Classify your data model

Classifying your data model may seems really complex, but often is more simple than you think. Lots of large data models consists of tables that are already empty in your production database. Those tables can be easily moved to the Empty classification. Then there may be logging tables which contain information that is not relevant for testing. Those can be moved to Empty as well. There are tables containing types, like countries, currencies, categories, etc that must be copied fully. Just move those tables to the Full classification. Also application tables that needs to be present for the application to work must be classified as Full. The rest of your tables probably consists of tables that store process and/or transaction data. These are your subset tables. If you execute your template these tables will be filtered based on your start table.

DATPROF Subset will use the foreign keys between the start tables and the subset tables to generate a dependency process network. You can visualize this process model in the upper menu bar Visualize → Process model.

Moving tables between classification can be done in multiple ways

Select one or more tables and use the Move to... buttons below each classification
Select one or more tables and right click on the selection and choose Move to classification
Select one or more tables and drag the selection to a specific classification
Within the properties of a table, click the current classification next to the table name
In the visualization, right click a module and choose Move to → Classification

When you classify your data model in a incorrect manner, this may cause unnecessary iterations or data conflicts in your target database.

In the next lesson we will learn all about validating your classification and preventing classification mistakes.

If you want to see the moving between classification in action, just watch the following video clip.