Reference Data Management: Quick Start
Get your first reference dataset up and running quickly to see immediate value.
Prerequisites
Before starting this quick start guide, ensure you have:
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Access to the Reference Data module (Manage Data > Reference Data).
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A sample dataset available in Data Catalog.
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At minimum Editor role permissions to create and modify reference data tables.
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A sample CSV or Excel file with reference data (such as country codes, product categories, or currency codes).
What you’ll accomplish:
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Onboard reference data and establish governance.
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Create data validation rules that prevent quality issues.
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Set up automated distribution to external systems.
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Enable self-service access for your organization.
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Build a foundation for enterprise-wide data consistency.
Step 1: Onboard your first dataset
The fastest way to see value is importing an existing reference dataset.
For detailed instructions, see Create Reference Data Tables.
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Go to Manage Data > Reference Data.
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Select Create table.
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Select Import from file.
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Upload your CSV/Excel file (try with country codes, product categories, or any lookup table).
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Review auto-detected settings - usually no changes needed.
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Select Finish and import.
Result: Your data is now in Ataccama ONE, ready for governance and distribution.
Start with a small, stable dataset like country codes or currency codes for your first import. These rarely change and give you quick success. |
Step 2: Establish ownership and governance
Good governance starts with clear ownership and role-based access control.
For detailed instructions, see Set Up Access and Governance.
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Open your newly created table.
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Go to the Overview tab.
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Add a clear description explaining what this data is and how it should be used.
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Set up role-based access by sharing the table:
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Select the Share button.
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In the sharing dialog, search for users or groups in your organization.
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Assign appropriate roles:
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Owner: Full control over the table, manages advanced settings and can share with others.
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Editor: Focuses on data operations, can add, update, delete records and send for approval.
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Approver: Has all Editor rights plus can review and approve changes before publication.
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Viewer: Read-only access to published data.
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Select Done to grant access, then Save to apply changes.
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Result: Clear accountability, appropriate access controls, and context for anyone using this data.
Step 3: Publish and enable validation
Make your data available and start validating other datasets against it.
For more information, see Work with Published Reference Data.
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Select all draft records in your table.
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Select Request review and approve them.
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Go to Catalog > Data Catalog > Published Reference Data.
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Find your table - it’s now available platform-wide.
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Create a validation rule to check other data against this reference table:
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Go to Data Quality > DQ Rules.
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Select Create Rule.
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Choose Validation as the rule type.
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Select your published reference table as the validation source.
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Configure the rule to check that values in target datasets exist in your reference table.
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Test the rule on a sample dataset to ensure it works correctly.
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For step-by-step validation rule creation, see Create Validation Rules.
Result: Your reference data is now a source of truth, preventing data quality issues.
Next steps
Now that you have your first reference table running, consider these next steps:
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Common Use Cases for situational guidance.
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Get Started section for essential setup tasks.
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Work with Reference Data section for daily operations.
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Advanced Workflows for complex integration scenarios.
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Review Best Practices for scaling your implementation.
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