The data movement model lets you model and document ETL and EII processes in a rich graphical environment, supported by sophisticated metadata. By modeling your transformations in PowerDesigner, you can benefit from its powerful traceability and impact analysis features.
In most enterprises, information is stored in multiple databases, data warehouses and applications. Such a situation requires the recombination and transformation of data coming from diverse sources into new formats for replication reporting or other consumption.
ETL (Extract Transform and Load) and EII (Enterprise Information Integration) are two technologies that address this need:
The DMM lets you model and analyze data transformations in high-level and detailed views as follows:
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Data movement diagram – high-level diagram, which enables you to model a high-level view of your data transformations by specifying:
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Input sources – Databases (PDMs), XML documents (XSMs), business processes (BPMs), and flat files such as .CSV and .XLS
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Transformation process – where the transformations occur. It contains lower level detailed transformation diagrams (see Transformation Processes (DMM)).
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Output sources – Databases (PDMs), XML documents (XSMs), and flat files such as .CSV and .XLS
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Data transformation diagram – low level diagram, which enables you to model a transformation task by specifying how data is extracted from data inputs, transformed by actions and loaded into data outputs. Data inputs and outputs are linked to the input and output sources specified in the high-level diagram.
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Transformation control flow diagram – low level diagram, which enables you to specify the sequence of execution of a series of tasks.
The following example shows how input and output sources can be linked to a transformation process at a high level, and how the transformation is modeled in the lower level diagrams:
