Migrating common metadata assets

You can move common metadata assets efficiently between metadata repositories by using separate commands for top-level asset types.

When you migrate to a new version of InfoSphere® Information Server, or to a different environment on the same version, you transfer large amounts of common metadata.

Note: Use this topic if you want to move only common metadata assets. To move all assets, including common metadata assets, with the fewest possible commands, see Moving all assets from one metadata repository to another

For best performance when you use istool to transfer metadata, use separate commands to transfer each type of top-level common metadata asset that is in the metadata repository.

For example, the following command exports all databases and their contained database schemas, database tables, and database columns. The export includes all annotations and contact assignments for the assets. 
export -dom domain_name:port_number -user user_name
 -password password -ar path_to_archive_file -cm '"/*/*.db
-includeAnnotation -includeContactAssignment'
Such a command provides better performance and is simpler than exporting the smaller object types individually. In the example, the metadata that is related to each database is exported into a separate XMI file within the ISX archive file. When you import the metadata from the archive file, each XMI file is imported separately.

To move all of your common metadata, you can write similar commands, using the identity string of each top-level asset type that contains other assets. For best performance, export each type of top-level asset to a separate ISX archive file.

The following table lists the high-level asset types to transfer, the versions that you can transfer them from, and the identity string that transfers all assets of that type.

With two exceptions, common metadata assets are exported with the -cm parameter of the istool export command. Logical data models require the -lm parameter, while custom attributes require the -ca parameter.
Table 1. Migration identity strings for top-level common metadata assets
Asset type Version of InfoSphere Information Server Identity string to export all Notes
Host system All /*.hst Host systems are automatically exported when you export the common metadata assets that depend on them. Also export host systems separately to export annotations and other referenced items that apply to the hosts.
Database All /*/*.db Includes database schemas, stored procedures, and database tables.
Data file folder 11.3 and later /*/*.fdr Includes subfolders, data files, and data file records.
Data file 9.1.2 and earlier /*/*.fl Includes data file records.
Data file definition 11.3 and later /*/*.fd  
Data item definition All /*/*.did  
Physical data model 8.7 and later /*/*.pm Includes all physical model assets.
Logical data model 8.7 and later /*/*.lm Use the -lm parameter. Includes all logical model assets.
BI server 9.1 and later /*.srv Includes all BI assets.
BI model 8.1.2 through 9.1.2 /*/*.oml Includes BI collections and cubes.
BI report 8.1.2 through 9.1.2 /*/*.rdf Includes BI report queries.
Custom attribute 8.7 and later /*/*/*.cd

Use the -ca option. Exports all custom attributes that apply to common metadata assets. Custom attribute values are not exported.

Custom attributes with values are exported automatically when you export the common metadata assets that they apply to.

Contract library 8.7 and later /*.cl  
Data class 11.3 and later /*/*.dc  
Data collection analysis 11.3 and later /*.dca  
Data connection 11.5 and later /*/*.dcn