Using Test Data

Test data is sample data that you can define and generate for one or more tables in a PDM. When you generate test data, PowerDesigner automatically generates rows of data in database tables.

You normally use test data to verify the performance of a database that is being developed. You can use test data to do the following:

Verify the performance of the database when it is filled with large amounts of data
Verify the performance of the database when it is accessed by different applications or users
Estimate the amount of memory space the database will take up
Examine data formatting in the database

You can generate test data for selected tables in a PDM, or for all the tables in a PDM.

You can add test data to an empty database or to a database that already contains data.

Test Data Profile

You generate test data for a table based on test data profiles. A test data profile is a named class of data types that has a defined data generation source. A test data profile can be assigned to one or more columns.

When you assign a test data profile to a column, it acts as a representative for the data type of that column. Test data for the column is then generated using the data profile and its defined data source.

You can also select a test data profile to apply to a domain. You can then choose to have the profile automatically assigned to all columns that use that domain.

A test data profile can use one of the following:

Number
Character
Date/Time

Example

For a column named Employee Location, you create a test data profile named Address using the Character class. You then define a test data source for Address. You can also assign it to other columns, such as Store Location, and Client Address.

Default Test Data Profiles

If you do not assign a test data profile for a column, a default test data profile is assigned to the column when you generate test data for the table. You define default test data profiles for each class used to generate test data.

Test Data Restrictions

The following objects are not taken into account when you generate test data:

Alternate keys
Foreign keys
Business and validation rules
Binary, sequential, OLE, text or image data types
Trigger contents

Setting Up a Test Data Profile
You set up a test data profile as follows:
Creating a Test Data Profile
When you create a test data profile you need to define the following properties:
Automatic Test Data Generation Source Parameters
There are different automatic test data generation source parameters for each profile class.
Defining a List as a Test Data Generation Source
You can use information from a list to define a test data generation source for a data profile.
Defining a Live Database Connection as a Test Data Generation Source
You can use information from a live database connection to define a test data generation source for a data profile.
Defining a File as a Test Data Generation Source
You can import a CSV file to define a data generation source for a data profile. You can define the following generation source parameters for the CSV file:
Defining Column Fill Parameters
Fill parameters determine how a column is filled or populated with test data. You can define column fill parameters when you assign a data profile to the column, or as an independent procedure.
Assigning a Data Profile
When you assign a data profile to a column, the data profile defines the type of test data that you generate for that column.
Importing a Data Profile
You can import data profiles in XPF format from another PDM. The imported profiles appear in the list of profiles.
Exporting a Data Profile
You can export data profiles to a XPF file. In another PDM, you can then import the data profiles defined in this XPF file.
Generating Test Data
You can generate test data for all the tables in a PDM, or for selected tables.

Parent topic: Generating a Database from a PDM