Common

Trace Data Sources

Tracing a data source allows for changes to be captured. This process is helpful so that the rate of change of a project and of a data source can be tracked.  It also provides a detailed history of all actions taken on the design of objects in a database.

This use case covers the following topics:

Configure Trace Parameters

Parameters are Trace-specific settings that must be configured per installation. Parameters are delivered with recommended default values. Review these values and make any changes necessary for the installation.

To configure trace parameters:

  1. Select Configuration > Modules > Parameters-Trace in Navigation pane.

  2. Click Edit.

    View the field descriptions for the Parameters-Trace page

  3. Update all fields if default values are not applicable.
  4. Click Save.

Activate and Deactivate Data Sources

When a data source is registered in System Administration, it is automatically registered in Common to be traced.

A Data Source can be deactivated, which is helpful to reduce resource (memory, disk space, processing, etc.) consumption.

To deactivate a data source from being traced:

  1. Click Analyze in Navigation pane.
  2. Click Trace for Data Source ID.

  3. Click Deactivate on Page toolbar; the data source is no longer traced.

    NOTE:   Click Activate on Page toolbar to begin tracing for the data source. At this point, a snapshot of the database is taken and tracing begins.

View Objects

The SQL code for the following object types is tracked for any given data sources:

  • Tables
  • Procedures
  • Views
  • Functions
  • Other – additional SQL objects, such as synonyms, triggers and table functions

To view objects:

  1. Click Analyze in Navigation pane.

    NOTE: The Analyze page displays data source registered in System Administration. Data sources are analyzed for database object changes, table statistics and duplicate records.

  2. Click Trace for Data Source ID.
  3. Click an applicable icon to view tracked objects.

Two icons are available:

  • Click SQL icon to view the original SQL code, which is captured at the time an object is registered.
  • Click History icon to view an audit trail of the object.

NOTE:  If the database is refreshed and a change has been made to the object, the audit trail of the modified SQL code is recorded. Refer to View Object History for detailed information.

View Object Charts

A chart is available to view a graphical representation of the tracked Data Source objects, organized by week and type.

To view a Data Source chart for all objects:

  1. Click Analyze in Navigation pane.
  2. Click Trace for Data Source ID.
  3. Click Chart to view a graph representation of the objects changed by week.

View Object History

If the database is refreshed and a change has been made to an object, the audit trail of SQL code is stored.

To view the object history:

  1. Click Analyze in Navigation pane.
  2. Click Trace for Data Source ID.
  3. Click an applicable icon to view historical objects.
  4. Click History for Object Name.

    View the field descriptions for the History of Changes page

NOTE:  All archived objects are listed. An Object Changes report (Reports > Object Changes) displays all changed objects.

Download Rate of Change Spreadsheet

The Rate of Change Excel spreadsheet tracks the rate of change, new objects and changed objects on a weekly basis; all data being traced can be downloaded into this single spreadsheet.

To download the Rate of Change spreadsheet:

  1. Select Configuration > Modules > Parameters-Trace in Navigation pane.
  2. Click Refresh to pull the most recent data for all data sources.
  3. Click Download to download the Rate of Change spreadsheet.