Migrating Relational Models to DynamoDB Models

You can convert and migrate your relational models to DynamoDB models in two ways:

This topic walks you through the steps to migrate a SQL Server model to a DynamoDB model.

Migration by Changing the Target Database

To migrate by changing the target database, follow these steps:

  1. Open your relational model.

    Ensure that you are in Physical mode.

    For example, the following image uses the sample eMovies.erwin model. In the Objects Count pane, note the number of tables, columns, and relationships.

  2. On the ribbon, click Actions > Target Database or on the status bar, click the database name.
    The erwin Data Modeler -- Target Server screen appears.

  3. In the Database drop-down list, select DynamoDB.
  4. Click OK.
    The conversion process starts.

    If the erwin Data Modeler dialog box appears, do one of the following:

    • Click Yes to view the report of unmapped datatypes.
    • Click No to skip this report.

    Once the conversion is complete, the existing model is migrated to a DynamoDB model.

    In the Objects Count pane, instead of columns we have items. The migration process converts and merges multiple tables, columns, and relationships to the NoSQL format according to the DynamoDB format.

Migration by Deriving a Model

To migrate by deriving a model, follow these steps:

  1. Open your relational model.

    Ensure that you are in Physical mode.

    For example, the following image uses the sample eMovies.erwin model. In the Objects Count pane, note the number of tables, columns, and relationships.

  2. On the ribbon, click Actions > Design Layers > Derive New Model.
    The Derive Model screen appears. By default, the Source Model is set to your current model.

  3. In the Database drop-down list, select DynamoDB.

  4. Click Next.

    If the Type Resolution screen appears, click Finish.

    The Type Selection section appears.

  5. Select the types of objects that you want to derive into the target DynamoDB model.

  6. Click Next.
    The Object Selection section appears. Based on the object types you selected in step 5, it displays a list of objects.

  7. Select the objects that you want to derive into the target DynamoDB model.

  8. Click Derive.
    The model derivation process starts.

    Once the conversion is complete, the existing model is migrated to a DynamoDB database.

    In the Objects Count pane, note that instead of columns, we now have items. The migration process converts and merges multiple tables, columns, and relationships to NoSQL format according to the DynamoDB format.