Shortcuts allow you to use metadata across folders without making copies. This helps to ensure uniform metadata. A shortcut inherits all properties of the object to which it points. After you create a shortcut, you can configure the shortcut name and description.

When the original object changes, the shortcut inherits those changes. By using a shortcut instead of a copy, you ensure each use of the shortcut matches the original object. For example, if you have a shortcut to a target definition and you add a column to the definition, the shortcut inherits the additional column.

Shortcuts allow you to reuse an object without creating multiple objects in the repository. For example, you use a source definition in 10 mappings in 10 different folders. Instead of creating 10 copies of the same source definition, one in each folder, you can create 10 shortcuts to the original source definition.

You can create shortcuts to objects in shared folders. If you try to create a shortcut to an object in a non-shared folder, the Designer creates a copy of the object instead.

You can create shortcuts to the following repository objects:

You can create the following types of shortcuts: