Data dictionary, schema and relationship information about external systems used by DSP® are referred to as System Types. System Types are maintained in Common. Information captured for System Types includes table and field descriptions, field properties, primary keys, lookup tables, and join relationships.
This article describes the methods of creating System Types, and the reasons why you would use each method. The article reviews a few use cases for using System Types in the DSP®. Links and additional resources for information also provided.
Methods for Creating System Types
You have three options to import System Types information into the DSP®.
Data Source Import
System Types are imported in Common. To access the System Type Import page go to, Common> System Types. Click Import from Data Source or Model. The System Types Import pane is displayed.
The Data Source Import option imports every table that exists in the data source and imports field names and key field information into the System Type. The data source type must be Local SQL Server.
This import does not import any table descriptions or field descriptions. For example, for the MARA table the description Material Master table is not imported with this option. Similarly, the import does not bring in field descriptions, so the description Material Number for the field MATNR is not imported. This process also does not import additional attributes for field such as a lookup tables or domain values associated with the field.
This option is still available for cases where there is no access to a data dictionary or a model for a system. With this option, you can still create System Types by creating the tables in the data source and the import process imports the tables and fields in the database into the System Type.
System Types Import - Data Source Import Option
Import System Types Using Collect
In cases when you do not have access to a system type model or a data dictionary for a system, you can use the Fetch and Build and Refresh options in Collect to import all tables available in a Collect target source into a system type.
This import method only imports the tables and field structures into the system type. No associated metadata such as field descriptions, joins, or lookup tables are imported. Refer to the Import System Types Using Collect article in the Knowledge Base for more information.
Import Model
The Model > Import Model option does not require you to have tables in a data source to import a system type. For a new project where nothing has been imported previously, the database can be empty and with the Import Model option, all of the tables and additional data dictionary information including table descriptions field descriptions, field size, check tables, and value tables are imported.
You can choose to import from the Model or a Model Group. Importing a Model imports the entire model from the System Types Models page with all associated tables for the system. Importing a Model Group imports a subset of tables from the model, such as configuration tables, as on System Types Model Groups page
System Types Import - Import Model Options
The DSP® is delivered with models for SAP and Oracle’s JDE that can be used to import those System Types.
Before importing the a System Type Model, ensure the System Type Model Tables exist in the target data source (for example, dgSAP) and have been refreshed with the latest data set. Refer to Add a System Type Model Table in Common and the Refresh Tables topic in Collect in the DSP® Help for more information. Usually, the data set refresh is accomplished using Collect.
System Types Models - SAP System Types Model
Several Model Groups are delivered with Common. You can create your own Model Groups on the System Types Model Groups page. To access the page go to, Common > Configuration > System Type Models page and click Model Groups. With 6.6.1, when importing a System Type from a System Type Model Group, lookup and description tables associated with the tables in the Model Group are now imported with the Model Group table.
System Types Model Groups - SAP
How System Types are used in the DSP®
The information in System Types is used by components throughout the DSP®.
System Types in Target Design
One example of how System Types are used is when importing targets in Target Design. You can import a target in Target Design on the Target Object Import page using a System Type as the basis for target design. With this method of creating a target table the field name, field description, lookup table, field length key field information, etc. are automatically importing. Refer the Import a Target Design from a System Type DSP® Help for more information.
System Types in Map for Value Mapping
You can also use the check tables imported in with a System Types import in Target Design to facilitate value mapping in Map.
Refer to Overview of the Value Mapping Process in the Knowledge Base for more information about value mapping.
Additional Resources
Refer the System Types DSP® Help for more information.