Overview
Alibaba Cloud DataWorks and its partner tool, Datablau Data Modeler (DDM), provide an integrated data modeling solution called DATABLAU. This solution integrates capabilities, such as data model design, management, and standard application, into the standardized development process of DataWorks. It helps you generate value from data assets, strengthen your data foundation across the entire data lifecycle, and provide robust support for data monetization.
Process
To use the data modeling feature (DATABLAU) in Alibaba Cloud DataWorks:
Purchase the feature. Data modeling (DATABLAU) is a commercial feature. You must purchase it before you can use it.
Prepare accounts and permissions. After you purchase data modeling (DATABLAU), plan the user roles for your business and grant permissions. For more information, see User Authorization and Management.
Prepare the modeling tool. The DATABLAU data modeling feature supports both an offline client and an online web-based tool in the DataWorks console. Before you start modeling, download and install the offline client. For more information, see Download the modeling tool (DDM).
(Optional) Familiarize yourself with the process and interface. The Get started guide provides sample data and models. You can use these samples to quickly learn the data modeling process and interface.
Features
The data modeling feature (DATABLAU) in Alibaba Cloud DataWorks provides the following features:
Visual model design: You can use a professional local client or a lightweight online client for visual modeling in different work scenarios.
Collaborative design: Multiple users can log on at the same time to design models together.
Data standards: Administrators can define data standards, code specifications, and naming conventions.
Smart standard referencing: Model designers can reference preset standards when they build models. This applies standards proactively.
Forward and reverse DDL: You can deploy models designed in the tool directly to an engine. You can also extract existing models from an engine into the tool to edit and redeploy them. This eliminates the tedious manual import and export operations of traditional modeling tools.
Model repository: You can check models in and out of a central repository for unified management.
Model Implementation Monitoring: Performs baseline checks on models implemented in the engine to help you identify inconsistencies between the table schema and the physical model structure.
Integration with DataWorks: You can associate model publishing with the existing DataWorks development flow. This creates a more standardized process from design to deployment.
Benefits
Data model management often presents several pain points. These include the lack of a formal management system, the inability to accumulate data models over time, and the difficulty for project teams to apply standards without tool support. The DDM tool in Alibaba Cloud DataWorks provides an integrated data modeling solution (DATABLAU) to address these issues:
Systematic model management: Provides a unified and systematic model management tool that supports both an offline client and a web-based client.
Highly open: You can perform custom development based on DDM and integrate it with other industry management tools.
Model repository: You can access a repository of mature, industry-standard business logic models. You can use these models as a reference or build your own repository tailored to your business needs.
Standard application and monitoring: You can reference mature industry data standards or customize your own. You can also use the tool to apply and monitor these standards to improve final data quality.