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Importing extended properties from SQL Server and Azure SQL

info

Oracle and Oracle PeopleSoft connectors offer extended properties support only for jobs

Extended properties - custom fields

Some data storage and business intelligence services offer an extended properties function — user-defined metadata fields attached to various schema elements like tables, columns, stored procedures, etc. Dataedo has a similar function - custom fields. You can map the extended properties onto your defined custom fields using the Import and export extended properties function.

Mapping

To import extended properties, you need to map their names to custom fields. The table below shows this concept.

Custom fields mapping

Mapping is saved between imports and is also used for .exporting extended properties.

Repository vs database scope

Custom fields are defined globally for the entire repository which can hold multiple databases. Mapping custom fields to extended properties, however, is defined per database/documentation. This means that each database can use different names for extended properties, and for each database, you can choose which properties you want to import.

Importing extended properties

Extended properties are imported in the process of import or update of the database schema.

To define custom field - extended properties mappings you need to enter advanced settings. You do it by checking the Advanced settings option in the connection window.

Advanced settings

If you don't have any custom fields defined in your repository then the next screen will show you an empty list.

Custom fields import window - empty

If you want to import extended properties you need to define custom fields first. You can do it by clicking the Define custom fields button. This will open the configurator documented in a separate article. Once you have added custom fields to your repository you can now map extended properties. First, select which fields you want to import and then provide the name of the extended property for each.

Custom fields import window - filled

You can find out the names of extended properties in your database with this SQL query:

select distinct name
from sys.extended_properties
order by name

Once defined, click the next button. If you're running a first import of documentation, continue normally. However, if you're adding extended properties to existing documentation, you will also need to check the Reimport all objects box on the next screen:

Reimport all objects

Continue as usual, and the extended properties will be imported to the defined custom fields.

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