The Synonym Editor is available from Developer Studio and provides the following views that enable you to view and manage synonyms: Segment and Field, Segment View, Field View, Modeling View, Text View, and Access File Text View tabs.
The Segment and Field View tab, Segment View tab, Field View tab, and Modeling View tab shows a hierarchy of segments and columns on the left with the attributes and values of the selected item in the Properties windows that displays by default in the lower-right side of the tool.
Note: The attributes available depend on the type of synonym.
The Properties window and the other available windows (Business View, Dimension Builder, or DBA) can be resized, positioned in different areas, or hidden by the available toolbar icons.
The following image is an example of an SQL data source with a key column selected.
Note: Information about the attribute that has focus is displayed at the bottom of the attribute list. In this case, an explanation of the FIELDNAME attribute appears.
The following objects may appear in the tabs.
Object |
Function |
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Synonym. General icon used to indicate synonyms, visible on top of the Segment and Field View tab. It provides information about the file name used and the application it resides in. |
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Segment. Indicates a segment in a synonym. The root or parent segment appears first in the tree. |
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Unique Segment (FOCUS/FDS and XFOCUS only). Indicates a unique segment in a FOCUS/FDS or XFOCUS synonym. |
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Virtual Segment (Cross-Referenced). Indicates a virtual or cross-referenced segment. The icon is dimmed. Note: This type of segment is applicable for FOCUS data sources. |
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Key Column. Indicates a key column. |
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Column. Indicates a general column. |
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Virtual Column (DEFINE). Indicates a virtual or defined column. For more information about virtual columns, see Adding Virtual Columns (DEFINE) in a Synonym. |
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Index Column. Indicates the native DBMS has an index for quick retrieval of values for this field. |
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Filter. Indicates a Master File filter. |
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Compute field. Indicates a computed field. |
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Group. This option is enabled when you select Options from the Tools menu. In Options dialog, click the check box option, Support Extended Option in Synonym Editor. |
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Sort Object. This option is enabled when you select Options from the Tools menu. In Options dialog, click the check box option, Support Extended Option in Synonym Editor. |
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Style. This option is enabled when you select Options from the Tools menu. In Options dialog, click the check box option, Support Extended Option in Synonym Editor. |
Note: Icons that have a shortcut overlay, a dimmed arrow shortcut icon in the lower-left corner of the icon, indicate that fields or segments are referenced and do not exist in the Synonym that is being edited.
The Synonym Editor toolbar contains buttons that provide quick access to commonly performed functions. The behavior of the button is determined by the selected object. Therefore, certain toolbar buttons may be inactive.
Button |
Definition |
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Saves the edits made to the synonym. |
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Saves the edits made to the synonym to a new file (Save As). |
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Enables you to print the current screen view. |
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References segment from an existing synonym. This option is dimmed. |
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Enables you to add segments from an existing synonym by using the Select Synonym dialog box. |
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Enables you to add segments through the metadata import by using the Create Synonym tool. This tool creates a synonym and includes it as a segment in the synonym from which the tool was launched. |
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Enables you to add segments manually, assigning values to segment attribute fields in the Synonym Editor. Note: You would only use this approach if you are coding a new Master File , as you would for a FOCUS data source. |
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Adds a column field. |
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Adds a virtual column (DEFINE) field. For more information about virtual columns, see Adding Virtual Columns (DEFINE) in a Synonym. |
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Adds a Master File filter . For more information about filters, see Creating Filters in a Synonym. |
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Adds a COMPUTE field. For more information about computed fields, see Adding Computed Fields (COMPUTE) in a Synonym. |
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Adds a group. For more information about groups, see Adding Group Fields in a Synonym. |
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Inserts a variable to the segment. |
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Deletes the selected item. |
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Adds field/value security DBA. For more information about DBA security, see Applying Database Administrator Security. |
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Enables you to view and refresh sample data for the object. |
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Enables parent/child hierarchy in Dimension Builder. |
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Enables you to create a Business View and create a custom Master File that can use selected fields from the original synonym. In addition, you may customize field names, titles, and descriptions. For more information about Business Views, see Creating Business Views. |
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Describes the attribute properties. |
When you click Tools from the main menu and select Options, the Options dialog appears as shown in the following image and enables you to set preferences and customize the look of Synonym Editor.
The Synonym Editor user preferences include using the application name with the synonym, supporting the extended option, showing parent segments in the Join Editor, and selecting the default Join type. The Synonym Editor settings page has the following fields/options:
If selected, an application directory name will be used when selecting a synonym name for both referencing to an existing synonym, and a transformation with db_lookup.
If selected, both the Sort objects and Styles folders appear when editing a synonym.
If selected, controls whether or not columns in parent segments are displayed in the Join Editor for a cluster join or a synonym that references, or includes, other synonyms.
Sets the default Join type.
Join All. This join indicates a multiple instance (one-to-many) type of join. At run time, each host record can have many matching records in the cross-referenced file. Join All is the default option.
Join Unique. This join indicates a single instance (one-to-one) type join. At run time, each host record has, at most, one matching record in the cross-referenced file.
The Format settings window is available from the Tools menu by selecting Options.
The Format settings window has two sections, Colors and Fonts.
The Colors section has the following fields/options:
Allows you to set colors for connector lines in process flows.
Unconditional Line Color changes the color of connectors in data flows and unconditional connectors in process flows.
Custom Line Color changes the color of the custom connector in process flows.
Failed Line Color changes the color of the Failed connector in process flows.
OK Line Color changes the color of the OK connector in process flows.
Selected Object Text Color changes the color of the object name when you mouse over it in process flows.
A drop-down menu of available colors.
Restores the default colors.
The Fonts section has the following fields/options:
Allow you to set the font for text in the process flow workspace, reports, text views and log views.
Launches a dialog box for changing font settings.
Restores the default fonts.
Column Management user preferences enable you to select which columns to display on the grids for transformations, column selection, joins, and sorts. You can also set the column display order. The settings apply to all column-related dialog boxes.
The Column Management settings window has the following fields/options:
Lists columns that can be added to the grid using the check boxes.
Controls the information that appears in trees and grids. The available options are Name, Title, or Description. If no Title or Description exists, the display will default to the Name.
The default settings are shown. Not all columns are on every grid. The following columns can be added:
Is the expression for the column.
Is the type of object in an application directory.
Is the column length.
Is the maximum number of digits to the right of the decimal.
Assigns an alternative name for a column, or the real column name for a DBMS synonym.
Supplies a title to replace the column name that is normally used in reports.
Is used for processing slowly changing dimensions.
Indicates that a field is an index (I) and/or is read-only.
Is the synonym that contains the column.
Is the type and length of a column data as stored.
Is a description or comments about the column.
Indicates whether the column can contain null data.
Note: You can change the display order of the columns by moving them up or down using the arrows. You can also change the Column Name Display Strategy to control what appears in trees and grids.
Run Options user preferences include determining the number of rows to retrieve when sampling data.
The Run Options settings window has the following fields/options:
Sets the number of rows retrieved to produce sample data when testing transformations or SQL. The default is 50.
Sets the number of columns retrieved to produce sample data when testing transformations or SQL. The default is to retrieve all columns (with a highest value setting of 999999).
Sets the format of reports for retrieving sample data when testing transformations or SQL. The default is Default. There are seven report formats available:
When you right-click a segment in the Synonym Editor, the following pop-up menu appears.
The following image is an example of an SQL data source with the root segment selected.
The following options are available:
Enables you to insert one of the following:
The reference is a pointer to the source synonym. If you subsequently make changes to the source synonym, re-opening the current synonym will reflect those changes.
Adds a static copy of an existing synonym to the current synonym. If you subsequently make changes to the source synoym, the current synonym will not reflect those changes.
Enables you to create and add a new synonym to the current synonym through the Create Synonym tool.
Inserts a synonym that must be coded manually.
Inserts a general column to the segment.
Inserts a virtual or defined to the segment.
Inserts a filter to the segment.
Inserts a calculated value to the file.
Inserts a group column to the segment.
Variable name for access file parameter.
Provides the characteristics of the data for a segment.
Data Profiling is available from the right-click context menu for all columns in the Master File hierarchy tree.
Displays sample data in the workspace for the selected segment or synonym.
Sample data is available throughout the Synonym Editor toolbar.
The following image is an example of the sample data that appears for a segment.
Note: Sample data is a great way to test the synonym for field data and to view the type of records returned. This can assist when performing Joins, testing connectivity to data sources, and so on.
Displays sample data for the selected segment joined to the parent segment.
Deletes the segment.
Enables you to rename the segment.
Opens the Join Editor so that you can specify how the selected segment is joined to the parent segment.
When you right-click a column in the Synonym Editor, the following pop-up menu appears in the Segment and Field View tab.
The following image is an example of an SQL data source with a column selected.
The following options are available:
Enables you to insert one of the following:
Inserts a general column to the synonym.
Inserts a virtual or defined column to the synonym.
Inserts a filter to the segment.
Inserts a calculated value to the file.
Inserts a group column to the synonym.
Variable name for access file parameter.
Displays an Impact Analysis report for the particular column in the workspace. An Impact Analysis report identifies the procedures that access a Master File or field within a Master File. For detailed information on Impact Analysis, see Analyzing Metadata and Procedures.
Provides the characteristics of the data for a column. Data Profiling is available from the right-click context menu for all columns in the Master File hierarchy tree.
Displays sample data in the workspace.
The following image is an example of the sample data that appears for a column.
Note: Sample data is a great way to test the synonym for field data and to view the type of records returned. This can assist when performing Joins, testing connectivity to data sources, and so on.
Decomposes date fields into virtual columns representing Year, Month, Day, and Quarter fields.
Note: Decompose Date is visible for date fields.
Maps internal XML found in a text field.
Maps external XML found in a text field.
Deletes the column.
Allows you to rename the column.
The Segment and Field View tab shows the fields that the synonym contains.
The following image is an example of a Microsoft SQL Server data source in the Segment and Field View tab.
The Segment View tab shows the segments that the synonym contains.
The following image is an example of a Microsoft SQL Server data source in the Segment View tab.
The Field View tab shows a table with the available fields.
The following image is an example of a Microsoft SQL Server data source in the Field View tab.
The row below the toolbar menu which includes the sort options, Name, Format Expression, Description, and Nulls, enables users to click each column to sort. The row can also customize visible columns by right-clicking the row and selecting Customize as shown in the following image.
The same menu displays when you right-click in an empty space. From this menu, a user is also given an option that enables them to switch views.
The Modeling View tab shows a graphical representation of the synonym. Use the Modeling View to define dimensions for OLAP analysis, view join properties, create cluster joins, and add or edit segments.
The following image is an example of an SQL data source in the Modeling View.
In the Modeling View, when you right-click in an empty space, you are presented with tasks permitted in this view, for example, Insert a Segment and Auto Arrange available synonyms. For more information about the Modeling View, see Enhancing Synonyms Using the Modeling View.
This view opens the synonym in the editor.
You can print the Master File code by selecting Print from the File menu, perform search operations and even make changes.
The following image is an example of a Microsoft SQL Server data source in the Text View tab.
The Access File Text View tab shows the description of the Access File for a synonym, which is used to access the database.
Note: You can print the Master File code by selecting Print from the File menu, performing search operations, and making changes, if necessary.
The following image is an example of an SQL data source in the Access File Text View tab.
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