Master Data Services – What’s New In SQL Server Code Name “Denali” CTP3
Master Data Services has made great strides to further remove the barriers to implementing MDM technology and processes into all size of businesses. New features such as the MDS Add-in for Excel and a re-architected process for loading data should make MDS functionality accessible to the entire enterprise, allowing users to leverage transaction management, collaboration, and security with all of the dimensions and lists currently managed on personal servers. Information workers can all work with the same set of data that’s centrally stored and secured.
Master Data Services (MDS) Add-in for Microsoft Excel
The Master Data Services Add-in gives multiple users the ability to update master data in a familiar tool without compromising the data’s integrity in MDS. Information workers who use Excel every day can continue working with their data and sharing it with others, helping to keep the data valid and relevant over its lifecycle. From within the Add-in, users can publish data to the MDS database with the click of a button. The time needed to learn how to use the Add-in should be minimal and business users should find it easy to use.
If you’re a data steward or a power user, you can use the Add-in to create new model objects and load data without ever launching any administrative tools, helping to speed deployment. You can configure data types for columns of data and constrain lists of data to help maintain data quality.
With the Master Data Services Add-in, all master data remains centrally managed in MDS, while the ability to read or update the data is distributed to those who need it.
New Silverlight Explorer UI
In an effort to streamline the web data editing experience, we have moved to a simple UI design built on Silverlight. The new Silverlight UI provides performance and reliability that users require to manage master data and hierarchies.
While the Add-in for Excel can be used to make bulk changes to data, the web UI is where hierarchies are managed and where data stewards configure the structure that holds the data.
Entity-Based Staging
Master Data Services has completely re-architected the staging process in Denali CTP3 to provide users with a more intuitive, securable solution. A new schema (stg) has been created to hold staging tables that map directly with the each MDS entity. These tables integrate well with SSIS, requiring no additional pivot of the data to load into MDS.
New capabilities include:
· Batch tags
· Purge capabilities
· Advanced capability to remove assigned domain-based attributes
· Significantly increased performance
For more information on MDS Denali CTP3:
The MDS Excel Add-In can be found here (only compatible with ‘Denali’ MDS edition):
For more information about MDS role in EIM:
Tyler Graham
Senior Program Manager
Master Data Services Team
