Creating Models › Creating a Physical Model › Columns › Table Column Editor

Table Column Editor

Use the following options and tabs in the Table Column Editor to view and update the properties for each column in each table in the physical model. You can also access other editors to create default values, validation rules, user-defined properties, data warehouse sources, and domains.

Table

Displays the table to which the current column belongs. You can select another table using the drop-down list.

Previous

Positions the editor on the previous column in the Navigation Grid.

Next

Positions the editor on the next column in the Navigation Grid.

Sort

Sorts the columns by alphabetic, reverse alphabetic, column, or physical order. You select the method you want using the drop-down menu that opens after you click the Sort button. Visual cues are provided for how the column list is currently sorted:

Specifies that the column list is sorted in alphabetic order.

Specifies that the column list is sorted in reverse alphabetic order.

Specifies that the column list is sorted in column order.

Specifies that the column list is sorted in physical order.

New

Creates a new column that becomes the current object in the editor.

Delete

Deletes the selected column.

Reset

Resets column order.

Moves the selected column to the top of the list.

Moves the selected column up one position in the list.

Moves the selected column down one position in the list.

Moves the selected column to the bottom of the list.

Resets all properties to restore inheritance for the selected column.

DB Sync

Opens the DB Sync wizard so you can perform a database level compare of objects in the current model with matching objects in another model.

Help

Opens online help for the editor.

Lets you filter a very large list of columns in the Navigation Grid to quickly locate the column for which you need to view or define properties.

Physical Name

Displays the physical column name. You can change the column name in this field using in-place editing.

Domain Parent

Displays the current parent domain. You can change the domain using the drop-down control.

Physical Data Type

Specifies the physical data type for the column. You can change the data type using the drop-down. The drop-down list contains the data types related to the current domain.

Primary Key

Lets you specify that the selected column is the primary key (PK) column. Select the check box to set this property.

Physical Only

Specifies to include the selected column in the physical model only. You can clear this check box to have a corresponding attribute for this column in the logical model. If you are working with a physical-only model and select this check box, when you derive a new logical-only model, the selected attributes will not appear in the new model.

General Tab

Consolidates most of the information about a column into a single page. Horizontal and vertical splitters enable you to rearrange the area so you have more room in which to edit. This ability, combined with a resizable editor, lets you allocate as much or as little space as you want to the Navigation Grid, the Domain Parent list, or the other column properties. The Domain Parent list contains a toolbar that lets you sort the domains. If you only need to edit column physical name, domain parent, or physical data type you can do so in the Navigation Grid. However, if you need to inherit, override, or harden a column's physical name, or inherit or override a column's physical data type or null option, you can perform this within the General tab. Visual cues are provided for the Physical Name, Physical Data Type, and Null Option options so that you can see the inheritance setting for each:

Inherit

Specifies to inherit the column physical name, physical data type, or null option setting.

Override

Specifies to override inheritance for the column physical name, physical data type, or null option setting.

Harden

Specifies to harden the column physical name.

<database> Tab

Lets you view and update database-specific information about the column including physical data type and null option.

Constraint Tab

Lets you specify a validation rule and default value for a column. You can select a validation rule and default value using the drop-down controls, or select the check box to use an inherited constraint or default value.

Link Tab

Lets you work with the Link Wizard so you can link selected columns and select the properties to synchronize between the linked objects.

Indexes Tab

Lets you manage index membership for the selected column.

Style Tab

Lets you work with style sheets which are used to format the font used in the display of the column.

Comment Tab

Lets you enter text that provides comments about the column. Use the toolbar to cut, copy, or paste text, open the Text Editor, or check spelling. The comment serves as internal documentation for your model.

Where Used Tab

Lets you view where the selected column is used in the model.

UDP Tab

Lets you enter user-defined property values for the column.

Notes Tab

Lets you view history information and view or edit user notes.

Data Source

Lets you specify the data warehouse source for the selected column.

Note: This tab is only available if you selected the Data Movement check box in the Model Editor.