Simulating a project lets you monitor and validate your transformation process step by step. In contrast to executing a project, simulation allows you to:
Run projects that have unsaved changes.
View the data at any stage of the transformation process.
During the final steps of a simulation, data is written into the data sinks. Many transformation components, such as the Data Calculator, allow you to change transformation rules and sample values during simulation, to validate your rule base for all potential content.
You can simulate your projects in one of these ways:
Interactively – select Run | Start to initialize the project for simulation, then select Run | Step to manually step through components to simulate project execution.
Alternatively, select Run | Interactive Trace to initialize the project for simulation and automatically step through components at a predefined pace.
Noninteractively – select Run | Noninteractive Trace to simulate your project without interaction. See “Simulating projects noninteractively”.
You can simulate a project only after all components
have been properly initialized.
The basic functions of a simulation consist of these high-level steps:
Start a simulation interactively or noninteractively
Step through a component
View the data flow on the connecting link or within the component
Modify and reinitialize the component to continue to simulate the data flow
In simulation, at a more detailed level, you can:
View data content on connecting links
View input and output data inside a component
Modify properties or calculations, so you can change transformation rules and sample values to validate your rule base
Step through a component again after modifying a calculation or property
Perform what-if scenarios
Take multiple steps through the project
