Astera Data Stack
Version 10
Version 10
  • Welcome to Astera Data Stack Documentation
  • RELEASE NOTES
    • Astera 10.5 - Release Notes
    • Astera 10.4 - Release Notes
    • Astera 10.3 - Release Notes
    • Astera 10.2 – Release Notes
    • Astera 10.1 - Additional Notes
    • Astera 10.1 - Release Notes
    • Astera 10.0 - Release Notes
  • SETTING UP
    • System Requirements
    • Product Architecture
    • Migrating from Astera 9 to Astera 10
    • Migrating from Astera 7.x to Astera 10
    • Installing Client and Server Applications
    • Connecting to an Astera Server using the Client
    • How to Connect to a Different Astera Server from the Client
    • How to Build a Cluster Database and Create Repository
    • Repository Upgrade Utility in Astera
    • How to Login from the Client
    • How to Verify Admin Email
    • Licensing in Astera
    • How to Supply a License Key Without Prompting the User
    • Install Manager
    • User Roles and Access Control
      • Windows Authentication
      • Azure Authentication
    • Offline Activation of Astera
    • Setting Up R in Astera
    • Silent Installation
  • DATAFLOWS
    • What are Dataflows?
    • Sources
      • Data Providers and File Formats Supported in Astera Data Stack
      • Setting Up Sources
      • Excel Workbook Source
      • COBOL File Source
      • Database Table Source
      • Delimited File Source
      • File System Items Source
      • Fixed Length File Source
      • Email Source
      • Report Source
      • SQL Query Source
      • XML/JSON File Source
      • PDF Form Source
      • Parquet File Source (Beta)
      • MongoDB Source (Beta)
      • Data Model Query
    • Transformations
      • Introducing Transformations
      • Aggregate Transformation
      • Constant Value Transformation
      • Denormalize Transformation
      • Distinct Transformation
      • Expression Transformation
      • Filter Transformation
      • Join Transformation
      • List Lookup Transformation
      • Merge Transformation
      • Normalize Transformation
      • Passthru Transformation
      • Reconcile Transformation
      • Route Transformation
      • Sequence Generator
      • Sort Transformation
      • Sources as Transformations
      • Subflow Transformation
      • Switch Transformation
      • Tree Join Transformation
      • Tree Transform
      • Union Transformation
      • Data Cleanse Transformation
      • File Lookup Transformation
      • SQL Statement Lookup
      • Database Lookup
      • AI Match Transformation
    • Destinations
      • Setting Up Destinations
      • Database Table Destination
      • Delimited File Destination
      • Excel Workbook Destination
      • Fixed Length File Destination
      • SQL Statement Destination
      • XML File Destination
      • Parquet File Destination (Beta)
      • Excel Workbook Report
      • MongoDB Destination
    • Data Logging and Profiling
      • Creating Data Profile
      • Creating Field Profile
      • Data Quality Mode
      • Using Data Quality Rules in Astera
      • Record Level Log
      • Quick Profile
    • Database Write Strategies
      • Data Driven
      • Source Diff Processor
      • Database Diff Processor
    • Text Processors
      • Delimited Parser
      • Delimited Serializer
      • Language Parser
      • Fixed Length Parser
      • Fixed Length Serializer
      • XML/JSON Parser
      • XML/JSON Serializer
    • Data Warehouse
      • Fact Table Loader
      • Dimension Loader
      • Data Vault Loader
    • Testing and Diagnostics
      • Correlation Analysis
    • Visualization
      • Basic Plots
      • Distribution Plots
    • EDI
      • EDI Source File
      • EDI Message Parser
      • EDI Message Serializer
      • EDI Destination File
  • WORKFLOWS
    • What are Workflows?
    • Creating Workflows in Astera
    • Decision
    • EDI Acknowledgment
    • File System
    • File Transfer
      • FTP
      • SFTP
    • Or
    • Run Dataflow
    • Run Program
    • Run SQL File
    • Run SQL Script
    • Run Workflow
    • Send Mail
    • Workflows with a Dynamic Destination Path
    • Customizing Workflows With Parameters
    • GPG-Integrated File Decryption in Astera
    • AS2
      • Setting up an AS2 Server
      • Adding an AS2 Partner
      • AS2 Workflow Task
  • Subflows
    • Using Subflows in Astera
  • DATA MODEL
    • Creating a Data Warehousing Project
    • Data Models
      • Introducing Data Models
      • Opening a New Data Model
      • Data Modeler - UI Walkthrough
      • Reverse Engineering an Existing Database
      • Creating a Data Model from Scratch
      • General Entity Properties
      • Creating and Editing Relationships
      • Relationship Manager
      • Virtual Primary Key
      • Virtual Relationship
      • Change Field Properties
      • Forward Engineering
      • Verifying a Data Model
    • Dimensional Modelling
      • Introducing Dimensional Models
      • Converting a Data Model to a Dimensional Model
      • Build Dimensional Model
      • Fact Entities
      • Dimension Entities
      • Placeholder Dimension for Early Arriving Facts and Late Arriving Dimensions
      • Date and Time Dimension
      • Aggregates in Dimensional Modeling
      • Verifying a Dimensional Model
    • Data Vaults
      • Introducing Data Vaults
      • Data Vault Automation
      • Raw Vault Entities
      • Bridge Tables
      • Point-In-Time Tables
    • Documentation
      • Generating Technical and Business Documentation for Data Models
      • Lineage and Impact Analysis
    • Deployment and Usage
      • Deploying a Data Model
      • View Based Deployment
      • Validate Metadata and Data Integrity
      • Using Astera Data Models in ETL Pipelines
      • Connecting an Astera Data Model to a Third-Party Visualization Tool
  • REPORT MODEL
    • User Guide
      • Report Model Tutorial
    • Report Model Interface
      • Report Options
      • Report Browser
      • Data Regions in Report Models
      • Region Properties Panel
      • Pattern Properties
      • Field Properties Panel
    • Use Cases
      • Auto-Creating Data Regions and Fields
      • Line Count
      • Auto-Parsing
      • Pattern Count
      • Applying Pattern to Line
      • Regular Expression
      • Floating Patterns and Floating Fields
      • Creating Multi-Column Data Regions
      • Defining the Start Position of Data Fields
      • Data Field Verification
      • Using Comma Separated Values to Define Start Position
      • Defining Region End Type as Specific Text and Regular Expression
      • How To Work With PDF Scaling Factor in a Report Model
      • Connecting to Cloud Storage
    • Auto Generate Layout
      • Setting Up AGL in Astera
      • UI Walkthrough - Auto Generation of Layout, Fields and Table
      • Using Auto Generation Layout, Auto Create Fields and Auto Create Table (Preview)
    • AI Powered Data Extraction
      • AI Powered Data Extraction Using Astera North Star
      • Best Practices for AI-Powered Template Creation in Astera
    • Optical Character Recognition
      • Loading PDFs with OCR
      • Best Practices for OCR Usage
    • Exporting Options
      • Exporting a Report Model
      • Exporting Report Model to a Dataflow
    • Miscellaneous
      • Importing Monarch Models
      • Microsoft Word and Rich Text Format Support
      • Working With Problematic PDF Files
  • API Flow
    • API Publishing
      • Develop
        • Designing an API Flow
        • Request Context Parameters
        • Configuring Sorting and Filtering in API Flows
        • Enable Pagination
        • Asynchronous API Request
        • Multiple Responses using Conditional Route
        • Workflow Tasks in an API Flow
        • Enable File Download-Upload Through APIs
        • Database CRUD APIs Auto-Generation
        • Pre-deployment Testing and Verification of API flows
        • Multipart/Form-Data
        • Certificate Store
      • Publish
        • API Deployment
        • Test Flow Generation
      • Manage
        • Server Browser Functionalities for API Publishing
          • Swagger UI for API Deployments
        • API Monitoring
        • Logging and Tracing
    • API Consumption
      • Consume
        • API Connection
        • Making API Calls with the API Client
        • API Browser
          • Type 1 – JSON/XML File
          • Type 2 – JSON/XML URL
          • Type 3 – Import Postman API Collections
          • Type 4 - Create or customize API collection
          • Pre-built Custom Connectors
        • Request Service Options - eTags
        • HTTP Redirect Calls
        • Method Operations
        • Pagination
        • Raw Preview And Copy Curl Command
        • Support for text/XML and SOAP Protocol
        • API Logging
        • Making Multipart/Form-Data API Calls
      • Authorize
        • Open APIs - Configuration Details
        • Authorizing Facebook APIs
        • Authorizing Astera’s Server APIs
        • Authorizing Avaza APIs
        • Authorizing the Square API
        • Authorizing the ActiveCampaign API
        • Authorizing the QuickBooks’ API
        • Astera’s Server API Documentation
        • NTLM Authentication
        • AWS Signature Authentication
        • Accessing Astera’s Server APIs Through a Third-Party Tool
          • Workflow Use Case
  • Project Management and Scheduling
    • Project Management
      • Deployment
      • Server Monitoring and Job Management
      • Cluster Monitor and Settings
      • Connecting to Source Control
      • Astera Project and Project Explorer
      • CAR Convert Utility Guide
    • Job Scheduling
      • Scheduling Jobs on the Server
      • Job Monitor
    • Configuring Multiple Servers to the Same Repository (Load Balancing)
    • Purging the Database Repository
  • Data Governance
    • Deployment of Assets in Astera Data Stack
    • Logging In
    • Tags
    • Modifying Asset Details
    • Data Discoverability
    • Data Profile
    • Data Quality
    • Scheduler
    • Access Management
  • Functions
    • Introducing Function Transformations
    • Custom Functions
    • Logical
      • Coalesce (Any value1, Any value2)
      • IsNotNull (AnyValue)
      • IsRealNumber (AnyValue)
      • IsValidSqlDate (Date)
      • IsDate (AnyValue)
      • If (Boolean)
      • If (DateTime)
      • If (Double)
      • Exists
      • If (Int64)
      • If (String)
      • IsDate (str, strformat)
      • IsInteger (AnyValue)
      • IsNullOrWhitespace (StringValue)
      • IsNullorEmpty (StringValue)
      • IsNull (AnyValue)
      • IsNumeric (AnyValue)
    • Conversion
      • GetDateComponents (DateWithOffset)
      • ParseDate (Formats, Str)
      • GetDateComponents (Date)
      • HexToInteger (Any Value)
      • ToInteger (Any value)
      • ToDecimal (Any value)
      • ToReal (Any value)
      • ToDate (String dateStr)
      • TryParseDate (String, UnknownDate)
      • ToString (Any value)
      • ToString (DateValue)
      • ToString (Any data, String format)
    • Math
      • Abs (Double)
      • Abs (Decimal)
      • Ceiling (Real)
      • Ceiling(Decimal)
      • Floor (Decimal)
      • Floor (Real)
      • Max (Decimal)
      • Max (Date)
      • Min (Decimal)
      • Min (Date)
      • Max (Real)
      • Max (Integer)
      • Min (Real)
      • Pow (BaseExponent)
      • Min (Integer)
      • RandomReal (Int)
      • Round (Real)
      • Round (Real Integer)
      • Round (Decimal Integer)
      • Round (Decimal)
    • Financial
      • DDB
      • FV
      • IPmt
      • IPmt (FV)
      • Pmt
      • Pmt (FV)
      • PPmt
      • PPmt (FV)
      • PV (FV)
      • Rate
      • Rate (FV)
      • SLN
      • SYD
    • String
      • Center (String)
      • Chr (IntAscii)
      • Asc (String)
      • AddCDATAEnvelope
      • Concatenate (String)
      • ContainsAnyChar (String)
      • Contains (String)
      • Compact (String)
      • Find (Int64)
      • EndsWith (String)
      • FindIntStart (Int32)
      • Extract (String)
      • GetFindCount (Int64)
      • FindLast (Int64)
      • GetDigits (String)
      • GetLineFeed
      • Insert (String)
      • IsAlpha
      • GetToken
      • IndexOf
      • IsBlank
      • IsLower
      • IsUpper
      • IsSubstringOf
      • Length (String)
      • LeftOf (String)
      • Left (String)
      • IsValidName
      • Mid (String)
      • PadLeft
      • Mid (String Chars)
      • LSplit (String)
      • PadRight
      • ReplaceAllSpecialCharsWithSpace
      • RemoveChars (String str, StringCharsToRemove)
      • ReplaceLast
      • RightAlign
      • Reverse
      • Right (String)
      • RSplit (String)
      • SplitStringMultipleRecords
      • SplitStringMultipleRecords (2 Separators)
      • SplitString (3 separators)
      • SplitString
      • SplitStringMultipleRecords (3 Separators)
      • Trim
      • SubString (NoOfChars)
      • StripHtml
      • Trim (Start)
      • TrimExtraMiddleSpace
      • TrimEnd
      • PascalCaseWithSpace (String str)
      • Trim (String str)
      • ToLower(String str)
      • ToProper(String str)
      • ToUpper (String str)
      • Substring (String str, Integer startAt)
      • StartsWith (String str, String value)
      • RemoveAt (String str, Integer startAt, Integer noofChars)
      • Proper (String str)
      • Repeat (String str, Integer count)
      • ReplaceAll (String str, String lookFor, String replaceWith)
      • ReplaceFirst (String str, String lookFor, String replaceWith)
      • RightOf (String str, String lookFor)
      • RemoveChars (String str, String charsToRemove)
      • SplitString (String str, String separator1, String separator2)
    • Date Time
      • AddMinutes (DateTime)
      • AddDays (DateTimeOffset)
      • AddDays (DateTime)
      • AddHours (DateTime)
      • AddSeconds (DateTime)
      • AddMonths (DateTime)
      • AddMonths (DateTimeOffset)
      • AddMinutes (DateTimeOffset)
      • AddSeconds (DateTimeOffset)
      • AddYears (DateTimeOffset)
      • AddYears (DateTime)
      • Age (DateTime)
      • Age (DateTimeOffset)
      • CharToSeconds (Str)
      • DateDifferenceDays (DateTimeOffset)
      • DateDifferenceDays (DateTime)
      • DateDifferenceHours (DateTimeOffset)
      • DateDifferenceHours (DateTime)
      • DateDifferenceMonths (DateTimeOffset)
      • DateDifferenceMonths (DateTime)
      • DatePart (DateTimeOffset)
      • DatePart (DateTime)
      • DateDifferenceYears (DateTimeOffset)
      • DateDifferenceYears (DateTime)
      • Month (DateTime)
      • Month (DateTimeOffset)
      • Now
      • Quarter (DateTime)
      • Quarter (DateTimeOffset)
      • Second (DateTime)
      • Second (DateTimeOffset)
      • SecondsToChar (String)
      • TimeToInteger (DateTime)
      • TimeToInteger (DateTimeOffset)
      • ToDate Date (DateTime)
      • ToDate DateTime (DateTime)
      • ToDateString (DateTime)
      • ToDateTimeOffset-Date (DateTimeOffset)
      • ToDate DateTime (DateTimeOffset)
      • ToDateString (DateTimeOffset)
      • Today
      • ToLocal (DateTime)
      • ToJulianDate (DateTime)
      • ToJulianDayNumber (DateTime)
      • ToTicks (Date dateTime)
      • ToTicks (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • ToUnixEpoc (Date dateTime)
      • ToUtc (Date dateTime)
      • UnixTimeStampToDateTime (Real unixTimeStamp)
      • UtcNow ()
      • Week (Date dateTime)
      • Week (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • Year (Date dateTime)
      • Year (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • DateToJulian (Date dateTime, Integer length)
      • DateTimeOffsetUtcNow ()
      • DateTimeOffsetNow ()
      • Day (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • Day (Date dateTime)
      • DayOfWeekStr (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • DayOfWeek (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • DayOfWeek (Date dateTime)
      • DateToJulian (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime, Integer length)
      • DayOfWeekStr (Date dateTime)
      • FromJulianDate (Real julianDate)
      • DayOfYear (Date dateTime)
      • DaysInMonth(Integer year, Integer month)
      • DayOfYear (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • FromUnixEpoc
      • FromJulianDayNumber (Integer julianDayNumber)
      • FromTicksUtc(Integer ticks)
      • FromTicksLocal(Integer ticks)
      • Hour (Date dateTime)
      • Hour (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • Minute (Date dateTime)
      • JulianToDate (String julianDate)
      • Minute (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • DateToIntegerYYYYMMDD (DateTimeWithOffset dateTime)
      • DateToIntegerYYYYMMDD (Date dateTime)
    • Files
      • AppendTextToFile (String filePath, String text)
      • CopyFile (String sourceFilePath, String destFilePath, Boolean overWrite)
      • CreateDateTime (String filePath)
      • DeleteFile (String filePath)
      • DirectoryExists (String filePath)
      • FileExists (String filePath)
      • FileLength (String filePath)
      • FileLineCount (String filePath)
      • GetDirectory (String filePath)
      • GetEDIFileMetaData (String filePath)
      • GetExcelWorksheets (String excelFilePath)
      • GetFileExtension (String filePath)
      • GetFileInfo (String filePath)
      • GetFileName (String filePath)
      • GetFileNameWithoutExtension (String filePath)
      • LastUpdateDateTime (String filePath)
      • MoveFile (String filePath, String newDirectory)
      • ReadFileBytes (String filePath)
      • ReadFileFirstLine (String filePath)
      • ReadFileText (String filePath)
      • ReadFileText (String filePath, String codePage)
      • WriteBytesToFile (String filePath, ByteArray bytes)
      • WriteTextToFile (String filePath, String text)
    • Date Time With Offset
      • ToDateTimeOffsetFromDateTime (dateTime String)
      • ToUtc (DateTimeWithOffset)
      • ToDateTimeOffsetFromDateTime
      • ToDateTimeOffset (String dateTimeOffsetStr)
      • ToDateTimeFromDateTimeOffset
    • GUID
      • NewGuid
    • Encoding
      • ToBytes
      • FromBytes
      • UrlEncode
      • UrlDecode
      • ComputeSHA256
      • ComputeMD5
      • ComputeHash (Str, Key)
      • ComputeHash (Str, Key, hex)
      • ConvertEncoding
    • Regular Expressions
      • ReplaceRegEx
      • ReplaceRegEx (Integer StartAt)
      • IsMatchRegEx (StartAt)
      • IsMatchRegEx
      • IsUSPhone
      • IsUSZipCode
      • GetMatchRegEx
      • GetMatchRegEx (StartAt)
    • TimeSpan
      • Minutes
      • Hours
      • Days
      • Milliseconds
      • TotalMilliseconds
      • TimeSpanFromTicks
      • Ticks
      • TotalHours
      • Seconds
      • TotalDays
      • ToTimeSpan (Hours, Min, Sec)
      • ToTimeSpan (Milli)
      • ToTimeSpan
      • TotalSeconds
      • TotalMinutes
    • Matching
      • Soundex
      • DoubleMetaphone
      • RefinedSoundex
    • Processes
      • TerminateProcess
      • IsProcessRunning
  • USE CASES
    • End-to-End Use Cases
      • Data Integration
        • Using Astera Data Stack to Create and Orchestrate an ETL Process for Partner Onboarding
      • Data Warehousing
        • Building a Data Warehouse – A Step by Step Approach
      • Data Extraction
        • Reusing The Extraction Template for Similar Layout Files
  • CONNECTORS
    • Setting Up IBM DB2/iSeries Connectivity in Astera
    • Connecting to SAP HANA Database
    • Connecting to MariaDB Database
    • Connecting to Salesforce Database
    • Connecting to Salesforce – Legacy Database
    • Connecting to Vertica Database
    • Connecting to Snowflake Database
    • Connecting to Amazon Redshift Database
    • Connecting to Amazon Aurora Database
    • Connecting to Google Cloud SQL in Astera
    • Connecting to MySQL Database
    • Connecting to PostgreSQL in Astera
    • Connecting to Netezza Database
    • Connecting to Oracle Database
    • Connecting to Microsoft Azure Databases
    • Amazon S3 Bucket Storage in Astera
    • Connecting to Amazon RDS Databases
    • Microsoft Azure Blob Storage in Astera
    • ODBC Connector
    • Microsoft Dynamics CRM
    • Connection Details for Azure Data Lake Gen 2 and Azure Blob Storage
    • Configuring Azure Data Lake Gen 2
    • Connecting to Microsoft Message Queue
    • Connecting to Google BigQuery
    • Azure SQL Server Configuration Prerequisites
    • Connecting to Microsoft Azure SQL Server
    • Connecting to Microsoft SharePoint in Astera
  • Incremental Loading
    • Trigger Based CDC
    • Incremental CDC
  • MISCELLANEOUS
    • Using Dynamic Layout & Template Mapping in Astera
    • Synonym Dictionary File
    • SmartMatch Feature
    • Role-Based Access Control in Astera
    • Updating Your License in Astera
    • Using Output Variables in Astera
    • Parameterization
    • Connection Vault
    • Safe Mode
    • Context Information
    • Using the Data Source Browser in Astera
    • Pushdown Mode
    • Optimization Scenarios
    • Using Microsoft’s Modern Authentication Method in Email Source Object
    • Shared Actions
    • Data Formats
    • AI Automapper
    • Resource Catalog
    • Cloud Deployment
      • Deploying Astera Data Stack on Microsoft Azure Cloud
      • Deploying Astera Data Stack on Oracle Cloud
      • Deploying Astera Data Stack on Amazon Web Services
      • Setting up the Astera Server on AKS
    • GIT In Astera Data Stack
      • GIT Repositories in Astera Data Stack
      • Moving a Repository to a Remote Server
      • Git Conflicts in Astera Data Stack
    • Astera Best Practices
  • FAQs
    • Installation
      • Why do we need to make two installations for Astera?
      • What’s the difference between Custom and Complete installation?
      • What’s the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit Astera?
      • Can we use a single license for multiple users?
      • Does Astera client work when it’s not connected to the server?
      • Why do we need to build a cluster database and set up a repository while working with Astera?
      • How do we set up multiple servers for load balancing?
      • How do we maintain schedules when migrating server or upgrading version?
      • Which database providers does Astera support for setting up a cluster database?
      • How many Astera clients can be connected to a single server?
      • Why is Astera not able to access my source file or create a new one?
    • Sources
      • Can I use data from unstructured documents in dataflows?
      • Can I extract data from fillable PDF forms in Astera?
      • Does Astera support extraction of data residing in online sources?
      • How do I process multiple files in a directory with a single execution of a flow?
      • Can I write information from the File System Items Source to the destination?
      • Can I split a source file into multiple files based on record count?
      • Does Astera support data extraction from unstructured docs or text files?
      • What is the difference between full and incremental loading in database sources?
      • How is the File System Items Source used in a Dataflow?
      • How does the PDF Form Source differ from the Report Source in Astera?
      • Does Astera support extraction of data from EDI files?
      • How does the Raw Text Filter option work in file sources in Astera?
    • Destinations
      • If I want to have a different field delimiter, say a pipe (“|”), is there an option to export with a
      • Tools Menu > Data Format has different date formats, but it doesn’t seem to do anything.
      • Can we export the Object Path column present in the Data Preview window?
      • I want to change the output format of a column.
      • What will be the outcome if we write files multiple times to the same Excel Destination?
    • Transformations
      • How is the Aggregate Transformation different from the Expression Transformation?
      • Can we omit duplicate records using the Aggregate Transformation in Astera?
      • How many datasets can a single Aggregate object take input from?
      • How is Expression Transformation different from the Function Transformation?
    • Workflows
      • What is a Workflow in Astera?
      • How do I trigger a task if at least one of a set of tasks fails?
      • Can I perform an action based on whether a file has data?
    • Scheduler
      • How can I schedule a job to run every x hours?
Powered by GitBook

© Copyright 2025, Astera Software

On this page
  • Video
  • How to Access the Properties of an Entity
  • Entity Properties
  • Layout Builder
  • Data Model Entity Indexes

Was this helpful?

Export as PDF
  1. DATA MODEL
  2. Data Models

General Entity Properties

PreviousCreating a Data Model from ScratchNextCreating and Editing Relationships

Last updated 1 year ago

Was this helpful?

In Astera Data Stack, a general entity represents a read-only table. In essence, it represents a table that could contain readable data but does not require any data to be written to it. All entities are marked as general entities by default when a database is reverse engineered unless you change their type manually. Moreover, you can also add new general entities to your data model via the toolbox.

In this article, we will be discussing the properties of a general entity in a data model.

Video

How to Access the Properties of an Entity

You can access the properties of an entity in three ways:

  1. Double-click on the entity header.

  2. Right-click on the entity header and select Properties from the context menu.

  1. Right-click on the entity name in the Data Model Browser and select Properties from the context menu.

On performing one of these actions, a configuration window will appear on your screen. You can use this window to modify the properties of the entity.

Entity Properties

The first screen of the configuration window is the Entity Properties screen. Here, you can see and change some general information regarding the table.

Table Name: Using this text box, you can change the name of the table.

Schema: Using this text box, you can change the schema of the table.

Entity Type: From this dropdown menu, you can select an entity type from the following options.

Definition: Here, you can enter an optional description for the table.

The following options are available in the Entity Type dropdown menu:

  • General: When this type is selected, the entity layout will not contain Fact Field Type options or SCD (Slowly Changing Dimensions) Field Type options. Therefore, the entity will represent a general table.

Click Next to move to the Layout Builder screen.

Layout Builder

Here, you can modify the layout of the table by adding or removing fields.

To remove a field, right-click on it and select Delete from the context menu.

To add a new field, click on the empty row at the bottom, enter a field name, and specify its properties.

You can move a selected field up or down the table layout using the up and down arrow icons at the top of the screen.

Once you’ve modified the entity layout according to your requirements, click Next.

Data Model Entity Indexes

On the Data Model Entity Indexes screen, you can create indexes to increase the speed of data retrieval based on a field or a set of fields.

In this case, the Index List contains a pre-existing index. This is the primary key index that was already present in the database from which this entity was reverse engineered.

To add a new index to the Index List, click on the Add Index icon on the top left of the screen.

To delete an existing index, click on the Delete Index icon.

Note: The Delete Index icon is disabled when you select the primary key index.

You can also auto-generate indexes based on field characteristics using the Auto-Generate Indexes icon. This icon is only enabled for fact and dimension entities.

Once you click on the Add New Index icon, a new index with a default name is added to the Index list. You can customize this index using the Edit Index options.

Name: Using this text box, you can change the index name.

Using the provided checkboxes, you can specify the index type.

  • Clustered: A clustered index specifies the order in which records are physically stored in a table. We can only have one clustered index per entity.

  • Unique: A unique index ensures that two or more rows of data do not contain the same value.

  • Unique Constraint: A unique constraint has the same function as a unique index. When a unique constraint is created for a column, a corresponding unique index is also created for that column. Therefore, when you check this option, the Unique option is automatically checked and disabled.

  • Column Store: A column store index uses a columnar data format to retrieve data.

Using the dropdown menu under the Columns section of the screen, you can specify the key column(s) of the index.

If you wish to include any non-key columns to the index for further optimization, you can utilize the dropdown menu available under the Include Columns section of the screen.

Once you’ve created your desired index or indexes, click OK to exit the configuration window.

This concludes our discussion on general entity properties in a data model.

Here, we have a general entity named Customer, which is part of a sample data model that we’ve created by reverse engineering an existing database. To learn about reverse engineering, click .

Fact: When this type is selected, the entity layout will contain Fact Role options. Therefore, the entity will represent a fact table. To learn about fact tables, click .

Dimension: When this type is selected, the entity layout will contain Dimension Role options. Therefore, the entity will represent a dimension table. To learn about dimension tables, click .

Fact and dimension tables are an integral part of dimensional modeling. For more information on dimensional models, click .

here
here
here
here
01-general-entity
02-general-entity-properties
03-entity-properties-data-model-browser
04-entity-properties-table-info
05-entity-type
06-general-entity-layout
07-entity-delete-field
08-entity-add-field
09-entity-layout-order
10-data-model-entity-indexes
11-add-entity-index
12-delete-entity-index
13-auto-generate-indexes
14-entity-index-properties
15-entity-index-unique-constraint
16-entity-index-columns
17-entity-indexes-include-columns