Transformation

Overview

A transformation is a metadata object used to define how data is processed in the staging and warehouse layers. Depending on the transformation type, it can be modeled as a automatically-generated view, a manual view, a script-based process, or an external process.

Function

The Transformation feature is used to define and maintain transformation logic in the model.

Transformations are used to process source data and prepare it for downstream warehouse structures. The current documentation confirms regular, manual, script, and external transformation types.

Access

Transformations are available in the dataflow diagram of the main AnalyticsCreator user interface.

How to access

Navigation tree

Not applicable.

Toolbar

 ETL →  Transformation 

Diagram

Dataflow diagram → Right-click context menu → Add → Transformation

Visual element

Transformation

Screen overview

The Transformation feature provides access to transformation definitions in the dataflow diagram.

  • Add transformation: Creates a new transformation from the diagram context menu.
  • Regular transformation: Transformation described in tabular form that results in a generated view.
  • Manual transformation: Hand-created view defined manually by the user.
  • Script transformation: Transformation based on SQL scripts, often calling stored procedures.
  • External transformation: Transformation created outside AnalyticsCreator, for example as an SSIS package.

Related topics

  • Dataflow diagram
  • Source
  • Table
  • Persisting
  • Macros
  • Predefined transformations