A dependent object is an object used by another object. For example, a source definition referenced by a mapping is a dependent object of that mapping. You can perform the following tasks on dependent objects:
Copy.
You can copy dependent objects with the Copy Wizard in the Workflow Manager, Designer, and Repository Manager. When you copy an object, the Copy Wizard also copies all dependent objects.
Deploy.
You can add dependent objects to a static deployment group. You use a deployment group to copy objects to another folder or repository.
View.
You can view dependent objects before modifying or deleting parent objects in the Repository Manager, Designer, and Workflow Manager.
Modify or validate.
When you modify a dependent object, you may cause the parent object to become invalid. For example, if you modify a mapping by updating a port datatype to an incompatible dataype, the session may become invalid.
Import or export.
You can choose to import or export a parent object with or without its dependent child objects. You might want to export and import an object without its dependent objects if you change a workflow property, such as a workflow variable, but you did not change any task in the workflow.