5 DataSet Editor

The DataSet Editor produces views, which are virtual tables based on an underlying SQL definition. The dataset provides a common interface for accessing data from a variety of sources. Datasets consist of a collection of data elements, each with a set of attributes that fully characterize that element.

Within the DataSet Editor, you use graphical icons to define these elements—to select attributes, join tables, filter records, and derive elements. Access and construction of those data elements depends on the specific type of dataset. Two types of datasets are available:

  • Wrapper: Accesses an external data source, such as a database table. A wrapper dataset pro- vides attribute definitions and other descriptive information, however, does not specify how the elements are constructed or accessed. When a request is made for the wrapper dataset’s ele- ments, the request is forwarded to the external source, and the results are properly formatted for the client. Wrapper dataset is a mirror image of a table. For example, if there is an Account table then the wrapper for this table will be ACCT.
  • Derived: Combines or modifies the contents of other datasets. A derived dataset takes one or more source datasets as input and applies a set of transformations to create a new set of ele- ments. Source datasets can come from wrappers around external sources or other derived data- sets.

    A derived dataset specifies the definition, selection, and combination of element attribute values through a sequence of transformation operators. For example, there are two datasets, Dataset A and Dataset B. If Dataset B is derived from Dataset A then, Dataset B is the derived dataset.

This chapter defines the features and functionality of the DataSet Editor Tool. This chapter focuses on the following topics:

Table 5-1 DataSet Editor Terminology

Term Description
Dataset Set of data that is derived from a business firm for the purpose of finding behaviors of interest.
DataSetEditor Tool that the Scenario Manager provides to create datasets that are then used with other Scenario Manager editors to create scenarios.
DerivedDataset Entity that combines or modifies the contents of other datasets. Derived datasets take one or more source datasets as inputs and applies a set of transforms to create a new set of elements. Source datasets can be datasets that wrap around external sources or other derived datasets.
Transforms Transforms that the DataSet Editor provides:
  • DataSetSource: Identifies a table or view used in the dataset.
  • Join:Combines multiple source datasets.
  • Filter: Creates a restrictive clause to limit the records in the dataset.
  • Derive: Enables derivation of a new attribute from an existing attribute.
WrapperDataset Datasetthat accesses external data sources such as database tables. However, wrapper datasets do not specify element construction or access.