Chapter 10 Generating a Database from a PDM

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.

You can define the following fill parameters:

Value Description
Null values Percentage of column entries containing a null value
Distinct values Indication of the percentage of column rows that contain unique entries. This is a maximum value, and can change automatically depending on the referential integrity parameters of primary key columns. Alternately, a specific value can be entered, without a percentage sign, to indicate the exact number of column rows that contain unique entries.

Note   Average Length
The Average Length box is only used for the Estimate data base size function. The value that is displayed by default, is the maximum length for the data type defined for a selected column.

Indicated column properties

The following column properties are indicated on the Columns sheet:

Indicator Property When selected, indicates that...
M Mandatory Column must be assigned a value. The fill parameter Null value is automatically defined as 0%
U Unique column Column is the only column in a primary key, alternate key, or unique index. The fill parameters Null Values and Distinct Values are automatically defined as 0% and 100% respectively
F Foreign Column is a foreign key column. You cannot assign a data profile to this column. It automatically takes the data profile of the corresponding primary key column in the parent table

Steps To define column fill parameters:

  1. Select Model→Tables.

    The List of tables appears.
  2. Double-click a table from the list.

    The Profile properties sheet opens to the General page.
  3. Select the Columns tab.

    The Columns page appears.
  4. Double-click a column name.

    The Column properties dialog box appears.
  5. Select the Detail tab.

    The Detail page appears.
  6. Select or type Column fill parameters.
  7. Select a profile from the test data parameters dropdown list box.
  8. Click OK in each dialog box.

    You return to the Columns page.
  9. Click OK.

 

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