An association represents the relationship between the objects. The relationship can be a data flow relationship or a non-data flow relationship.

A data flow relationship describes the movement of data between metadata objects. A direct data flow relationship means that data flows from one metadata object to another without passing through any other metadata objects. For example, a PowerCenter pass-through mapping reads data from a flat file source and loads it to a relational table. Within the mapping, data flows from the source definition instance to a Source Qualifier transformation instance and then to the target definition instance. There is a direct data flow relationship between the source definition instance and the Source Qualifier transformation instance. There is also a direct data flow relationship between the Source Qualifier transformation instance and the target definition instance.

A non-data flow relationship defines some other type of relationship between metadata objects. For example, a primary-key to foreign-key relationship between columns in different relational tables is a non-data flow relationship. The relationship between a PowerCenter mapping and the Session task instance that runs the mapping is also a non-data flow relationship.

When you view object details, the Related Catalog Objects section lists the metadata objects that have direct data flow and non-data flow relationships with the selected object. Metadata Manager does not list parent or child objects as related catalog objects.

Metadata Manager creates relationships between metadata objects in packaged or universal resources when you load metadata. You cannot edit these relationships.

You create relationships for custom and business glossary resources. For custom objects, you can use load templates, the Objects Relationship Wizard, or click

Edit

in the Related Catalog Objects section to create relationships. For business terms, you can use the Objects Relationship Wizard or you can click

Edit

in the Related Catalog Objects section to create relationships.