When you create an entity using a TSQ data connection (for fixed-length data files generated by Trillium) you have the option to use an existing schema file or to create a new Data Dictionary Language (DDL) schema file. DDLs support fixed-length and delimited files and describe the record layouts (attributes, data types, and positions) used for data that is passed into or out of Quality processes.
When you create a DDL schema, you add columns and modify record length until the record layout is configured properly. Use this procedure to create a schema file for a fixed-length file; delimited files can be loaded without a schema.
To create a DDL schema file
- From the Create Entity Wizard: Connection Page, select a TSQ data connection and click Next.
- From the Entity Selection page, select an entity file and click Next. The Select a schema window opens. (If the window does not open, click Schema... on the DDL Selection page.)
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Do one of the following:
- To use an existing schema file, select the file and click OK to continue to the Load Parameters page. Go to Step 9 of Creating an Entity.
- To create a new schema file, click Create schema. The New Schema window opens.
- Enter a file name. Do not add a file extension; .ddl is added automatically.
- Click OK. The Create DDL for file: window opens with a preview of the file contents.
- Enter a number in the Record Length field to modify the default length of the record. The sum of all column lengths equals the length of the record.
- (Optional) Select Record Buffer in the Record Length drop-down list and enter a number to modify the number of records to show.
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Click Update. You may need to extend or shorten the record length until the data displays properly in the columns you add in the next step.
Note:
You can use the markers placed for every ten characters to help determine the length of the data.
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Add columns with headers by right-clicking in the data preview and selecting Add Column. The Add Column to DDL window opens. Use the following guidelines:
- By default, columns are added to the left of where you click in the preview window.
- You should be familiar with the data so that you can add meaningful column names.
Add column settings as follows:
Option Description Name Name of the column that is displayed when the DDL is applied to the data.
Type Column character data type. Default is ASCII CHARACTER. Add to end
Select this check box if you want to add a column at the end.
Offset The zero-based character position where the data begins. This number increases with each column you add, depending on the preceding column width. This is a read-only field. Length Total length of the column in characters. The sum of all column lengths equals the length of the record. The default length for a new column is equal to the number of remaining characters in the record. - Click OK. The column displays in the preview window. Long column names may display truncated, but all names are saved to the file.
- To edit column settings, right-click in the column you want to edit and select Edit Column. The Edit DDL Column window opens. Edit the column settings as necessary, then click OK.
- To delete a column, right-click in the column you want to delete and select Delete Column.
- When you are satisfied with the settings, click Ok to close the Create DDL for file: window. The Select a schema window displays with the new schema is highlighted.
- Click OK to close the window. Go to Step 9 of Creating an Entity to complete entity creation.