SentryOne Document, our cloud-based database documentation and data lineage tool, just got a whole lot easier to experience.
In a matter of seconds, you can navigate to our new online demo environment and find out all that SentryOne Document has to offer. Go check it out here.
Some notable things about this new online demo:
- No need to log in or provide an email
- It’s prepopulated with sample data, so you don’t have to set up or configure anything.
- If you’d like a guided tour to see how to use all features, click on the Guided Tour icon on the home page
- The online demo is an easy way to get a first look at new features before you upgrade
For an introduction on how to navigate the SentryOne Document demo environment, check out the video tour:
About the Demo Scenarios
We’ve set up multiple scenarios in the demo environment using the Wide World Importers sample databases that highlight some of the awesome features SentryOne Document has to offer. If you’re not familiar with Wide World Importers, it’s a fictitious company created by Microsoft to provide a new sample database that illustrates the core capabilities of SQL Server and Azure SQL Database for transaction processing, data warehousing and analytics workloads. Follow the steps below to see all the cool things in store.
Compare Documentation History
SentryOne Document allows you to compare two sets of documentation side by side from different points in history. This is great for identifying changes in your database over time. In the demo environment, we’ve taken several snapshots before and after a change was introduced to highlight this functionality. I’ll walk you through an example of how to view these change sets yourself.
- SQL Server 2005 – 2019 > WWI OLTP > Databases > WideWorldImporters > Views
- Compare history for June 28, 2017 vs December 14, 2017
First, navigate to the “Documentation” tab and drill down to “Views” in the WWI OLTP database.
SentryOne Document documentation
Next, click” Version History” at the top of the documentation pane. This will show you all available snapshots that you’re able to compare.
SentryOne Document version history
Now you can look at a side by side view of the documentation at two different points in time. As you can see, new views were added between the 2 snapshots.
SentryOne Document side-by-side view
If you’d prefer to see a highlighted visual of what changed, you can switch over to the “Diff View.”
SentryOne Document diff view
Your turn! Go ahead and try it out with some other snapshots.
- SQL Server 2005 – 2019 > WWI OLTP > Databases > WideWorldImporters > Views
- Compare history for December 14, 2017 vs December 30, 2017
- SQL Server 2005 – 2019 > WWI OLTP >Databases > WideWorldImporters > Programmability > Stored Procedures > Application.Configuration_ApplyRowLevelSecurity
- Compare history for June 28, 2017 vs October 5, 2018
- SQL Server 2005 – 2019 > WWI DW >Databases > WideWorldImporters > Programmability > Stored Procedures > Integration.GetLineageKey
- Compare history for June 28, 2017 vs January 27, 2020
- SQL Server 2005 – 2019 > WWI SSIS > Daily ETL.dtproj > Packages > DailyETLMain > Tasks > Calculate ETL Cutoff Time backup
- Compare history for June 28, 2017 vs January 27, 2020
Get the Most Out of Data Lineage
There are several scenarios that highlight how useful data lineage can be. We’ll take a look at how data through your environment across several different technology types, a practice that could be crucial in preparing for a cloud migration or ensuring compliance.
First, navigate to the Lineage view and set the Granularity Detail to high so you can see dependency links at the column level.
SentryOne Document Lineage granularity detail selection
Next, drill down from localhost\sql2019_ci and select the WideWorldImporters database.
SentryOne Document Lineage example #1
In the SentryOne Document lineage view, you’re able to select notes on the lineage graph and extend them to reveal their dependencies and data flow details. Right-click the “DailyETLMain” node and select “Extend Item.”
SentryOne Document Lineage example tool tip
You should now see that the DailyETLMain package has an outbound dependency to the WideWorldImportersDW. You can hover over the link between the two notes and get a more detailed description of their relationship.
If you extend the WideWorldImportersDW node, you’ll now have a clear visual representation on how the high-level components of different technology types (I.e., databases, reports, and packages) all tie together. If you’re looking to refine further the information you see in the lineage view, you can adjust the dependency direction, dependency levels, and filter by link type.
SentryOne Document Lineage example #2
Another Lineage scenario to check out:
- In the lineage view, set your Granularity Detail to “High.”
- Drill down from WideWorldImporters > localhost\sql2019_cl > WideWorldImporters > Sales > Orders.
- Once you’re viewing the lineage for Orders, extend the node labeled “GetOrderUpdates.”
- This will expose a link to an SSIS component.
- Extend the node labeled Integration_Order_Staging
- This shows data going into a data warehouse database.
- Extend Order_Staging
- This shows data flowing from a staging table to the Order fact table
- Extend Order
- This will display data flowing to the Fact_Order table in SQL Server Analysis Services.
When all is said and done, you should end up with a pretty picture like this, displaying just how deep you can go with SentryOne Document lineage.
SentryOne Document Lineage example #3
As you can see, data lineage is an extremely powerful tool that can help track the flow of data and dependencies across your disparate data estate.
Annotate Documentation Using the Data Dictionary
Using the data dictionary, you can annotate the documentation you produce for your environment. This is useful for adding additional information that’s important to your team or stakeholders. Let’s walk through an example.
Navigate to the documentation view, and drill down from WideWorldImporters > SQL Server 2005 – 2019 > WWI OLTP > Databases > WideWorldImporters. After you reach the documentation page for WideWorldImporters, scroll to the bottom, and you’ll see data dictionary entries with notes, a summary, and owning team. It will look like this:
SentryOne Document Data Dictionary example
The ability to annotate documentation is crucial for including your own definitions, business language, or details that aren’t captured in your database. As you can see from the screenshot, we’ve included fields to include an integrity check schedule, notes, and a database summary.
To track down the other data dictionary entries, check out the following.
In the documentation view, navigate to
- WideWorldImporters > SQL Server 2005-2019 > WWI DW > Databases > WideWorldImportersDW
- Data Dictionary Entries: Integrity check schedule (bullet list), Notes (markdown), Summary (text)
- WideWorldImporters > SSAS > WWI-SSASMD > Databases > WWI-SSASMD
- Data Dictionary Entries: Integrity check schedule (bullet list), Notes (markdown), Summary (text)
- WideWorldImporters > SSIS > WWI SSIS > Daily ETL.dtproj
- Data Dictionary Entries: Integrity check schedule (bullet list), Notes (markdown), Summary (text)
- WideWorldImporters > PowerBI > WWI PowerBI > WWI-SalesOrders.pbix (or WWIDW-Sales.pbx)
- Data Dictionary Entries: Integrity check schedule (bullet list), Notes (markdown), Summary (text)
In Summary
There is a lot to uncover in the SentryOne Document Demo Environment. After you’ve had your fair share of exploring, it’s time for you to try SentryOne Document out in your own environment with a free 30-day trial! Check it out and let me know what you think!
