Understand Dataflow, Dataflow Set and Dataflow Set Model Object

To understand the concepts of Dataflow, Dataflow Set, and Dataflow Set Model Object, let's assume we want to load in a Model Object data from the following SQL statement:

SELECT  AccountNumber, 
        CustomerID, 
        PersonID, 
        StoreID, 
        TerritoryID
FROM    Customer cus
LEFT JOIN    Person per on cus.PersonID = per.PersonID
WHERE     cus.PersonID IS NOT NULL

EXCEPT

SELECT  AccountNumber,
        CustomerID, 
        PersonID, 
        StoreID, 
        TerritoryID
FROM    Customer cus
WHERE     cus.PersonID IN (658,659)

Dataflow

A Dataflow is a loader.

In our example, we can imagine two source applications from which the Model Object data are coming.

We can create 2 Dataflows, so two loaders:

  • 1 to load data daily from a source application A
  • 1 to load similar data every month from a source application B

Dataflow Set

A Dataflow Set is a selection of data (SELECT statement).

In our example, there are 2 Dataflow Sets with the Set Operator Except between the 2 Sets:

Dataflow Set Model Object

A Dataflow Set Model Object is a Model Object used in a Dataflow Set.

In our example, there are:

  • 2 Dataflow Set Model Objects in the Dataflow Set 1 with a Join Operator Left Join between the 2 Model Objects
  • 1 Dataflow Set Model Object in the Dataflow Set 2