Transformation Processes (DMM)

A transformation process is an instance of a data transformation engine that extracts data from input sources, transforms it, and loads it to output sources. Input and output sources can be databases, flat files, XML documents, or business processes.

Note: You should use a transformation process when your main focus is complex transformations of data, such as are required for data warehousing. For simple copying of data, you should use a replication process (see Replication Processes (DMM)).

In the following example, multiple input sources are transformed by the Data Fusion and Reorganization transformation process, and then loaded to the Giant Corp data warehouse:

Note: You must deploy your transformation process to a server (see Servers (DMM)) to ensure correct script generation.

Although you can create all the objects necessary to model a data transformation by hand in any order, we recommend that you use the following workflow:

Identify any input and output sources. These may be existing PDMs, XSMs, BPMs and flat files or live data sources that can be reversed engineered.
Create a DMM and launch one of the following wizards to create your basic transformation environment:
- Transformation Wizard – see Creating a Data Transformation with the Transformation Wizard.
- Convert Mappings to ETL Wizard [for existing PDM mappings] – see Creating a Data Transformation with the Convert Mappings to ETL Wizard.
Press Ctrl, and double-click the transformation process symbol to open its created data transformation diagram, and specify any other necessary transformation objects, such as data query executions, calculators, etc. (see Data Transformation Diagrams).
[optional] Create a control flow diagram to detail the order in which a series of data transformation tasks is executed (see Transformation Control Flow Diagrams).

You can use the completed model to guide you in writing a data transformation for your ETL engine.

Creating a Transformation Process
You can create a transformation process using a Wizard or from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.
Transformation Process Properties
To view or edit a transformation process's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list entry. The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available by default, before any customization of the interface by you or an administrator.
Creating a Data Transformation with the Transformation Wizard
The Transformation Wizard helps you to set up a basic transformation process with input and output sources, and automatically creates one or more data transformation diagrams.
Creating a Data Transformation with the Convert Mappings to ETL Wizard
You can create a data transformation from an existing PDM-PDM mapping with the Convert Mappings to ETL Wizard. It helps you set up your transformation process with PDMs connected to it as input and output sources, along with basic data transformation diagrams with the appropriate data inputs and outputs, and appropriate actions.

Parent topic: Data Movement Diagrams