Using Matillion DPC’s Add Note Feature for Effective Job Documentation
When managing ETL workflows in Matillion DPC, keeping clear and organized documentation for each job is crucial. The Add Note feature allows you to maintain job-specific notes directly within the platform, ensuring that key details and revision history are always available. Here’s a practical approach to using this feature effectively.
Markdown Template for Job Notes and Revision History
Below is a markdown template you can copy directly into Matillion’s Add Note feature. This structured format includes sections for job purpose, dependencies, assumptions, and a revision history table.
#### **Job Notes**
**Job Purpose:**
A brief description of what the job is intended to do, including key transformations and target tables.
**Dependencies:**
- List any dependencies this job has on other jobs or external data sources.
**Assumptions:**
- Highlight any critical assumptions made while building the job (e.g., data types, formats, or expected data volumes).
---
**Revision History**
| Reference | Reason | Date | Author |
|--------------|------------------|------------|--------------|
| | Initial Version | 2024-11-30 | James Mullan |
How to Use Each Section
1. Job Purpose: Start with a brief description of the job’s function, covering the primary goals, transformations, and target tables. This helps new users or collaborators quickly understand what the job does without needing to analyze every component.
2. Dependencies: Document any dependencies on other jobs or external data sources. By outlining dependencies, you ensure that users are aware of upstream or downstream impacts when modifications are made.
3. Assumptions: List any assumptions made during development, such as expected data types, formats, or data volumes. This can be helpful when troubleshooting issues or understanding design decisions.
4. Revision History: The revision history table provides a record of changes over time, making it easy to track updates, identify previous authors, and understand why changes were made.
Why Use This Structure?
• Transparency: Anyone reviewing or working on the job can see the context, key dependencies, and assumptions without needing external documentation.
• Collaborative Tracking: The revision history makes it easy to see how the job evolved, supporting better collaboration and version control.
• Troubleshooting: By understanding dependencies and assumptions, troubleshooting becomes more straightforward, particularly in complex workflows.
Final Tips
• Regularly update the revision history with each significant change.
• Keep notes concise but informative, making them more effective for future reviewers.
• Use markdown formatting for clarity and structure, as Matillion’s Add Note editor supports markdown for better readability.
With these practices, you can create well-documented, maintainable ETL pipelines in Matillion DPC, enhancing efficiency and collaboration across your team.
