Concepts

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PROJECTS

A “Project” is a mapping document for one conversion object. If you think of a Project as a mapping document for one IDoc, that's pretty close. In practice, a Project can be more complex than a single IDoc.


PROJECT TEMPLATES

Projects are not created from scratch. Well, they could be, but who would want to? Instead, a “Project Template” is used to create a Project. For the most part, Project Templates are IDoc definitions that have been extracted from ECC. In this case, the Project Template is the definition of all segments and fields for a given IDoc. That includes all field level detail such as field data types, field lengths, and descriptions. When you create a Project based on a Project Template, all of the data from the Project Template is copied to the Project. You work with and can make changes to the copy, which is the Project.


Make changes? Yes, you may wish to change the definition of a Project. For example, selected IDoc Segments from a Project Template can be added to an existing Project after the Project is created. Within a project, a Field can be Copied and Pasted from one Segment to another Segment. These need for such functionality will become clear as examples are given, but the functionality offers rich opportunities for creating a single and complex mapping that can drive multiple LSMW projects based on multiple IDocs.


STAGING TABLES

Once the Project is defined, that is to say that the relevant Segments and Fields have been selected, then a SQL Script that defines Staging Table(s) can be generated with the click of one button. The number of Staging Tables created for a given project is determined by the selection of segments and the choice to merge segments. In any case, the Staging Tables are to be populated with legacy data that will drive conversion programs.


LOAD READY FILES

Once the Staging Tables are populated with transformed legacy data, the Staging Table data is exported without transformation to tab-delimited text files, which are to be consumed by conversion programs. Data Migration Workbench enables maintaining sample data in the conversion Project in the same format as staging table(s), and exports sample data files to be used as inputs for unit testing LSMW Projects. Data Migration Workbench also exports LSMW Field Definition files that match the definition of Staging Tables. These files are compatible with and meant to be used by LSMW; it saves time when creating an LSMW project. In practice, after creating a Project and sample data for the Project, the sample data files and field definition files are then used together to build and test the conversion program.