Selecting tables and fields, defining primary keys and configuring incremental load for a data source can be time-consuming, especially when working with multiple environments. Jet Data Manager simplifies this process with Selection Templates, allowing you to reuse your configuration across different data sources.
What Are Selection Templates?
Selection Templates store the following settings from a data source:
Selected tables and fields
Primary keys
Incremental selection rules
Tables configured for incremental loading
These templates are saved as XML files, making them portable and easy to apply to other data sources.
Why Use Selection Templates?
Selection Templates are especially useful when:
You manage multiple databases with similar structures
You want to standardize your selection and incremental load setup
You need to quickly replicate configurations across dev, test, UAT and production
You want to avoid repeating tedious setup work on each data source
The best part: the data sources do not have to be identical.
Jet Data Manager applies template settings only to tables and fields that exist in both the template and the target data source.
How Selection Templates Work?
Here’s what you can do with a selection template:
1. Export a Template
After configuring your initial data source (table selections, keys, incremental loads), export it as an XML file.
2. Import the Template into Another Data Source
Load the XML file into a new data source.
JDM matches tables and fields automatically.
3. Choose Which Parts to Apply
You can selectively apply:
Table and field selections
Primary key setup
Incremental load configuration
Incremental rules only
This flexibility allows you to apply only the settings you need without overwriting the rest.
4. Automatic Application on Matching Tables
Jet Data Manager applies the selected template settings to all tables and fields that exist in both the:
Template XML
Target data source
No manual mapping required.
Benefits of Reusing Data Source Selections
Saves time by eliminating repeated setup
Ensures consistency across multiple data sources
Reduces setup errors by reusing proven configurations
Supports scalable deployment across environments
Makes onboarding faster for new data sources
Conclusion
Selection Templates are a powerful way to replicate data source configuration in Jet Data Manager. By exporting and importing templates, you can quickly rebuild selections, primary keys and incremental load settings, without manually repeating steps for each data source.
