Specifications

128 CHAPTER 7 Master Data Services
Master Data Services Conguration Manager
Before you can start using MDS to manage your master data, you use Master Data Services
Conguration Manager. This conguration tool includes pages to create the MDS database,
congure the system settings for all Web services and applications that you associate with
that database, and congure the Master Data Services Web application.
On the Databases page of Master Data Services Conguration Manager, you specify the
SQL Server instance to use for the new MDS database and launch the process to create the
database. After creating the database, you can modify the system settings that govern all
MDS Web applications that you establish on the same server. You congure system set-
tings to set thresholds, such as time-out values or the number of items to display in a list.
You can also use system settings to manage application behavior, such as whether users can
copy committed model versions or any model version and whether the staging process logs
transactions. For e-mail notications, you can congure system settings to include a URL to
Master Data Manager in e-mails, to manage the frequency of notications, and whether to
send e-mails in HTML or text format, among other settings. Most settings are congurable by
using Master Data Services Conguration Manager. You can change values for other settings
directly in the System Settings table in the MDS database.
On the Web Conguration page of Master Data Services Conguration Manager, you asso-
ciate the Master Data Services Web application, Master Data Manager, with an existing Web
site or create a new Web site and application pool for it. You can also opt to enable the Web
service for Master Data Manager to support programmatic access to the application.
The Master Data Services Database
The MDS database is the central repository for all information necessary to support the Mas-
ter Data Manager application and the MDS Web service. This database stores application set-
tings, metadata tables, and all versions of the master data. In addition, it contains tables that
MDS uses to stage data from source systems and subscription views for downstream systems
that consume master data.
Master Data Manager
Master Data Manager is a Web application that serves as a stewardship portal for business
users and a management interface for administrators. Master Data Manager includes the fol-
lowing ve functional areas:
■
Explorer Use this area to change attributes, manage hierarchies, apply business rules
to validate master data, review and correct data quality issues, annotate master data,
monitor changes, and reverse transactions.
■
Version Management Use this area to create a new version of your master data
model and underlying data, uncover all validation issues in a model version, prevent
users from making changes, assign a ag to indicate the current version for subscribing
systems, review changes, and reverse transactions.