What is a Data Model Repository?
A data modeling repository is a storage area, where metadata of a data model is stored. The data stored is different from the software perspective, organization’s perspective and usage perspective. Repository can be stored any where; either in a data base or locally within any system.
Example: ETL Repository and Data Modeling Repository are different based on the software/usage perspective. In Data Modeling repository, meta data related to data
modeling is stored and in ETL repository, meta data related to ETL (Extraction, Transformation, and Loading) is stored. Organization will only store the meta data that they are interested.
From the data modeling perspective, data models and relevant meta data are stored in repository.
Whenever there are several data modelers working in an organization, and if they have to access the same data models concurrently, organizations buy repository. Otherwise, they store meta data in a shared network.
When data modeling software is bought with repository tool, system administrators install repository and share the username/password to the “Data Model Repository
Administrator”. This “Data Model Repository Administrator” has super privileges.
The administrator creates usernames and allocates privileges on data models for business analysts, SME, data modelers, Application developers (development/reporting), DBA’s, Business Users, Managers etc.
Examples of Privileges Allocated:
- Creation and Updation of Logical Data Model. Based on the needs, privileges will be allocated on ALL or FEW or ONE data model present in the organization.
- Creation and Updation of Physical Data Model Based on the needs, privileges will be allocated on ALL or FEW or ONE data model present in the organization.
- Creation and Updation of Logical/Physical Data Model Based on the needs, privileges will be allocated on ALL or FEW or ONE data model present in the organization.
- View Logical Data Model or Physical Data Model or both.
- Creation and Updation of a particular database object (tables, views, indexes etc.)
All you have to know is how to login, log out, privileges allocated, different menus present in repository and how to work in repository, etc.
Uses of Repository:
- Helps the data modelers to work on the same data model consistently/collaboratively and merge all work activities in the same data model itself.
- Creating different Version of the data model to keep track of changes.
- Generating Reports from the repository.
- Applying security to data model.
- Back Up and Recovery of the data models.