Create a composer

  1. On the DWD Designer, click Designers tab.
  2. Right click Composers , then select New Composer.
  3. Type a composer name.
  4. The tree in the left pane is the DWD Designer Dictionary containing folders of source objects. This tree also includes previously installed or created catalog components. Expand the dictionary to locate and select the source object folder that contains the object that, in turn, contains a column to be included in the composer.
    You can search for an object or a column using the search button (binoculars button below the arrow buttons). When the search dialog locates the object or column, you can move it to the composer dialog using the Return button on the search dialog.
    Note: You can also select the source object from any previously installed or manually created catalog component. Identical object names in the dictionary and in the catalog refer to the same object in the repository. The source objects accessed through the catalog or data mart nodes are identified by their key column in blue.

    The selected folder or object moves to the middle pane of the composer.

    Note: Composers can be included in other composers.
  5. Move the required object from the middle pane to the right pane using a double-click on the object. You can also use the arrow buttons.
    Remove objects from the right pane using a double-click or the arrow button.
  6. On the Source Selection, select from the following types of composers:
    • Basic Composer
    • Dimension Composer
    • Fact Table Composer
    • Nested Composer
  7. Use the radio buttons to select whether this is a view (recommended) or table composer.
  8. Select Show Original Names if you want to work with the original table metadata (i.e. M3). To work with descriptive metadata names clear this box.
  9. Click Column Mapping tab.
    Note: You can return to the Source Selection tab at any time to add or remove objects or change other setting.
  10. Click an object in the upper left pane to display its columns in the lower left pane. Add all columns that are mandatory natural keys from the left.
    Note: When creating a new composer, all metadata in non key columns will be set to nullable by default.
  11. Add all the necessary columns to the composer by double-clicking a column or using the arrow buttons. Remove columns from the composer using a double-click or the arrow button.
    Caution: 
    You must add all columns that are mandatory keys in the source object. These are identified in bold.
  12. When all columns are added to the mapping pane, click OK. The composer is saved to the Composers folder in the Designer tab.