity, or diagram from a data model in the data design project. Then select a target data design project. For example, the following figure shows that the user selected a dimensional-physical data model as the source. The target location is the data design project.
      Figure 2. Selecting a source data model and target project
      Select a data source (database, schema, or diagram) and a target data design project.
    4. On the Properties page, specify the properties that are specific to that transformation.
    5. On the Common page, specify whether to generate a debug log for the transformation configuration. If you select this option, a log file is created or updated when you run the transformation configuration file.
    When you click Finish, the workbench creates a reusable transformation configuration file in the Other Files folder of your data design project.
    The transformation configuration file opens in the editor view. An example transformation configuration file is shown in the next figure.
    Tip: If the transformation configuration that you create is invalid, a red "x" icon appears on the transformation configuration icon, as shown in the next figure.
    Figure 3. A sample test.tc file
    Use the Main, Source and Target, and Properties tabs to alter the configuration.
    The Console view shows the results of the validation. If you see errors in the Console view, you can use the Problems view to learn more about those errors.
  3. Edit the transformation configuration as needed to ensure that the configuration is valid:
    1. If your configuration is invalid, or if you want to change the configuration options, use the tabs in the transformation configuration editor to update your file.
    2. Validate the file by clicking the Validate the transformation configuration iconValidate the transformation configuration button. The file is considered to be valid when the Console view shows no errors.

    When the transformation configuration file is valid, you can run the file to generate the intended data model.

  4. Generate the target data model. On the Main tab, click the Run button, as shown in the following figure.
    Figure 5. Clicking the Run button in the transformation configuration editor
    Click the Run button to run a transformation configuration.

Results

The data model is generated and stored in the XML Schemas folder or the Data Models folder, depending on the type of transformation.
Tip: Because transformation configuration files are reusable, you can modify the configuration file whenever you must transform a data model from one type to another. For example, your team might maintain multiple dimensional-physical data models. These models are shared in a Cognos environment so that users can generate reports that are based on the models. You create the DPDM2Cogos.tc transformation configuration file to transform any dimensional-physical data model into a Cognos compatible model. When you want to transform a dimensional-physical data model, you can use the Source and Target tab to update the configuration to use the updated model.

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