About IRI Metadata
Data metadata for structured data management
The data metadata syntax for business, technical, and master metadata used throughout IRI software is the „Data Definition File“ or „DDF“ format. DDF is the primary form of field layout metadata (column, key/value) used in IRI software and supports the wide range of Data processing functions and –Sources in the IRI software.
More specifically, DDF is the data metadata subset of Process metadata for the data transformation and reporting program SortCL (.scl) in IRI CoSort, which also forms the basis for metadata-compatible tasks in:
- IRI Voracity ETL, BI, and other jobs supported in .flow/.bat/.sh files, including
- IRI NextForm Data Migration/Replication Jobs
- IRI FieldShield (.fcl) Data Acquisition and Order Masking
- IRI RowGen (.rcl) Test data generation and population jobs
The options for designing and executing job scripts for all these tools are in the graphical IDE IRI Workbench built upon Eclipse. Modeling and managing metadata is facilitated by the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF), integrated data mapping diagrams, and graphical editors for metadata.
The DDF files are also the metadata repository for all structured Data sources and orders, with also:
Supporting the independence of data and applications
Define job commands and data layouts together or separately in explicit, logical text files — metadata repositories. Centralize layouts for reuse.
Use the same source layouts across multiple applications. Store and use mapped target layouts as metadata sources for new applications.
Specify multiple targets and layouts simultaneously to render multiple layouts and views of the same data.
Support with defining and managing master data
Provide existing or custom Master Data Formats into files or tables within DDF repositories. Use these layouts in IRI Voracity ETL jobs, as well as in all CoSort/SortCL-based transformation, cleaning, federation, or reporting applications.
Create DDF files manually or automatically in the graphical metadata discovery assistant IRI Workbench.
Manage Store your DDF files, master data, and other metadata in a secure repository for team sharing, version control, and data lineage.
Convert to SortCL DDF from third-party file layouts using command-line utilities in the CoSort package, in the Workbench, or in MIMB.
Support for Conformity and Administrative Goals
IRI metadata supports field-level protection features like Data masking and decryption as well Data integration and Reporting.
DDF metadata— and their inclusion in audit logs—enable you to map these processes and meet the requirements of your risk and control framework.
IRI's metadata and operational infrastructure allow you to replace multiple processes with one product, one job script, and one I/O pass. Simplicity, transparency, security, compliance, and auditability are included.
Background information on the company's metadata and IRI's views on the matter can be found in this blog post.