The Data Masker Create/Edit Substitution Rule Form
This form is used to create and edit Data Masker Substitution rules. Substitution rules are designed to replace data in a table column with realistic looking but random non-meaningful data. The title text and button label on the form will change as is appropriate to the create or edit mode. In the example screen shot above, the form is editing an existing Substitution rule.
A Substitution rule is configured with the target table and column names which will receive the data. The choice of the replacement data used by the Substitution rule is configurable by associating datasets with the specified table columns. Datasets for just about every purpose are included with the Data Masker software and you can make up your own if you need to do so. The choice of dataset used for a particular column is entirely up to the implementer of the Substitution rule.
Configuring the target table and column is a straightforward process. Use the mouse to select the table from the Table tab. The choice of available tables is entirely determined by the Rule Controller with which the Substitution rule is associated. Only tables from within the database for which the Rule Controller is configured will be visible. If you do not see the tables you require, the database structure can be refreshed using the Refresh Tables and Indexes button on Options tab of the edit Rule Controller form.
Once the table has been selected, the Column and Datasets panel will become active. Choose the table columns from the left hand section and configure the dataset for that column in the right hand section. The columns available for selection will be those of the previously selected table.
Datasets provide the required substitution values for Substitution rules. The dataset associated with a rule indicates which type of data will be substituted into the specified table and column. In the example above, the rule is configured to overwrite the existing values in the LAST_NAME column using values from the Names, Surnames, Random dataset which generates random realistic looking last names.
It is important to emphasize that Data Masker datasets are not just simple lists of replacement information. They provide a wide range of functionality. For example, the Null Values dataset removes data by replacing it with null values, the Text, Paragraphs of Gibberish dataset generates random collections of sentences and the Date Variance dataset can vary existing dates randomly between user defined boundaries. The Data Masker software comes equipped with datasets for just about every purpose and it is possible to create your own User Defined Datasets if you wish.
The Substitution Rule Where Clause Tab
WHERE Clause and Sampling options are used when the choice of rows affected by the operation is to be based on a specific criteria. WHERE Clause and sampling options are configured on the WHERE Clause tab.
Existing Substitution rules can be edited by double clicking on them with the mouse. Substitution rules are created by launching the New Substitution rule form using the New Rule button located on the bottom of the Rules in Set tab.
