A reference table contains the standard version and alternative versions of a set of data values. You add a reference table to a transformation in the Developer tool to verify that source data values are accurate and correctly formatted.

Most reference tables contain at least two columns. One column contains the standard or preferred version of a value, and other columns contain alternative versions. When you add a reference table to a transformation, the transformation searches the input port data for values that also appear in the table. You can create tables with any data that is useful to the data project that you work on.

A content set is a Model repository object that specifies reference data values in the repository or in a file. When you add a content set to a transformation, the transformation searches the input data for values that match the data patterns in the content set.

Reference data files that contain data for the deliverable addresses in a country. The Address Validator transformation reads the reference data. You cannot create or edit address reference data files.

Address reference data is current for a defined period and you must refresh your data regularly, for example every quarter.

Reference data files that contain information on personal, household, and corporate identities. The Match transformation and the Comparison transformation use population files to find potential identities in input data. You cannot create or edit identity population files.