Asset description, context, identity, and REST name

Context and identity string of an asset

The context of an asset is the list of assets that contain it, without which the asset has no identity. When you import extended data sources or an extension mapping document with its mappings, the import process puts the imported assets in their correct context in the catalog.

An identity string concatenates the context and the name of the asset. The identity string fully identifies the asset as a unique asset in the catalog.

For example, if the context of an asset that is called column5 is host1.database2.schema3.table4, then the identity string of the asset is host1.database2.schema3.table4.column5. This identity string uniquely identifies the asset as being in table4, which is in schema3, which is in database2, which is on host1.

The following table lists assets that are displayed in the catalog. If an asset can be used as a source or target asset in extension mapping documents, or if it is a type of an extended data source type, its context and identity string are given.

Table 1. Asset types that are displayed in the catalog

Asset type	Definition	Context, identity string, and REST name
Amazon S3 bucket	A type of data file folder that can contain other data file folders or Amazon S3 data files.	Context Host Identity string Host.Amaz_bucket REST name amazon_s3_bucket
Amazon S3 data file	A container that stores data that is used by the Amazon S3 web service.	Context host.Amaz_bucket Identity string host.Amaz_bucket.Amaz_data_file REST name amazon_s3_data_file
Amazon S3 data file field	A data field that is contained in an Amazon S3 data file record.	Context host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder. Amaz_data_file. Amaz_file_structure Identity string host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder. Amaz_data_file. Amaz_file_structure.Amaz_data_file_field REST name amazon_s3_data_file_field
Amazon S3 data file folder	A folder that is contained in another Amazon S3 data file folder.	Context host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder Identity string host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder. data_file_folder REST name amazon_s3_data_file_folder
Amazon S3 data file record	A component within an Amazon S3 data file.	Context host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder.Amaz_data_file Identity string host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder.Amaz_data_file. Amaz_file_structure REST name amazon_s3_data_file_record
Annotation	A comment that is created by developers of IBM® InfoSphere® DataStage® and QualityStage® jobs to explain, summarize, or describe a job design or to help identify parts of a job design.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Application	An extended data source asset that includes a collection of methods and parameters for reading or writing data.	Context None Identity string application REST name application
Attribute	A type of master data model asset from IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management that is a characteristic or trait of an member type that describes the member. For example, the entity type Person has the attribute Date of Birth.	Context member_type Identity string member_type.attribute REST name attribute
Attribute type	An attribute type describes a generic master data characteristic. Two types of attribute types are available in IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management: Member attribute type Relationship attributes type Only member attribute types are imported into InfoSphere Information Server. For example, the attribute Date of Birth has the attribute type PersonDOB.	Context MDM_model Identity string MDM_model.attribute_type REST name attribute_type
Attribute type field	An attribute type field describes the specific parts or entities of an attribute type. For example, the attribute type PersonDOB has the attribute type field BirthYear.	Context MDM_model.attribute_type Identity string MDM_model.attribute_type.attribute_type_field REST name attribute_type_field
BI collection	A data structure that provides a view of data that is stored in databases and files. BI collections are the data sources of BI reports.	Context BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel Identity string BIserver.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection REST name bi_collection
BI collection member	A different representation of a data value that is in the database column. BI collection members define the structure of the BI collection that owns them.	Context BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection Identity string BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection.BIcollectmem REST name bi_collection_member
BI hierarchy	An organizational structure that defines an ordering or relationship of data within a BI collection.	Context BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection Identity string BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection.BIhier REST name bi_hierarchy
BI level	A position within a BI hierarchy.	Context BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection.BIhier Identity string BIServer.<BI folders>.BImodel.BIcollection.BIhier.BIlevel REST name bi_level
BI model	A grouping of BI collections that are relevant to a BI application.	Context BIServer.<BI folders> Identity string BIserver.<BI folders>.BImodel REST name bi_model
BI report	A report that is based on information in a database or a BI model.	Context BIServer.<BI folders> Identity string BIServer.<BI folders>.BIreport REST name bi_report
Blueprint	A collection of diagrams that represents an information architecture for a project. A blueprint can be published to the catalog from IBM InfoSphere Blueprint Director.	Context None Identity string None REST name blueprint
Category	A word or phrase that classifies and organizes glossary content into a hierarchy. A category can also contain other categories.	Context None Identity string None REST name category
Collection	A group of assets that you can move to IBM InfoSphere Data Click, add to other collections, edit properties of an individual asset, or batch edit properties of several assets.	Context None Identity string None REST name collection
Column analysis	An IBM InfoSphere Information Analyzer process that describes the condition of data at the field level.	Context None Identity string None REST name column_analysis
Column definition	A column-level data definition that stores data values within an InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage table definition.	Context TableDefinition Identity string TableDefinition.ColumnDefinition REST name column_definition
Column mapping	A row in an IBM InfoSphere FastTrack mapping specification that describes a transformation from one or more source columns and terms to one or more target columns and terms.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Composite view	Composite view describes the way in which to display master data from different attributes. For example, the composite view might be either enterprise most current attribute or source-specific attribute values for a person.	Context None Identity string None REST name composite_view
Connector	A software component that provides access from InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage to an external source of data, such as relational databases or messaging software.	Context None Identity string None REST name connector
Custom attribute	A user-defined property for an asset that further describes assets of that type.	Context None Identity string None REST name custom_attribute
Data class	An asset from other products in InfoSphere Information Server or created in InfoSphere Information Governance Catalog that categorizes database columns and data file fields according to the type of the data and how it is used.	Context None Identity string None Rest name data_class
Data element	An asset from IBM InfoSphere DataStage that specifies the type of data a column contains, which in turn determines the transforms that can be applied in a transformer stage.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_element
Data file	A file that stores data, can be segmented into data file records, and are the file equivalents of database tables.	Context host Identity string host.datafile REST name data_file
Data file definition	Defines the structures of data files. A data file definition does not represent a file asset that is imported into the metadata repository or a file that physically exists in the real world. It represents the structure of files that might be created and imported later.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_file_definition
Data file definition field	A field in a data file definition record. Data file definition fields are column-like elements within data file definition records. A data file field can implement a data file definition field.	Context Data_file_def.data_file_def_rec Identity string Data_file_def.data_file_def_rec.data_file_def_field REST name data_file_definition_field
Data file definition record	Defines the format of the data file records in a data file definition. Data file definition records represent table-like objects within data file definitions. A data file record can implement a data file definition record.	Context Data_file_def Identity string Data_file_def.data_file_def_record REST name None
Data file field	A field within a data file record. A data file field is equivalent to a database column and is the smallest data unit that is used to store the data values of an object.	Context host.datafile.data_file_def Identity string host.datafile.data_file_def.data_file_def_field REST name data_file_field
Data file folder	A data file folder is the storage medium for data files and can contain other data file folders and data files.	Context host.Amaz_bucket or host Identity string host.Amaz_bucket.data_file_folder or host.data_file_folder REST name data_file_folder
Data file record	A collection of related fields in a data file. A data file record is the file equivalent of a database table.	Context host.datafile Identity string host.datafile.data_file_def REST name data_file_record
Database	A relational storage collection that is organized by schemas and procedures. A database stores data that is represented by database tables.	Context host Identity string host.database REST name database
Database column	A column in a database table.	Context host.database.schema.table Identity string host.database.schema.table.column REST name database_column
Database connection	A connection for accessing a database or file, for example, an ODBC or Oracle connection.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Data policy	A high-level, natural-language description of a subject area. A policy documents and captures additional information about business rules and processes. Data policies are created in InfoSphere Information Analyzer.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_policy
Database schema	A named collection of related database tables and integrity constraints. A schema defines all or a subset of the data that is in a database.	Context host.database Identity string host.database.schema REST name database_schema
Database table	The structure that represents and stores columns within a database.	Context host.database Identity string host.database.table REST name database_table
Data rule	The implemented binding to a database column and the rule logic in InfoSphere Information Analyzer.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_rule
Data rule set	A collection of data rules that were generated in InfoSphere Information Analyzer.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_rule_set
Data rule definition	A method to define specific tests, validations, or constraints associated with your data. The published and unpublished data rule definitions that were created in InfoSphere Information Analyzer project and that are assigned to a term.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_rule_definition
Data rule set definition	A group of published and unpublished data rule definitions that were created in InfoSphere Information Analyzer.	Context None Identity string None REST name data_rule_set_definition
Endpoint	The connection point for a streams application to process data as a target. Each endpoint contains one top-level tuple.	Context None Identity string None REST name endpoint
Entity	A master data asset from IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management that is a single unique object that is used to calculate master data. Examples of an entity are a single person, single product, or single organization.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Entity type	A person, organization, object type, or concept about which information is stored. An entity type describes the type of the information that is being mastered. An entity type typically corresponds to one or several related tables in a database. For example, an entity type might be “Person”.	Context None Identity string None REST name entity_type
Extension mapping	An extended data source asset that represents an external flow of data from one or more sources to one or more targets.	Context Folder Identity string Folder.ExtensionMapping REST name extension_mapping
Extension mapping document	A type of an extended data source asset. It is a document with rows that contain extension mappings.	Context None Identity string None REST name extension_mapping_document
File	An extended data source asset that represents a storage area for capturing, transferring, or reading data.	Context None Identity string File REST name file
Folder	A user-defined container that is used to organize the contents of InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage projects.	Context None Identity string None REST name folder
Foreign key	A non-unique identifier that defines a relationship between two database tables. A foreign key in one table typically matches the primary key in the related table.	Context None Identity string None REST name foreign_key
Foreign key definition	A relationship between pairs of table definitions that is based on a foreign key column.	Context None Identity string None REST name foreign_key_definition
Host	A computer that is either an engine system or a remote node that is used by an engine system to distribute parallel jobs.	Context None Identity string Host REST name host
Engine	A computer that hosts the engine components of IBM InfoSphere Information Server products.	Context None Identity string HostEngine REST name host_(engine)
IMS database	Stores data in a hierarchical model that uses blocks of data that is known as segments.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
IMS field	A field of an IMS segment.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
IMS segment	A block of data in an IMS database, its position in the IMS hierarchy, and its relationships to other segments.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
In parameter	An extended data source asset that delivers information from a client to a stored procedure definition.	Context StoredProcedureDefinition Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition.InParameter REST name None
Information governance policy	A high-level, natural-language description of a governance subject area. Information governance policies are created in Information Governance Catalog.	Context None Identity string None REST name information_governance_policy
Information governance rule	A natural language definition of a characteristic to make information assets compliant with business objectives. Information governance rules are created in Information Governance Catalog.	Context None Identity string None REST name information_governance_rule
Information Server report	A report that is created and saved in the console or the web console.	Context None Identity string None REST name information_server_report
Information service	A single operation or a collection of operations that exposes results from processing by information providers.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Information services application	A container for a set of services in IBM InfoSphere Information Services Director.	Context None Identity string None REST name information_services_application
Information services operation	A container for the business logic of an information service. The operation describes the actual task that is done by the information provider.	Context None Identity string None REST name information_services_operation
Information services project	A collaborative environment in IBM InfoSphere Information Services Director that contains applications, services, and operations.	Context None Identity string None REST name information_services_project
In parameter	An extended data source asset that delivers information from a client to a stored procedure definition.	Context StoredProcedureDefinition Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition.InParameter REST name None
InOut parameter	An extended data source asset that represents a parameter that combines the input parameter and the output parameter.	Context StoredProcedureDefinition.OutParameter Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition.InOutParameter REST name inout_parameter
Input parameter	An extended data source asset that delivers information from a client.	Context StoredProcedureDefinition.InputParameter Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition.InputParameter REST name input_parameter
Job	The set of design objects and compiled programmatic elements that can connect to data sources, extract, and transform that data, and then load that data into a target system. There are several types of jobs: Mainframe job Parallel job Sequence job Server job	Context HostEngine.TransformProj.<folders> Identity string HostEngine.TransformProj.<folders>.job REST name job
Job run	The specific run of a job. A job can run multiple times, producing multiple job runs.	Context HostEngine.TransformProj.<folders>.job Identity string HostEngine.TransformProj.<folders>.job. jobRun REST name job_run
Job run activity	The action of running a job from a control flow job. Such actions are connected by triggers.	Context HostEngine.TransformProj.<folders>.job Identity string HostEngine.TransformProj.<folders>.job. jobRunActivity REST name job_run_activity
Label	More descriptors that authors of catalog content can apply to terms, categories, and other information assets in the catalog.	Context None Identity string None REST name label
Local container	A grouping of job content and logic, such as stages and links, that can be reused within the same job.	Context None Identity string None REST name local_container
Logical data model	A set of related entities and their business associations that is defined in an entity-relationship model.	Context None Identity string LogicalDataModel REST name logical_data_model
Machine profile	The paths and parameters to access a mainframe computer. Machine profiles are created in IBM InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage Designer.	Context None Identity string None REST name machine_profile
Mapping project	A container that organizes mapping specifications and associated data resources in IBM InfoSphere FastTrack.	Context None Identity string None REST name mapping_project
Mapping specification	A container for a set of mappings in IBM InfoSphere FastTrack. The mapping specification describes how data is extracted, transformed, or loaded from one data source to another.	Context None Identity string None REST name mapping_specification
Mapping specification generation	A set of mappings in IBM InfoSphere FastTrack that define an InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage job.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
MDM model	A representation of physical master data assets or virtual master data assets from IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management. For physical master data assets, master data is created in, stored in, and accessed from a central system. For virtual master data assets, master data is maintained in a distributed fashion and remains fragmented across systems but with a central indexing service. An MDM model asset can contain member types. Master Data Management model organizes and defines data to provide a single point of reference of the data. The single point of reference is called Master Data. Virtual MDM Master Data can be managed in a distributed fashion across the source systems where the source data remains fragmented. Member type assets refer to a virtual MDM. Physical MDM Master Data can be managed by loading and storing data into a singular system. Physical object assets refer to a physical MDM.	Context None Identity string None REST name mdm_model
Member type	A master data asset that defines the kind of member data that is stored and managed. Defining member types enables products for use in multiple business environments. For example, member types might be Patient, Client, or Provider.	Context MDM_model Identity string MDM_model.member_type REST name member_type
Member attribute	A master data asset that is a predefined type. For example, MemName, MemAddr, and MemIdent are all predefined attribute types.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Method	An extended data source asset that represents a function or a procedure.	Context application.objectType Identity string application.objectType.method REST name method
Notes	Annotations that a user creates about an asset.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Object type	An extended data source asset that represents a grouping of methods or a defined data format that characterizes the input and output structures within a single application.	Context application Identity string application.objectType REST name object_type
Out parameter	An extended data source asset that returns data to the stored procedure definition asset.	Context StoredProcedureDefinition.InParameter Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition.OutParameter REST name out_parameter
Output value	An extended data source asset that represents the data that is returned to the client or to an application asset.	Context application.objectType.method Identity string application.objectType.method.OutputValue REST name output_value
Parameter	A processing variable that can be used at various points in a job design and overridden when the job is run in order to dynamically influence the processing of the job.	Context None Identity string None REST name parameter
Parameter set	A group of job parameters that are assigned to a job as a unit and that can be reused.	Context None Identity string None REST name parameter_set
Physical data model	A design schema for information assets that defines the physical structures and relationships of data within a subject domain or application.	Context None Identity string PhysicalDataModel REST name physical_data_model
Physical object	A master data asset for the physical MDM model. Address, Party, or Claim are sample objects with a defined set of attributes.	Context None Identity string PhysicalDataModel REST name physical_object
Physical object attribute	A single property of a physical object.	Context None Identity string None REST name physical_object_attribute
Primary key	A unique identifier of a database table that can also be used to define relationships between tables.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Result column	An extended data source asset that represents the data that is returned from a database query.	Context StoredProcedureDefinition Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition.ResultsColumn REST name result_column
Routine	A built-in or user-defined function that is called in a derivation or constraint, or that is called before or after a job or stage.	Context None Identity string None REST name routine
Server	A supertype of host that includes data servers and engines.	Context None Identity string None REST name None
Shared container	A grouping of job content and logic, such as stages and links, that can be used by multiple jobs.	Context None Identity string None REST name shared_container
Stage	An element of a job design that describes a data source, a data processing step, or a target system and that defines the processing logic that moves data from input links to output links. There are separate icons for each type of stage.	Context HostEngine.TransformProject.Job Identity string HostEngine.TransformProject.Job.Stage REST name stage
Stage column	A flow variable or column that is used to denote data flow items within a link or stage.	Context HostEngine.TransformProj.Job.Stage Identity string HostEngine.TransformProj.Job.Stage. StageColumn REST name stage_column
Stage type	An object that defines the capabilities of a stage, the parameters of the stage, and the libraries that the stage uses at run time. Each stage is associated with a stage type.	Context HostEngine.TransformProj.Job.Stage Identity string HostEngine.TransformProj.Job.Stage.StageType REST name stage_type
Stage variable	A type of stage that is defined by InfoSphere DataStage and that typically has an action, such as concatenate or a calculation, which is associated with it.	Context HostEngine.TransformProj.Job.Stage Identity string HostEngine.TransformProj.Job.Stage.StageVariable REST name stage_variable
Standardization object	A component file in a standardization rule set.	Context None Identity string None REST name standardization_object
Standardization rule set	A series of customizable files that define how to process input data for the Standardize and Investigate stages in IBM InfoSphere QualityStage.	Context None Identity string None REST name standardization_rule_set
Steward	A user or group who is designated as responsible for one or more information assets in the catalog.	Context None Identity string None REST name steward
Stored procedure	A procedure that is stored in the database to encode behavioral aspects of data manipulation, such as assertions, constraints, and triggers.	Context None Identity string StoredProcedure REST name stored_procedure
Stored procedure definition	An extended data source asset that represents a procedure that is stored in the database. The stored procedure definition includes the parameters and details of the stored procedure. A stored procedure definition can also be used to produce data in a table format.	Context None Identity string StoredProcedureDefinition REST name stored_procedure_definition
Table analysis summary	An InfoSphere Information Analyzer process that consists of primary key analysis and the assessment of multicolumn primary keys and potential duplicate values.	Context None Identity string None REST name table_alalysis_summary
Table definition	A table-level data definition that structures data values within an InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage project. Table definitions contain column definitions.	Context None Identity string None REST name table_definition
Term	A word or phrase that describes a characteristic of an asset. A term in the published glossary is published. Alternatively, a term in the development glossary is unpublished.	Context None Identity string None REST name term
Term history	The changes that were made to the description or other properties of a term since the term was first defined.	Context None Identity string None REST name term_history
Transforms function	A built-in or user-defined macro expression that is used in a derivation or constraint in InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage.	Context None Identity string None REST name transforms_function
Transformation project	A project that is created in InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage. Projects hold collections of objects such as jobs, stages, and table definitions.	Context Host (engine) Identity string Host (engine).TransformProj REST name transformation_project
Tuple	An ordered set of values.	Context None Identity string None REST name tuple
Tuple attribute	The equivalent of an InfoSphere DataStage column definition.	Context None Identity string None REST name tuple_attribute
User group	A group of users of InfoSphere Information Server.	Context None Identity string None REST name user_group
View	A dynamic or virtual database table whose data is computed or collated.	Context host.database.schema Identity string host.database.schema.view REST name view
Warehouse mapping document	An extended data source asset that is a document with warehouse mappings from IBM InfoSphere Warehouse. A warehouse mapping represents an external flow of data from one or more source databases to one or more target databases.	Context None Identity string None REST name warehouse_mapping_document