Rule-based links define rules that Metadata Manager uses to link matching objects across resources. Use rule-based links when you have multiple objects to link and the objects have some attribute or property in common. For example, you might create a linking rule that links a business glossary term to an Oracle column when the business term "Technical Name" attribute matches the Oracle column name.

To create relationships with rule-based links, you create linking rules files. Linking rules files contain the expressions that Metadata Manager uses to link business terms with metadata objects in other resources. Upload the linking rules files when you edit the Business Glossary resource. Metadata Manager creates the links when you load the resource.

Enumerated links define data lineage relationships between specific pairs of objects. Use enumerated links to create relationships when you have multiple pairs of objects to link and you cannot create a linking rule.

To create relationships with enumerated links, you create enumerated links files that associate individual business terms with metadata objects in other resources. Enumerated links files are CSV files that contain individual pairs of objects that you want to link. Upload the enumerated links files when you create or edit the Business Glossary resource. Metadata Manager creates the links when you load the resource.