Defining Mappings Using the Automapping Option

Simple Name-Based Automapping

This automapping option creates the mapping suggestions by matching the elements' names from the source and target structures.

Advanced Automapping

The advanced automapping creates the mapping suggestions by matching the source and the target elements using the following algorithms:

• Name Matcher, which compares only the names of elements

• NamePath Matcher, which compares the entire paths from element to root

• Leaf Matcher, which compares the leaves that lie underneath the given elements

• Parent Matcher, which compares the siblings of the given elements

When using the advanced automapping option, you can select the method for similarity aggregation. You can select either average, which calculates the average over all selected algorithms, or maximum, which accepts only the highest result over all algorithms and rejects the rest.

Matching Precision

You can adjust the level of matching precision when you switch between the high, medium, and low option. The high precision option means that only matches with a good quality are accepted, so you can be reasonably confident that the matches make sense. However, you must always check all the results. The low precision offers more matches but these may not be of a very high quality.

Dictionary Import

You can import a dictionary file to improve matching using synonyms and abbreviations. The dictionary supports the following formats:

• Text file

  In a text file, you indicate the synonyms by the header Synonyms and the abbreviations by the keyword Abbreviations . With the abbreviations you must write the short form first. You separate pairs of entries by a comma (,).

  Sample Code

                          Synonyms
  ship, deliver
  bill, invoice
  state, county
  
  Abbreviations
  No, Number
  tel, telephone
  VAT, value added tax
                       

• OLIF file V2 specification

  For more information about the OLIF V2 format, see http://www.olif.net.

1. Configure the Automapping Settings

This procedure describes how you configure the settings of the Advanced Automapping option, which is the default one. In case you want to use the Simple name-based automapping option, choose  Window  Preferences  Data Mapping  and select the Simple name-based automapping radio button. Note that when you are using this option, the settings described below are not relevant.

1. In the Developer Studio, choose  Window  Preferences .

2. Expand the Data Mapping node and choose Advanced Automapping .

3. Specify the matching algorithms you want to use for creating the mapping suggestions by selecting the respective checkbox.

   Recommendation

   We recommend that you select all algorithms in case your structures have a deep hierarchy. Thus, you can have an accurate comparison of the structural similarities. As the depth of the hierarchy decreases, the NamePath, Parent, and Leaf matchers have less effect, so you may experiment by deselecting these for flat hierarchies.

4. Specify the method for similarity aggregation by selecting the Average or Maximum radio button.

5. Specify the matching precision by selecting the respective radio button.

6. (Optional) Choose the Add Dictionary pushbutton under Improve Matching Using Dictionary and select a file in the supported format.

7. Choose the OK pushbutton.

2. Create the Mapping Suggestions

1. Open the Properties view.

   To do that, choose  Window  Show View  Other...  and then choose  General  Properties . Choose OK .

2. Open the respective tab page, as follows:

   • Input Mapping or Output Mapping tab page if you are working in the Process Development perspective.

     If you have selected a mapping activity in the process, open the Mapping tab page.

   • Mapping tab page if you are working in the Service Composer perspective.

3. Select and drag with the secondary mouse button a node from the source context to a node in the target context.

   A context menu appears when you release the secondary mouse button.

4. Choose Execute default matcher .

   The automapping option creates the mapping suggestions, if any. You can check the result and remove incorrect matches by deleting the respective mapping line.

5. In the context menu of a mapping line, choose Assignment and then select one of the assignment options, depending on the mapping you want to define.