Document Text Contents
Page 1
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This section contains topics that go beyond the basic information needed to build Ab Initio graphs, grouped as follows:
� Working in Sandboxes
� Using Parameters
� Using Phases and Checkpoints
� Using Subgraphs and Macros
� Creating Custom Components
� Using Conditional Components
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
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This section contains the following topics:
� What is a Sandbox?
� Using a Sandbox
� Using Sandbox Parameters
� Sandbox Parameters and Graph Parameters
� Adding Subdirectories to a Sandbox
� Sandboxes and the Ab Initio Environment
� Sandboxes and the EME
� Sandboxes without the EME
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
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A "sandbox" is a special directory (folder) containing a certain minimum number of specific subdirectories for holding Ab
Initio graphs and related files. These subdirectories have standard names that indicate their function. The sandbox directory
itself can have any name; its sandbox properties are recorded in various special and hidden files that lie at its top level (the
my_project directory, in the following illustration):
Page 1 of 76Beyond the Basics
10/4/2010file://C:\Documents and Settings\kumarv1\Local Settings\Temp\~hh730C.htm
Page 2
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For information on how to create a sandbox, see Create Sandbox Dialog. See also Creating a Sandbox.
If you are using the EME, you can create a sandbox during checkout of a project. See Checking Out Projects, Graphs, and
Files.
If you are creating sandboxes in an Ab Initio Environment, the sandboxes will havd additional subdirectories. See
Sandboxes and the Ab Initio Environment.
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A sandbox is not limited to containing only the default subdirectories shown here. You can add any number of additional
ones.
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
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Sandbox subdirectories are used to organize and store Ab Initio graphs and the files that are associated with them. Graphs
and their associated files are all considered to be metadata (as opposed to the data which the graphs operate on), and
sandboxes normally hold only metadata.
Consider the following simple graph:
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Viewed as a collection of various kinds of files, this graph consists of the following:
� Data files — the Transactions input dataset and the Transaction Data output dataset. If these are multifiles, the
actual datasets will occupy multiple files.
� Record formats — there are two separate record formats in the graph, one for the input file, the other for the output.
These record formats could be embedded in the Input File and Output File components themselves, but here (for the
sake of the example) we will assume that they are stored in separate record format (.dml) files.
Page 2 of 76Beyond the Basics
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Page 39
The global package is the package that contains all the built-in DML elements such as the built-in functions and data types.
By default, every port and transform function in a graph is associated with this global package.
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
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When you work with packages, you can use drag and drop techniques in the tree view of the Package Editor, you can enter
DML in text view of the Package Editor, or you can switch back and forth between the two techniques.
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
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You can use the tree view of the Package Editor to work with the DML objects in a package.
To display the Package Editor in tree view, do one of the following:
� In the Properties dialog, select a transform parameter on the Parameters tab or a record format on the Ports tab, and
click New or Edit.
� Double-click a component port on a component in the GDE. If the Record Format Editor opens, make sure it is in
Grid Mode, and then choose View > Package from the Record Editor menu bar.
� Shift-double-click a component. If the Transform Editor opens, make sure it is in Grid Mode, and then choose View
> Package on the Editor menu bar.
This illustrations shows a package named utils as viewed in the Package Editor. It has three named types and a transform:
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
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You can use DML code to create or edit the DML objects in a package. You can do this by viewing a package file in a text
editor or by looking at the package in Text View of the Package Editor.
To display the Package Editor in Text View:
1. Do one of the following:
Page 39 of 76Beyond the Basics
10/4/2010file://C:\Documents and Settings\kumarv1\Local Settings\Temp\~hh730C.htm
�������� ���
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This section contains topics that go beyond the basic information needed to build Ab Initio graphs, grouped as follows:
� Working in Sandboxes
� Using Parameters
� Using Phases and Checkpoints
� Using Subgraphs and Macros
� Creating Custom Components
� Using Conditional Components
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
������������
���������
This section contains the following topics:
� What is a Sandbox?
� Using a Sandbox
� Using Sandbox Parameters
� Sandbox Parameters and Graph Parameters
� Adding Subdirectories to a Sandbox
� Sandboxes and the Ab Initio Environment
� Sandboxes and the EME
� Sandboxes without the EME
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
�
�����
��
��������
A "sandbox" is a special directory (folder) containing a certain minimum number of specific subdirectories for holding Ab
Initio graphs and related files. These subdirectories have standard names that indicate their function. The sandbox directory
itself can have any name; its sandbox properties are recorded in various special and hidden files that lie at its top level (the
my_project directory, in the following illustration):
Page 1 of 76Beyond the Basics
10/4/2010file://C:\Documents and Settings\kumarv1\Local Settings\Temp\~hh730C.htm
Page 2
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For information on how to create a sandbox, see Create Sandbox Dialog. See also Creating a Sandbox.
If you are using the EME, you can create a sandbox during checkout of a project. See Checking Out Projects, Graphs, and
Files.
If you are creating sandboxes in an Ab Initio Environment, the sandboxes will havd additional subdirectories. See
Sandboxes and the Ab Initio Environment.
��������
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��������
A sandbox is not limited to containing only the default subdirectories shown here. You can add any number of additional
ones.
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
������
��
�������
Sandbox subdirectories are used to organize and store Ab Initio graphs and the files that are associated with them. Graphs
and their associated files are all considered to be metadata (as opposed to the data which the graphs operate on), and
sandboxes normally hold only metadata.
Consider the following simple graph:
�
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� ��
Viewed as a collection of various kinds of files, this graph consists of the following:
� Data files — the Transactions input dataset and the Transaction Data output dataset. If these are multifiles, the
actual datasets will occupy multiple files.
� Record formats — there are two separate record formats in the graph, one for the input file, the other for the output.
These record formats could be embedded in the Input File and Output File components themselves, but here (for the
sake of the example) we will assume that they are stored in separate record format (.dml) files.
Page 2 of 76Beyond the Basics
10/4/2010file://C:\Documents and Settings\kumarv1\Local Settings\Temp\~hh730C.htm
Page 39
The global package is the package that contains all the built-in DML elements such as the built-in functions and data types.
By default, every port and transform function in a graph is associated with this global package.
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
0��)�����
�
�����
When you work with packages, you can use drag and drop techniques in the tree view of the Package Editor, you can enter
DML in text view of the Package Editor, or you can switch back and forth between the two techniques.
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
0��)����
��
�
������� ��*����0��)��
You can use the tree view of the Package Editor to work with the DML objects in a package.
To display the Package Editor in tree view, do one of the following:
� In the Properties dialog, select a transform parameter on the Parameters tab or a record format on the Ports tab, and
click New or Edit.
� Double-click a component port on a component in the GDE. If the Record Format Editor opens, make sure it is in
Grid Mode, and then choose View > Package from the Record Editor menu bar.
� Shift-double-click a component. If the Transform Editor opens, make sure it is in Grid Mode, and then choose View
> Package on the Editor menu bar.
This illustrations shows a package named utils as viewed in the Package Editor. It has three named types and a transform:
Copyright © 2004, Ab Initio Software Corporation, Confidential and Proprietary. All rights reserved.
0��)����
��
�
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You can use DML code to create or edit the DML objects in a package. You can do this by viewing a package file in a text
editor or by looking at the package in Text View of the Package Editor.
To display the Package Editor in Text View:
1. Do one of the following:
Page 39 of 76Beyond the Basics
10/4/2010file://C:\Documents and Settings\kumarv1\Local Settings\Temp\~hh730C.htm
