Consider a test team that uses TDM to create test data for different projects. The team follows the same process to create test data from production data on each project.

For the same project, you might need to create test data multiple times for different test cases. The source connection that you use to create the test data differs and the criteria or filter value in the criteria might differ. Each time you might create the test data in a different target schema or target connection. You might use different filter criteria to meet specific data requirements. You can create parameters in a project. Edit the parameter values and run the same plan to create different results. You can use the parameters in plans across the project.

You might want to use the same parameters across multiple projects. Administrators create global parameters for users to use in projects across Test Data Manager. Choose to use the parameters as global parameters or to import the parameters into the project.

Administrators can create and manage global parameters.

Create connection, owner, and criteria parameters for connections, schema, and to use in filter criteria in an entity. You can then use the same plan to create multiple test data results. Instead of creating different plans or editing the plan each time, you can use the same plan and change the parameter values for connections, owners, and criteria. You can also choose to include or exclude specific criteria parameters each time you run a workflow to create different results with the same data.

If you update one or more parameters or parameter values each time, you can run multiple workflows from the same plan to create different results.

To use parameters to create different test data output from the same plan, perform the following high-level tasks:

Create a project and import the required source metadata.
In the project, create parameters for connections, owners, and criteria. Assign default values and choose to allow override of the default value.
Optionally, you can import global parameters into the project. When you import a global parameter, you create a copy of the parameter within the project. Changes you make to the parameter or parameter value do not impact the global parameter.
Create an entity that includes the required tables.
Add filter criteria that uses parameters. You can add multiple criteria and criteria parameters. Criteria parameters can be project parameters or global parameters.
Create a plan that uses parameters. Parameters can be project parameters or global parameters.
Optional. In the
Criteria
page of the plan, edit the entity criteria parameters as needed.
If you use Advanced criteria and include a global parameter in an expression, the parameter does not contain the asterisk (*) in the expression.
In the
Plan Settings
page, add the source and target connection types as variables, and select the required connection parameters for each. Enter other properties as needed. You must enter a parameter file name and the path to the file on the system that hosts the PowerCenter Integration Service.
In the
Advanced Settings
section, add the schema owners as variables and select the required parameters.
Save the plan.
Optional. From the plan
Properties
tab, click
Actions
Create Parameter File
to download a file that lists all parameters included in the plan.
Optional. Review the list of parameters in the file. You can edit the values and save the file. If the entity includes multiple criteria parameters, you can choose to exclude specific parameters and include others. Update the values of the ignore flags to "Y" to exclude criteria parameters. You can choose to use the file when you run the workflow.
From the plan
Properties
page, click
Actions
Generate and Execute
.
Choose the parameters and parameter values to include in the workflow.
To use parameter values in a parameter file that you maintain on the machine that hosts the PowerCenter Integration Service, choose to use the default parameter file. You enter this file path and file name in the
Plan Settings
page of the plan creation wizard. Choose
Default
to use the file entered in the
Plan Settings
page.
To use parameter values from a different parameter file, choose
Use Parameter File
and browse and select the required file. For example, you might create a parameter file in Test Data Manager and update parameter values in the file. You can choose this option to use parameters from this file.
To update or use parameters from Test Data Manager, choose
Add Parameter Values
. A list of parameters in the plan appears with default values. You can edit the values. Click the
Select Parameter
button to select and include criteria parameters in the workflow. You can update the values of criteria parameters that you add to the list.
Click
Generate and Execute
.
Monitor the workflow.

You can update parameters as required to create different test data from the same plan.

For example, you can edit parameter values and run the same plan with the following changes:

Create test data from the same source connection and in the same target connection but different schema and with different criteria values. Update the owner parameter values and criteria parameter values and run the workflow.
Create test data from and to different source and target connections with different criteria. Update the connection parameter values and choose to include different criteria parameters in the workflow.

Each time you run a workflow with different parameters or parameter values, the test data that you create differs. You can create different test data without creating multiple plans or editing the plan.