Defining aliases for data types

Use aliases when you are extracting data from multiple sources (for example, from a mainframe database and a Microsoft Access database) and there is a possibility that the same data is stored differently in each database. For example, in the mainframe database, the Company name Calbro Services is stored as "Calbro Svcs" but in the Microsoft Access database it is stored as "Calbro". You can reconcile the values manually when entering the data in the spreadsheets, so that it is all represented as one common value (for example, "Calbro"). However, the more efficient way to reconcile the values is to create an alias that maps all possible value variants to a single value.

For example, you can create an alias that maps "Calbro Services", "Calbro Svcs", and "Calbro Srvs" to the single data value: "Calbro". In this example, all of the data value variations listed as aliases are reconciled to the single value when the Data Management system validates and loads the data.

This topic provides the following information:

Filtering aliases

Alias mapping inherently filters the alias replacement mappings based on Company, so you can only see or edit mappings if you are a member of the company for which the alias mapping was created. You can further filter the search results using the filtering options above the Alias Mapping table.

Filtering options

Click on the following figure to expand it.

The search column drop-down list (see 1 in the preceding figure) enables you to choose the table column that you want to search on. The choices are:

• Alias Type
• Alias
• Company/Support Company
• Organization/Support Organization
• Department
• Site

The search type drop-down list (see 2 in the figure) enables you to choose the type of search to perform. The choices are:

• contains
• does not contains
• equals
• does not equal
• starts with
• ends with

The search qualifier field (see 3 in the figure) enables you to enter a string or partial string to search for. This value will return different results depending on the values selected for the search column and search type drop-down lists.

All searches using the search type are case-sensitive.

The following list provides some examples of the different types of searches:

• Contains: The qualifier string from the search qualifier field must appear in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
  • Calbro Services contains:
    • Calbro Services
    • Cal
    • bro
    • r
    • vices
• Does not contain: The qualifier string must not appear in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
  • Calbro Services does not contain:
    • Calbro services
    • cal
    • Bro
    • services
    • x
• Equals: The qualifier string must exactly equal the text contained in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
  • Calbro Services equals:
    • Calbro Services
• Does not equal: The qualifier string must not exactly equal the text contained in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
  • Calbro Services does not equal:
    • Calbro
    • cal
    • Bro
    • cs
    • xxx
• Starts with: The qualifier string must appear at the start of the text contained in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
  • Calbro Services starts with:
    • Calbro
    • Cal
    • Calbro Services
    • C
• Ends with: The qualifier string from the search qualifier field must appear at the end of the text contained in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
  • Calbro Services ends with:
    • s
    • vices
    • Services
    • Calbro Services

Creating an alias

When creating or modifying aliases, you must ensure that the alias created or modified is only for the specific data type. For example, if the data type is Support Group, the alias is for the Support Group name only.

1. In the navigation pane of the Job Console, select Other Functions > Alias mapping.
2. Click Create.
3. Select the required data type.
4. Enter the alias name.
5. Enter a company name.
6. Click Save to save the alias record.
   The alias is saved as unvalidated .

Managing aliases

This section describes various actions that you can perform on aliases

Modifying an alias

1. Select the alias that you want to modify in the Alias Mapping table.
2. Click View.
3. Complete the required changes.
4. Click Save to save your changes.

The alias is saved as unvalidated.

Delete an alias

1. Select the alias that you are going to delete in the Alias Mapping table.
2. Click Delete.

A confirmation dialog box appears. Click Yes to delete the alias or No to cancel the deletion.

Validating all aliases

1. Click Validate in the Alias Mapping window.
2. If the actual name exists in the system then the Validate status for an alias shows as Valid, otherwise it shows as Unvalidated.

Related topics

Alias replacement during validation

Case insensitivity correction during validation

User scenario for data loads