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NeoArc Studio

Master Data Models

Document master data entities and data dictionaries in NeoArc Studio. Create visual representations of core business entities across the enterprise.

Master data models document the core business entities that are shared across the enterprise. NeoArc Studio helps visualise these entities and their relationships across systems.

What is Master Data

Master data represents the core business entities that are referenced across multiple systems:

Customer
People or organisations that buy from you.
Product
Items or services you sell.
Supplier
Vendors you purchase from.
Employee
People who work for your organisation.
Location
Physical or logical places.
Account
Financial or business accounts.

Creating Master Data Models

Colour Coding by Domain

Use consistent colours to identify entity domains:

DomainEntities
Customer domainCustomer, Contact, Address
Product domainProduct, Category, Price
Finance domainAccount, Transaction, Budget
HR domainEmployee, Department, Role

Documenting Authoritative Sources

For each master data entity, document:

Data Dictionary Visualisation

A data dictionary documents the definitions of data elements. NeoArc can visualise data dictionaries using ERD tables:

ERD Table for Data Dictionary

Configure ERD table columns for data dictionary documentation:

Column PropertyUse
nameTechnical column name
typeData type
commentsBusiness definition and usage notes
nullableWhether values are required
constraintsValidation rules

Cross-System Entity Mapping

Master data often exists in multiple systems with different names and structures. Document these mappings:

Best Practices

Start with Core Entities
Focus on 5-10 most critical master data entities.
Use Consistent Naming
Establish naming conventions across systems.
Document Definitions
Business definitions are as important as technical specifications.
Show Relationships
Master data entities are interconnected.
Version in Git
Master data models change as the business evolves.
Link to Schemas
Use lineage to connect diagrams to JSON Schema definitions.