This documentation supports the 23.3 version of BMC Helix ITSM.To view an earlier version, select the version from the Product version menu.

Defining aliases for data types

Use aliases when you are extracting data from multiple sources such as from a mainframe database and a Microsoft Access database. There is a possibility that the same data is stored differently in each database. For example, in the mainframe database, the Company name Apex Global is stored as Apex Glb but in the Microsoft Access database it is stored as Apex. You can reconcile the values manually when entering the data in the spreadsheets, so that it is all represented as one common value such as 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.

Related topics

Alias-replacement-during-validation

Case-insensitivity-correction-during-validation

Loading-new-organizational-data

You can create an alias that maps Apex Global, Apex Glb, and Apex Gb to the single data value — Apex. 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.

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 by using the filtering options above the Alias Mapping table.

Important

You can only add alias mappings for companies that you have access.

Filtering options

You must complete all three fields shown in the figure to perform the search.

g_itsm_udm_alias_filtering_options_144556_516.gif

  1. The search column drop-down list enables you to choose the table column that you want to search on. The choices are:
    1. Alias Type
    2. Alias
    3. Company/Support Company
    4. Organization/Support Organization
    5. Department
    6. Site
  2. The search type drop-down list enables you to choose the type of search to perform. The choices are:
    1. contains
    2. does not contains
    3. equals
    4. does not equal
    5. starts with
    6. ends with
  3. The search qualifier field 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 that use 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.
    • Apex Global contains:
      • Apex Global
      • Ape
      • pex
      • AG
      • obal
  • Does not contain—The qualifier string must not appear in the target table column, which is specified in the search column drop-down list.
    • Apex Global does not contain:
      • Apex Global
      • Ape
      • pex
      • Global
      • 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.
    • Apex Global equals:
      • Apex Global
  • 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.
    • Apex Global does not equal:
      • Apex
      • Ape
      • pex
      • AG
      • 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.
    • Apex Global starts with:
      • Apex
      • Ape
      • Apex Global
      • A
  • 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.
    • Apex Global ends with:
      • l
      • obal
      • Global
      • Apex Global

To create 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. To save the alias record, click Save .
    The alias is saved as unvalidated .

To modify 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. To save your changes, click Save.
    The alias is saved as unvalidated.

To 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. 
  3. Click Yes to delete the alias and No to cancel the deletion.

To validate all aliases

Important

You must have DMT Admin permissions to validate 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.

 

Tip: For faster searching, add an asterisk to the end of your partial query. Example: cert*