The Data Masker Create/Edit Insertion Rule Form

This form is used to create and edit Data Masker Insertion rules. Insertion rules are designed to create new data rows by populating selected table columns with realistic looking data - effectively acting as a data generator. The title text and button labels on the form will change as is appropriate to the create or edit mode. In the example screen shot above, the form is editing an existing Insertion rule.

An Insertion rule is configured with the target table and column names which will receive the data. The choice of the replacement data used by the Insertion rule is configurable by associating datasets with the specified table columns. Datasets for just about every purpose are included with the Data Masker software and you can make up your own if you need to do so. The choice of dataset used for a particular column is entirely up to the implementer of the Insertion rule.

The usual method of use is to execute an Insertion rule which adds rows to the target table and populates the NOT NULL columns. Subsequent Substitution rules are used to fill in the remainder of the values in each row.

Configuring the target table and column is a straightforward process. Use the mouse to select the table from the Table tab. The choice of available tables is entirely determined by the Rule Controller with which the Insertion rule is associated. Only tables from within the schema for which the Rule Controller is configured will be visible. If you do not see the tables you require, the schema structure can be refreshed using the Refresh Schema and Indexes button on Options tab of the edit Rule Controller form.

Once the table has been selected, the Column and Datasets panel will become active. Choose the table columns from the left hand section and configure the dataset for that column in the right hand section. The columns available for selection will be those of the previously selected table.

The Create/Edit Insertion Rule Datasets Panel

Datasets provide the required insertion values for Insertion rules. The dataset associated with a rule indicates which type of data will be substituted into the specified table and column. In the example above, the rule is configured to use insert into the SUPPLIER_ID column using values from the Numbers, Integer, Sequential dataset which generates a series of sequential integers based on a specified start value and increment. The SUPPLIER_NAME field receives values from the Company Names dataset.

It is important to emphasize that Data Masker datasets are not just simple lists of replacement information. They provide a wide range of functionality. For example, the Null Values dataset removes data by replacing it with null values, the Text, Paragraphs of Gibberish dataset generates random collections of sentences and the Date Variance dataset can vary existing dates randomly between user defined boundaries. The Data Masker software comes equipped with datasets for just about every purpose and it is possible to create your own User Defined Datasets if you wish.

The Number of Rows to Insert field in the lower right hand area of the form is required. Enter the number of rows you wish to generate in the target table in this area.

Existing Insertion rules can be edited by double clicking on them with the mouse. Insertion rules are created by launching the New Insertion rule form using the New Rule button located on the bottom of the Rules in Set tab.

How to Create a New Insertion Rule