Microsoft Office Visio Database Diagram (via ERX) - Import - 7.3

Talend Data Catalog Bridges

Version
7.3
Language
English
Product
Talend Cloud
Module
Talend Data Catalog
Last publication date
2023-08-17

Bridge Requirements

This bridge:
  • is only supported on Microsoft Windows.

Bridge Specifications

Vendor Microsoft
Tool Name Office Visio Database Diagram
Tool Version 97 to 2016
Tool Web Site http://microsoft.com/visio
Supported Methodology [Data Modeling] Data Store (Physical Data Model, Logical Data Model) via erwin 3 (.ERX) File
Data Profiling
Incremental Harvesting
Multi-Model Harvesting
Remote Repository Browsing for Model Selection

SPECIFICATIONS
Tool: Microsoft / Office Visio Database Diagram version 97 to 2016 via erwin 3 (.ERX) File
See http://microsoft.com/visio
Metadata: [Data Modeling] Data Store (Physical Data Model, Logical Data Model)
Component: CaErwin3ErxImport.MicrosoftOfficeVisio version 11.1.0

OVERVIEW
This bridge imports data models from erwin Data Modeler, including logical only models with Entities, Attributes, Domains, physical only models with Tables, Columns, Data Types, or Logical/Physical models with both. This bridge also imports all relationships and their implementation (e.g. PK/FK) as well as the graphical layout of the data models (diagrams).
This bridge can import either the .ER1 format files or .ERX format files saved using erwin Data Modeler.
- erwin Native Format (.ER1):
This bridge requires the erwin Data Modeler COM/OLE API to be installed in order to parse .ER1 format files.
erwin Data Modeler must be properly installed with a valid license on the machine executing this bridge.
In order to test this, open an erwin model in Data Modeler and save it as 'XML Repository Format'.
- erwin Exchange Format (.ERX):
Here are the steps to create this type of .ERX file:
1. Choose 'Save As' from the 'File' menu.
2. Select the ERX format type.
3. Type the file name for the model you are saving in the 'File Name' text box (eventually press the browse button to select a specific directory).
4. Click 'OK'.

REQUIREMENTS
- erwin User:
This bridge must run on behalf of the Windows user that can run the erwin software.
If this bridge is running as part of a Windows desktop application, then you must log on windows with that user.
If this bridge is running as part of a Windows service, then go to the Windows services and click on the 'Properties' menu of such service, go to the 'Log On' tab, select 'This account' and specify the same user name and password used as Windows session when testing connectivity from erwin to the mart, and restart the Windows service.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How does this bridge import the ordering of attributes?
A: This bridge imports the physical order preferably, if the information is present in the ERX file, otherwise the logical order is used.
To view the physical column ordering in erwin:
- Switch to the model Physical View,
- In the 'Format' menu, select 'Stored Display Settings...',
- Click on the 'Physical' tab, and select the 'Physical Order' radio button.
This is the order erwin uses when generating SQL DDL, and MIMB will import this order, if it is available in the file.
If you wish to import the logical order, please derive a logical only model in erwin and import it.

LIMITATIONS
Refer to the current general known limitations at http://metaintegration.com/Products/MIMB/MIMBKnownLimitations.html or bundled in Documentation/ReadMe/MIMBKnownLimitations.html

- Warning On Potential Missing Physical Names:
This issue is particularly relevant when converting from erwin to ETL or BI tools, or to the OMG CWM XMI standard.
When saving a logical and physical model, the physical names of tables, columns, and keys may not always be saved into the ERX file. When erwin is used to manage the automatic generation of physical names from logical names, only the generation rules are saved. This will obviously not be an issue for physical-only erwin models (which is often the case when re-engineering existing databases).
One solution is to make sure all physical names are explicitly set, therefore not relying on any generation rules from the logical names.
Alternatively, when saving a model as ERX, the dialog box offers a button called 'Expand...'. A new 'Expand Property Values' dialog box is then opened, select the database (e.g. Oracle, SQL Server) tab, and then check the appropriate names to expand (e.g. Col Name).

- Warning On Potential Missing Dimensional Modeling Roles:
This issue is particularly relevant when erwin is used for dimensional modeling to BI tools, or to the OMG CWM XMI standard. As for the physical name issue explained above, the dimensional modeling roles (Fact, Dimensional, or Outrigger) may not be available in the XML file if they are automatically calculated by erwin.
One solution, is to make sure all dimensional modeling roles are explicitly set (use the 'Table Editor', tab 'Dimensional'), therefore not relying on automatic calculations by erwin based on usage.

SUPPORT
Provide a trouble shooting package with debug log. Debug log can be set in the UI or in conf/conf.properties with MIR_LOG_LEVEL=6


Bridge Parameters

Parameter Name Description Type Values Default Scope
File The erwin data model file which can be either:

'model.ER1'
The native format which requires erwin Data Modeler to be installed (Windows only) in order to access its COM API.

'model.ERX'
The saved as erwin exchange format which can be then used on both Linux and Windows. This ERX format is produced by erwin Data Modeler as follows:
1. Choose 'Save As' from the 'File' menu.
2. Select the ERX format type.
3. Type the file name for the model you are saving in the 'File Name' text box (eventually press the browse button to select a specific directory).
4. Click 'OK'.
FILE *.erx   Mandatory
Import UDPs In erwin data modeler, a User Defined Property (UDP) is defined with a name (e.g. Threat Level), a definition (e.g. an enumeration with values: green, yellow, orange, red), and a possible default value (e.g. green). Applying a UDP to an object (e.g. table or column) can be done with an explicit value (e.g. orange) or without value therefore the default value of the UDP (e.g. green).
By default, this bridge imports the UDP definitions as a Property Type.

UDP can be imported:

'As metadata'
Import an explicit value as Property Value, implicit values are not imported, the default value is kept on the Property Type only.

'As metadata, migrate default values'
Import explicit and implicit values as Property Value objects.

'In description, migrate default values'
Append the property name and value, even if implicit, to the object's description and/or comment (depending upon the design level). This allows you to export the UDP values to another tool which does not support the notion of UDP.

'Both, migrate default values'
Import the UDP value, even if implicit, both as metadata and in the object's description and/or comment (depending upon the design level).
ENUMERATED
As metadata
As metadata, migrate default values
In description, migrate default values
Both, migrate default values
As metadata  
Generate names for associations Generate a name for the associations and generalizations. These objects are unnamed in erwin. BOOLEAN   False  
Encoding Select the character set encoding of the model to be imported. If there are multiple choices for a language, the actual encoding is indicated between parentheses. ENUMERATED
Central and Eastern European (iso-8859-2)
Central and Eastern European (windows-1250)
Chinese Traditional (big5)
Chinese Simplified (GB18030)
Chinese Simplified (GB2312)
Cyrillic (iso-8859-5)
Cyrillic (windows-1251)
DOS (ibm-850)
Greek (iso-8859-7)
Greek (windows-1253)
Hebrew (iso-8859-8)
Hebrew (windows-1255)
Japanese (shift_jis)
Korean (ks_c_5601-1987)
Thai (TIS620)
Thai (windows-874)
Turkish (iso-8859-9)
Turkish (windows-1254)
UTF 8 (utf-8)
UTF 16 (utf-16)
Western European (iso-8859-1)
Western European (iso-8859-15)
Western European (windows-1252)
Locale encoding
No encoding conversion
windows-1252  
Import subject areas This bridge option controls how the erwin subject areas are imported:

'As diagrams'
import as diagrams only.

'As packages and diagrams'
import as packages and diagrams. This option may be useful to some database modelers who decided to save the hierarchy structure of subject areas.
This is the default value.

'Do not import subject areas'
do not import subject areas.
ENUMERATED
As diagrams
As packages and diagrams
Do not import subject areas
As packages and diagrams  

 

Bridge Mapping

Meta Integration Repository (MIR)
Metamodel
(based on the OMG CWM standard)
"Microsoft Office Visio Database Diagram (via ERX)"
Metamodel
CaErwin3Erx
Mapping Comments
     
Association Relationship  
Aggregation Identifying/ Non Identifying True if identifying
Description Definition optional: UDP values can be added to the description
DesignLevel Logical Only/Physical Only  
PhysicalName Foreign Key Constraint Name  
DesignLevel Logical Only/Physical Only  
ExtraConstraint Delete, Insert, Update Rule  
Multiplicity Cardinality  
Name Verb Phrase  
Source   Based on the multiplicity of each role
AssociationRoleNameMap Attribute/Index The association between the primary key column and the foreign key column
Attribute Attribute/Column  
Description Definition optional: UDP values can be added to the description
DesignLevel Logical Only/Physical Only  
Name Logical Name  
Optional Null Option  
PhysicalName Physical Name  
Position Column Position  
BaseType Domain, Attribute Data Type  
DataType Data Type See datatype conversion array
Description Definition  
Length Data Type Length  
Name Name  
PhysicalName Validation Rule Name/DataType Derived from the datatype
Scale Data Type Precision  
CandidateKey Key Group/Index (non Foreign Key)  
Name Logical Name if set by the user
PhysicalName Physical Name if set by the user
UniqueKey   True for Primary Key/Alternate Key
Class Entity/Table  
Comment Table Comment  
CppClassType   Set to ENTITY
CppPersistent   Set to True
Description Definition optional: UDP values can be added to the description
DesignLevel Logical Only/Physical Only  
DimensionalRole Dimensional Modeling Role  
Name Logical Name  
PhysicalName Physical Name  
ClassDiagram Subject Area  
Description Definition optional: UDP values can be added to the description
Name Name  
DatabaseSchema Owner Table, View or Index owner
Name Name  
DerivedType Domain, Attribute Data Type, Validation Rule  
DataType Data Type See datatype conversion array
Description Definition  
Length Data Type Length  
LowerBound Validation Rule Minimum  
Name Name  
PhysicalName Validation Rule Name/DataType Derived from the datatype
Scale Data Type Precision  
UpperBound Validation Rule Maximum  
UserDefined   True for User Defined Domain
DesignPackage   No equivalent in ERwin. A main package "Logical View" will be created to contain all entities/references
ForeignKey Key Group/Index (Foreign Key)  
Name Logical Name if set by the user
PhysicalName Physical Name if set by the user
Generalization Supertype/Subtype  
GeneralizationRole Supertype/Subtype Relationship  
Index Key Group/Index  
Name Logical Name if set by the user
PhysicalName Physical Name if set by the user
IndexMember Key Group Member/Index Member Associated with each attribute in a key
Position Column Position  
SortOrder Ascending/descending order  
Note Note  
Projection Diagram View Object Graphical Information
BackgroundColor fill color  
FontColor font color  
FontName font  
FontSize font size  
Height height  
LineColor line color  
Width width  
X x  
Y y  
RelationshipProjection Diagram View Object Graphical Information
FontName font  
FontSize font size  
LineColor line color  
LinePoints relationship path  
X x relationship mid point
Y y relationship mid point
SQLViewAssociation View Relationship  
SQLViewAttribute View Column  
Description Comment  
Name Name  
PhysicalName Name  
Position Column Position  
SQLViewEntity View Table  
Description Comment  
Name Name  
PhysicalName Name  
WhereClause SQL statement  
Shape Text Block  
Bold Text Font Style User settable
FontColor Text Block Color  
FontName Text Block Font Font typeface name
FontSize Text Size  
Height   Calculated property
Italic Text Font Style User settable
Name   Computed parameter, based on the object ID
ShapeType   Rectangle
Strike Text Effects Strikeout User settable
Underline Text Effects Underline User settable
Width   Calculated property
X   Calculated property
Y   Calculated property
Z   Calculated property
StoreModel Model/Diagram The model is built using the elements contained in the ERwin file
Description Definition  
Name Name Diagram name or derived from the ERwin file name
SystemType Target Server  
SystemTypeOld Target Server  
Name Display Value/Valid Value  
TypeValue Validation Rule  
Name Display Value/Valid Value  
Position Order Sequence  
Value Value