Introduction to dictionaries

A dictionary is a reference data set that you can use to evaluate data in a mapping. Use dictionaries to verify that the data values on a data source or another object in a mapping are accurate and correctly formatted.

A dictionary can contain two or more columns. At least one column must contain the standard or preferred versions of a set of values that the organization uses. Other columns can contain alternative or related versions of the values, including versions that might appear in the source data. The column that contains the standard or preferred values is called the valid column. You can populate a dictionary with any combination of values that suits your organization and your project requirements.

To use a dictionary, add it to a data quality asset. Then, add the asset to the corresponding transformation in a mapping in Data Integration.

When you run a mapping that contains the transformation, the mapping compares each input data value to the dictionary data and performs actions that you specify. For example, a rule specification might return a value that indicates a match between the input data value and the dictionary data. Or, a cleanse asset might return a preferred or correct version of the input value.

Types of dictionary

You can create a dictionary through the Data Quality, Data Integration, or Reference 360 user interface or through the Data Quality Dictionary API. In Data Integration or Data Quality, you configure the columns and manually add values to the dictionary. In Reference 360, you can use code value attributes or value mappings as columns and their corresponding values as column values. You can view the dictionaries that you create on the Explore page.

Regardless of whether you created the dictionary through the Data Quality, Data Integration, or Reference 360 user interface or through the Data Quality Dictionary API, it will function the same way when added to a data quality asset.

If you create a dictionary in Reference 360, you can view the contents of the dictionary in Data Quality or Data Integration, but to edit the dictionary data, you must open the dictionary source in Reference 360.

For more information about how to create a dictionary in Reference 360, see the Reference 360 help in Reference 360.

For more information about how to create a dictionary through the Data Quality Dictionary API, see the API Reference help in Data Quality.