Capture information flow data

In the navigation panel, click Information Architecture > Information Flows to open the data workbench for information flow. The syntax of the information flow name is: <Source Application> > <Target Application>.

Add a new information flow. Click the New button to open the wizard.

Edit an existing information flow. Select the checkbox   for the information flow you want to edit and click the Edit   button to open the wizard. The Go to Step ​ field displayed at the bottom of the wizard should show Basic Data so that you can capture the mandatory information about the application.

Define the information flow's basic data. Define the following fields in the wizard and click OK or Next to save your data. All mandatory fields must be defined to create the information flow and save it.

• Source Application: (Mandatory) Select the application that is the source of the information flow. This is the application that the information is coming from. The syntax of the information flow name is: <Source Application> > <Target Application>.
• Target Application: (Mandatory) Select the application that is the target of the information flow. This is the application that the information is going to.
• Short Name: (Optional)Define a short abbreviated name to display on the information flow in diagrams and business graphics.
• Version: (Mandatory) Enter the version number. The version number should be unique.
• Object State: (Optional) The object state describes the use of the information flow in the real word. The information flow's object state may only be defined as active if its source and target applications also have an active object state.The information flow must have a retired object state if either the source or target application has a retired state. Possible values are:
  • Plan: The information flow is proposed to be used and still in the stages of planning and building.
  • Active: The information flow is currently and used now. The active period begins with the information flow's start date and ends with the end date.
  • Retired: The information flow is no longer used
• Release Status: (Optional) This is an approval status and typically indicates the level of quality of the information about the information flow. The release status determines whether an information flow can or cannot be deleted. Possible values are:
  • Draft: The information flow has only mandatory data defined.
  • Under Review: The information flow is documented and being reviewed. An information flow with this release status cannot be deleted.
  • Approved: The information flow has been approved by the responsible stakeholders. An information flow cannot be deleted when it has an approved release status. An information flow with this release status cannot be deleted.
  • Data imported: The data regarding this information flow has been imported from an external system. Additional changes may be required to improve the data quality. An information flow with this release status can be deleted.
  • Trash: The information flow is no longer valid and can be deleted.
• Start Date and End Date: (Mandatory) The start and end date captures the period when the information flow is actively running and can be used in the company. This is also when the Object State attribute should be specified as Active. Click the calendar icon to select the date or enter the date in the date format Month/Day/Year. For example: 4/30/2023
• From (Source) and To (Source) (Optional): You can change the source or target of the information flow to a (local) component that has been defined for the source or target application. The component name will be displayed in parenthesis behind the application in the information flow name.

  component

  A standard component is a reusable block of functionality that provides technical functionality to an application or to the platforms that an application runs on. Components do not usually provide functionality to end users. Typical components are operating systems, database management systems, or application servers. A component that is used in an application's platform is a local component and is not is reusable.

• Connection details: (Optional) Specify the connection type , connection method , connection frequency , and connection data format for the information flow.

  connection type

  A connection type describes the mode of transfer used by a specific information flow when transmitting business data between two associated applications or their respective components. Examples include batch and online.

  connection method

  A connection method describes the method of transfer used by a specific information flow to transfer business data between the two associated applications or their respective components. Examples include TCP/IP, file transfer, message queue.

  connection frequency

  A connection frequency describes how often a specific information flow is used to transfer business data between the two associated applications or their respective components. Examples include daily, monthly.

  connection data format

  A connection data format describes the data format used for the transfer of business data via a specific information flow. Examples include ASCII, XML.

• Middleware: Select a component that is the middleware that realized the information exchange between the source and target application. In the selector, you can go to the Browse tab and select components assigned to an IT capability or vendor . Be sure to expand the IT Capability or Vendor node in the explorer and select a component, otherwise an error message will be displayed.

  component

  A standard component is a reusable block of functionality that provides technical functionality to an application or to the platforms that an application runs on. Components do not usually provide functionality to end users. Typical components are operating systems, database management systems, or application servers. A component that is used in an application's platform is a local component and is not is reusable.

  IT capability

  An IT capability bundles and structures content-specific components necessary for the IT infrastructure of data center operations. Mainframe operations, database management, and backup and recovery procedures are examples of IT capabilities.

  vendor

  A vendor is a supplier of components.

• Description: Enter a meaningful description that will clarify the purpose of the information flow.
• Authorized Access: As the creator of the information flow, you are automatically defined as the authorized user per default. The authorized user of the information flow can be changed. You can also define any authorized user group that should have Read/Write access permissions to the information flow.

  authorized user

  An authorized user has primary responsibility to maintain the data for an object. Typically this is the user that has created the object. The authorized user as well as members of authorized user groups have write permissions to objects they are responsible for.

  authorized user group

  An authorized user group is a set of users that have been granted write permissions to an object. More than one authorized user group may be specified for an object.

An application can be a source of an outgoing information flow and the target of an incoming information flow. The information flow transfers the business data that applications operate on. The application can create, read, update, delete (CRUD), or process the business data. The application's information flows may also use the business data.

In the data table, click the navigate  button of the information flow you want to define. Go to the Information Portfolio tab and open and scroll to the Business Data page and open it.

Create business data. Click New > Create Business Data and define the business data's basic information or click Add Existing Business Data to select a business data that is in the repository. Click OK or Next to save the data. Define the following fields:

• Name: (Mandatory) Enter a unique name for the business data. The use of a comma (,) in the name business data is not recommended. To assure correct handling, the comma (,) will be replaced by a period (.) in conjunction with the display of business data in the CRUD matrices.
• Version: (Mandatory) Enter a version number for the business data. The name and version number of the business data should be unique.
• Data Category: (Mandatory) Assign the business data to a data category. The business data is typically the instantiation of the data category.
• Business Capability: (Recommended) Select the business capability that the business data is relevant for.

  business capability

  A business capability is a high-level description of what is done in a company to meet its business objectives. Market development, product development, and support and services are examples of business capabilities.

• Data Classification: Classify the business data based on data protection requirements. Possible options are: Confidential - Non-Personal Data, Confidential - Personal Data, Restricted, Unrestricted, and Unknown
• Description: Enter a meaningful description that will clarify the purpose of the business data.

Specify the usage of the business data by the source or target application or the information flow. In the Overview tab of the application, click either the application displayed in either the From (Source) Owner attribute or To (Target) Owner attribute to navigate to the application. In the Information Portfolio tab, scroll to the Business Data page to open it.​ Select the checkbox   for the information flow you want to edit and click the Business Data Usage button to open the editor to define how the application operates on the business data. Select all checkboxes that are relevant for the application and click OK to save the specification.

• Create: Select if the business data can be created by the application.
• Is Input: Select if the business data can be used by any of the application's incoming information flows.
• Read: Select if the business data can be read by the application.
• Is Output: Select if the business data can be used by any of the application's outgoing information flows.
• Update: Select if the business data can be updated by the application.
• Delete: Select if the business data can be deleted by the application.
• Processing: Select if the application processes information pertaining to the business data. Processing indicates that the business data is handled in the context of the relevant object without the data being altered, created or deleted. The data is typically kept locally so that a desynchronization results between the processed business data and the system(s) of records for the business data.

  Typically, it is not the raw data that is processed but some aggregation or abstraction of the business data (for example, data in an operational data store or an OLAP-based reporting solution).

• Business Data Usage Comments: If required, provide additional information about the business data usage.