Now that we have a few database connections (see Setting Up Your Database Connections, the next step is to describe the physical database tables and columns that we will want to include in our [business model].
Importing Physical Tables
Fortunately, when you import a physical table, all of the table's columns come with it, so the import is a one step exercise instead of two. You can later remove those columns that you do not want in the connection or the model.
An Example Import: Importing Tables into a MySQL Connection
- Right-click (or CTRl-click) on the MySQLSampleData node in the Tree Navigator. Select the Import Tables... option from the popup menu.
- You will be prompted by a dialog with list of physical tables available in the database. Select the tables you want to include, and click OK.
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Drill down on your physical tables in the Tree Navigator. Notice that all of the physical columns have been imported with each table.
Trimming the Physical Columns
If you would like to remove extraneous columns from your physical tables, from here it's easy to do:
- Right-click (or CTRl-click) on the physical table node you wish to edit in the Tree Navigator. Select the Edit option from the popup menu. (Note: you can also get to the Physical Table Properties dialog by double-clicking the physical table node.)
- The Physical Table Properties dialog displays. In the dialog's Tree Navigator, select a column you wish to remove.
- Click the delete icon (the one with the red circle), to the right of the word Subject above the dialog's Tree Navigator.
- Repeat with any remaining columns that you wish to remove. Click OK when you are done.
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