Understanding Mapping Architect for Visio Overview

Use Mapping Architect for Visio to create mapping templates using Microsoft Office Visio. A mapping template is a drawing that represents a PowerCenter mapping. You can configure rules and parameters in a mapping template to specify the extraction logic. Mapping Architect for Visio is installed with the PowerCenter Client. You can use the mapping templates to provide consistency and improve productivity in the following cases:

Define consistent methodology and structure for data integration projects. Use mapping templates to standardize error handling or slowly changing dimensions mappings. Distribute mapping templates to developers working on data integration projects to share best practices, standards, and special techniques. In addition, after an implementation is complete, developers can reuse mapping template files for similar projects. Generate multiple mappings at one time. Create one mapping template to generate multiple mappings that have similar structure. For example, create a mapping template that includes the basic design and uses rules and parameters to define the extraction logic. When you use the mapping template to generate multiple mappings, you can specify different values for the parameters. You can use parameters to define data sources, transformation properties, port names, expressions, and other elements that comprise a mapping. Document data flow. Use mapping templates to document methods to map or process data.