2018.2

Importing/exporting a Data Model
To use a Data Model in another data mapping configuration, or to use it in a Designer template
without a data mapping configuration, you have to export that Data Model and import it into a
data mapping configuration or template.
Importing and exporting Data Models is done from within the Data model Pane, using the top-
right icons and .
For information about the structure of the exported Data Model file, see "Data Model file
structure" on page240.
When you import a Data Model, it appears in the Data Model pane where you can see all the
fields and their types.
Instead of a Data Model file, you can import a JSON file, or a Connect file that contains a Data
Model. The file's data model structure will be displayed in the Data Model pane.
You can delete or add fields, or change their type. Once the Data Model is imported and all the
fields are properly set, all you need to do is extract the information from the active data sample
(see "Extracting data" on page181).
Note
l Imported Data Model fields always overwrite existing field properties when the field
name is the same (although they will still be part of the same Extract step). Non-
existent fields are created automatically with the appropriate field settings. The
import is case-insensitive.
l All imported data model fields are marked as required in the Data Model (indicated
with an asterisk (*) next to their names). This is to prevent them from being removed,
as the DataMapper immediately discards non-required fields that are not referenced
by any Extract step.
Editing the Data Model
The Data Model is generally constructed by extracting data; see "Extracting data" on page181.
There is however another way to modify the Data Model: via the contextual menu that opens
when you right-click on something in the Data Model pane. For an explanation of the options in
this menu, see "Data Model contextual menu" on page253.
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