Description Field
Every object stored in the Teradata MDS repository has a description common property. The description is a 1024 character field. Teradata MDS provides the following methods for importing descriptions into this field:
Microsoft Excel Import
The sample code installed with the developer’s kit includes the modules and forms needed to load descriptions from a Microsoft Excel worksheet. It is installed in the directory <Installation directory>\sample\macro\example3. The macro loads descriptions for databases, tables, column, view and view columns. Following the instructions in the readme.txt file, you create a worksheet with the required columns. See the following example:
Figure 6: Excel Workbook with Business Descriptions
If you are using Excel 2010, you may need to enable the Developer option, as follows:
1 Select File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
2 In the Customize the Ribbon pane on the right, select Main Tabs from the drop-down menu, and then select the Developer check box.
3 In the Excel Visual Basic Editor, import the modules and forms:
✔ In Excel, click Tools > Macro > Macros and run the MDSLoad macro.
In Excel 2010, you can display the macro list in one of the following ways:
Alt+F8.
After entering the Teradata MDS user name, password, and the system name containing the databases, the macro displays the Load Descriptions dialog. This dialog gives you the option to load a specific worksheet or all of the worksheets. Once you have loaded the descriptions, they appear in Teradata MDS search results.