User Guide > Data Generation Techniques and Parameters > Dictionary Generation
  

Dictionary Generation

A dictionary generation rule is a global or ad hoc generation rule that loads dictionary values into the target test database.
Before you create a dictionary generation rule, you must add a dictionary to TDM in the Administrator | Dictionaries view. Users that have permissions to create generation rules have permissions to add dictionaries.
Dictionary generation can use the string, numeric, date, and binary data types. You can create a rule based on a dictionary column. The binary data type contains a serial number column that increases performance. Generate dictionary values for columns that have a finite number of values, such as states or countries.
You can create dictionary generation rule either from a flat file or relational database. You can generate data for a binary data type from relational databases but not from flat files.
Dictionary generation rules can be global rules or ad hoc rules.
The following image shows the dictionary generation parameters:
The dictionary generation parameters are dictionary name, dictionary column, generate unique values, null values, and invalid values.

Dictionary Generation Example

You want to load customer names into the target database. You import a dictionary that has first and last name columns. You create two dictionary rules with the string data type. When you create the first name rule, you select the dictionary that contains the names and choose the first name dictionary column. In the last name rule, you select the same dictionary and choose the last name dictionary column.

Dictionary Generation Parameters

Create a dictionary generation rule to load dictionary values into target databases. Configure dictionary generation parameters for string, date, numeric, and binary data types.
The following table describes the parameters that you can configure to generate dictionary data:
Parameter
Description
Dictionary Name
The name of the dictionary. You need to import a dictionary in TDM.
Dictionary Column
The column that you want to get the data from. If the values in the dictionary are larger than the size of the column then it truncates the values.
Dictionary Lookup Column
The lookup column in the dictionary that you can match with the table column to generate data. When you assign a standard generation rule to a column or create an ad hoc generation rule, you can specify the lookup column. This field is optional.
If you enter double data type value in the lookup column and table column, the process generates null values in the target table.
Table Column
The column in the target table based on which you can match the lookup column in the dictionary. When you assign a standard generation rule to a column or create an ad hoc generation rule, you can specify the table column. This field is optional.
If you enter double data type value in the lookup column and table column, the process generates null values in the target table.
Serial Number Columns
A serial number to find the location of the data. You can configure serial number for relational databases and not for flat files. You enter the serial number column for binary data types.
Generate Unique Values
Generates unique data values. You cannot generate unique values for flat file dictionaries and binary data types.
Null Values
A list of global rules or a default rule that is available for the data type you select. A null value is a value that a default rule or a global rule generates in the target for the columns based on the data type you select.
Invalid Values
A list of global rules or a default rule that is available for the data type you select. Any value that does not exist in the dictionary is not valid.
You cannot generate values that are not valid for binary data types.