What’s New in Master Data Services (MDS) in SQL Server 2012 Release Candidate 0 (RC0)

Article
12/01/2011

From Microsoft Technet Wikis

As of November, 2011, RC0 is the latest release of SQL Server “Denali,” now known as SQL Server 2012. To download this release, go to https://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28145 . To upgrade to this version of MDS, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee633752(SQL.110).aspx .
Note: Portions of the Master Data Manager web application use Silverlight. To install the version of Silverlight that works with the RC0 version of MDS, go here: https://go2.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=116053&v=5.0.61025.0 .

For information about CTP3, the previous release, see https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3714.aspx.

The following improvements have been made in this release of Master Data Services.

Excel Improvements

In columns that display domain-based attributes, both the name and code are now automatically displayed.

The workflow for loading data has changed slightly. In order to load data, you must now open a new worksheet.

Changes have also been made to increase the visible workspace. The Master Data Explorer pane now closes when you load data, and information about the active worksheet has been combined into a single row at the top of the sheet.

It is now easier to share shortcut query files, which contain information about the server, the model, version, entity, and any applied filters. A new toolbar button allows you to send the shortcut query file to another user via Microsoft Outlook.

For information about the Add-in for Excel, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231024(SQL.110).aspx .
For information about using the Data Quality Services functionality in the Add-in, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh548681(SQL.110).aspx .
For tips for working with data in the Add-in, see “Working with Data in the Master Data Services (MDS) Add-in for Excel”

Many-to-Many Mapping Improved

MDS can now be used more effectively to manage many-to-many relationships.

Links have been added, allowing you to more quickly access related entities. For more information, go to https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/5733.aspx.

Collections UI Updated, Weights Added

The user interface (UI) for collections now uses Silverlight® and has been improved for usability.

Each collection member can have a weight value assigned. When you use the Collections subscription view format, a Weight column displays the value set in the UI. For more information about collections, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee633733(SQL.110).aspx .

Security Simplified

To make assigning security easier, you can no longer assign model object permissions to the Derived Hierarchy, Explicit Hierarchy, and Attribute Group objects.

Derived hierarchy permissions are now based on the model. For example, if you want a user to have permission to a derived hierarchy, you must assign Update to the model object. Then you can Deny access to any entities you don’t want the user to have access to.

Explicit hierarchy permissions are now based on the entity. For example, if the user has Update permissions to an Account entity, then all explicit hierarchies for the entity will be updateable.

Attribute group permissions can no longer be assigned in the User and Group Permissions functional area. Instead, in the System Administration functional area where attribute groups are created, users and groups can be given Update permission to attribute groups. Read-only permission to attribute groups is no longer available.

Codes Automatically Generated

It is now easier to have Code attribute values automatically created for new members. To do so, edit an entity’s properties and select the Create Code values automatically check box. Previously, you had to create a business rule to automatically create values for the Code attribute. For more information, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh479633(SQL.110).aspx .

New Model Deployment Tool

To deploy models with data, a new, higher performance command-line tool is now available. The model deployment wizard in the web application can now be used to deploy model structure only; to create and deploy packages with data, you must use the command-line MDSModelDeploy tool.

If you installed MDS at the default location, the tool is available at drive:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Master Data Services\Configuration\MDSModelDeploy.exe. For more information about this tool, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff486956(SQL.110).aspx .

SharePoint Integration Introduced

Two new features have been introduced to contribute to SharePoint integration.

The Master Data Manager web UI can now be cropped for better display in SharePoint or other websites. By adding the query parameter &hosted=true to the website URL, you remove the header, the menu bar, and padding at the bottom of the page. For more information, go to https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/display-master-data-manager-web-page-in-sharepoint.aspx
When using the MDS Add-in for Excel, you can create a shortcut query file to connect and load frequently-used data from the MDS repository into the Add-in. These query files are XML files that can be saved to SharePoint in order to be shared with users who want to access the same dataset. For more information, go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh479620(SQL.110).aspx .

Microsoft Silverlight 5 Required

To work in the Master Data Manager web application, Silverlight 5.0 must be installed on the client computer. If you do not have the required version of Silverlight, you will be prompted to install it when you navigate to an area of the web application that requires it. You can install Silverlight 5 from https://go2.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=116053&v=5.0.61025.0 .