Loading Data

The TM Design Tool imports data models and stores the meta-model definitions in the repository. These models are used as source or target data models in transformation projects. The majority of models are loaded using the built-in loaders supplied with TM. Other models are imported using custom loaders.

Built in Loaders

A number of built-in wizards can be launched from the TM Design Tool to import models from common data formats.

XML

The XML Model wizard is used to point at a file that describes the XML model to be imported. The file can be of type DTD or XSD. Additionally, the file may be an XML instance, and the model is deduced from this.

RDBMS

The Import Relational wizard connects to a database and reads the model meta-data. Commonly supported ones are:

• Oracle
• Sybase
• PostgresSQL
• SQL Server
• DB2
• MS Access
• MySQL

Other databases can be imported using the JDBC driver.

Java

Can import models from java class files and jar files. Users can specify sepecific packages to be included or excluded.

Flat File

The built in loaders support the import of models from the following file types:

• Delimited Files, e.g. CSV or Pipe
• Fixed Width Flat Files
• MS Excel

Custom Loaders

Custom Loaders can be written by creating Java classes that implement the TM Loader API. These are used by TM to import data models of types not included by the built-in loaders. Documentation and example code is provided with the TM installation.

Models can be imported from the following systems using custom loaders:

• SOAP
• SAP
• JMS