Defining New Attributes FAQS

1. How do I define new attributes in ODI?
• You can define new attributes using several methods:
• Attribute Matching Dialog: Automatically creates attributes when connecting components.
• Drag and Drop: Drag attributes from one component to another, and ODI will create the new attribute if one doesn’t already exist.
• Property Inspector: Manually create new attributes and set properties like name, data type, etc.
2. What is the Attribute Matching Dialog?
• The Attribute Matching Dialog appears when you create a connection between components, especially if one of the components is a projector component. It allows you to automatically map source attributes to target attributes based on name or position.
3. Can I create attributes on the target component using the Attribute Matching Dialog?
• Yes, the Attribute Matching Dialog has an option to create attributes on the target component. If the target already has attributes with matching names, ODI will automatically map the source attributes to those target attributes.
4. What does the 'By Position' option do in the Attribute Matching Dialog?
• The 'By Position' option maps the first attributes of the source to the corresponding positions in the target. If there are more attributes in the source than in the target, the extra attributes will be added to the target.
5. How do I drag and drop attributes between components?
• You can drag a single or multiple attributes from one component and drop them into a blank area of another component's graphic. This automatically creates a connection and the attribute in the target component. If the graphic is full, use the scrollbar to reveal an empty line to drop the attributes.
6. What happens if I drag an attribute onto an existing one in the target component?
• If you drag an attribute onto an existing one, ODI will map the source attribute into the target attribute but will not create a new attribute on the target component.
7. How can I create new attributes manually?
• You can use the Property Inspector to create new attributes. Under the Attributes tab, click the green plus icon to define the new attribute, including its name, data type, and other properties.
8. Do I need to set the correct data type when defining new attributes?
• Yes, you must set the correct data type for new attributes to avoid type-mismatch errors during execution. For example, if mapping a DATE type attribute, make sure the new attribute is also set to DATE.
9. What is the risk of mismatched data types when defining new attributes?
• Mismatched data types, such as trying to map a DATE to an INTEGER, will result in errors during execution. These errors will be flagged as SQL errors during the mapping process.
10. Is there a special handling for DB2 TIME columns in ODI 12.2.1 onwards?

• Yes, in ODI 12.2.1 onwards, when a DB2 TIME column is mapped to a target column, only the time is displayed in the target column, and the date part is omitted.

11. Can I add new attributes after a mapping has been created?

• Yes, you can add or modify attributes at any time using the Property Inspector, or by using the Attribute Matching Dialog when creating new connections between components.