What is MDS?

MDS can refer to a software tool known as Model Driven Security, which is a security approach that applies model-driven methods to automatically generate technical security implementations with minimal human intervention. It includes run-time security management, involving entitlements and authorizations, dynamic policy updates, and monitoring policy violations. MDS is advantageous for automated auditing, reporting, documenting, and analyzing security within systems.

As a service on the Mac OS, MDS stands for \"metadata server\" and is part of the Spotlight search feature. The MDS process, along with Spotlight, indexes the hard drive, usually taking between 15 to 45 minutes. During indexing, it is common for MDS to run at high CPU usage. The mdworker process, a child process of MDS, typically runs concurrently with MDS to assist in the indexing function.

In the context of healthcare, MDS stands for Minimum Data Set and acts as an assessment tool used in nursing homes and non-critical access hospital swing beds. It is integral for standardized assessment, facilitating care management, and has gone through an update from version 2.0 to 3.0 to improve reliability, accuracy, and usefulness by including residents in the assessment process, employing standard protocols, and supporting the credibility of programs that rely on MDS data.

MDS Plugins for Excel

Loading Data from MDS into Excel

The MDS Excel plugin and the Master Data Services Add-in for Excel provide the functionality to load filtered lists of data from Master Data Services into Excel. This integration enables users to work with MDS data within the familiar environment of Excel.

Working with MDS Data in Excel

Once the data is loaded into Excel, the MDS plugin and the Add-in allow users to manage the data as if it were any other data within Excel. Users can also publish modifications back to MDS, ensuring that the master data remains up-to-date.

Creating Entities and Attributes

Administrators have the capability to use both the MDS Excel plugin and the Add-in to create new entities and attributes within Master Data Services. This feature simplifies the process of structuring and expanding the MDS database directly from Excel.

Ensuring Data Quality with DQS

Both plugins utilize Data Quality Services (DQS) to match data, which helps prevent duplicate data in MDS. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity and consistency of master data across an organization.

ActiveX Controls and Office Automation Security

For the plugins to function properly, ActiveX controls must be enabled in Excel. Additionally, Office Automation Security settings need to be configured to Level 1 or Level 2 to ensure the security of automation tasks performed by these plugins.

Considerations for Excel on the Web

When using Excel on the web, users should be aware of the 5 MB size limit for requests and responses, as well as the 5 million cell limit for get operations. These constraints are important to consider when working with large datasets.

Platform Availability

The Add-in for Excel is compatible with various versions of SQL Server, including 2016 SP2, 2017, 2019, and 2022. It is important to note that both the MDS Excel plugin and the Add-in are available exclusively on the Windows platform.

Common Use Cases

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  Use case 1: Administrators create and manage MDS entities and attributes directly within Excel, leveraging the plugin to streamline the management of master data structures.
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  Use case 2: Users load filtered MDS data into Excel, modify it as needed, and then publish the updated data back to MDS, ensuring centralized storage and consistency.
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  Use case 3: Data stewards use the integrated Data Quality Services within the plugin to match data and prevent duplicates, maintaining the integrity of the MDS repository.
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  Use case 4: Business analysts apply user-defined SQL scripts using the plugin to extend business rule conditions and actions, enhancing data governance within Excel.
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  Use case 5: Teams collaborate on master data management tasks by sharing shortcut queries and viewing changes to members through the MDS Add-in for Excel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I publish edited master data back to the MDS database using the MDS plugin for Excel?

After editing the master data in Excel, you can publish the changes back to the MDS database by clicking a single button. The data is then centrally stored and updated in MDS.

Can multiple users update master data in Excel using the MDS plugin without affecting data integrity?

Yes, the MDS plugin allows multiple users to update master data in Excel while maintaining data integrity, ensuring that the master data remains centrally managed in MDS.

What are the system requirements for installing the MDS plugin for Excel?

The MDS plugin for Excel requires specific system requirements including compatible operating systems, a certain processor, sufficient RAM, adequate disk space, internet access, and software prerequisites.

Are there any limitations to the amount of data I can load using the MDS plugin for Excel?

Yes, there are size limitations within the Excel add-in, such as a 5 MB limit for web payloads and a get operation's range limited to five million cells.

How does the MDS plugin for Excel ensure data quality and prevent duplicates?

The plugin includes integration with Data Quality Services for SQL Server 2019, which can be used to match data before loading it into MDS to prevent duplicates.