| title | Building a Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| description | Building a Model (MDS Add-in for Excel) | ||
| author | meetdeepak | ||
| ms.author | dkhare | ||
| ms.reviewer | mikeray | ||
| ms.date | 03/05/2026 | ||
| ms.service | sql | ||
| ms.subservice | master-data-services | ||
| ms.topic | concept-article | ||
| ms.custom |
|
[!INCLUDE SQL Server Windows Only - ASDBMI]
[!INCLUDE support-notice]
In the [!INCLUDEssMDSshort] [!INCLUDEssMDSXLS], administrators can perform a subset of the administrative functions available in the [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application.
The model building tasks administrators can do in the [!INCLUDEssMDSshort] [!INCLUDEssMDSXLS] are:
-
Create entities. For more information about entities, see Entities (Master Data Services).
-
Create attributes of all types, including domain-based attributes. For more information about attributes, see Attributes (Master Data Services) and Domain-Based Attributes (Master Data Services).
As an administrator, you must create the model by using the [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or the web service. Then you can use the [!INCLUDEssMDSXLS] to create entities and attributes within the model. For more information about model objects, see Models (Master Data Services).
Most administrative tasks must still be done in the [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or by using the web service. The following table shows which tools administrators can use to complete tasks in MDS.
| Task Description | Tool | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Create models. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Create a Model (Master Data Services) |
| Create an entity. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application, web service, or the [!INCLUDEssMDSXLS] | Create an Entity (MDS Add-in for Excel) |
| Create a domain-based attribute. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application, web service, or the [!INCLUDEssMDSXLS] | Create a Domain-based Attribute (MDS Add-in for Excel) |
| Create attribute groups. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Create an Attribute Group (Master Data Services) |
| Create business rules. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Create and Publish a Business Rule (Master Data Services) |
| Create subscription views. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Create a Subscription View to Export Data (Master Data Services) |
| Create hierarchies. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Create a Derived Hierarchy (Master Data Services) Create an Explicit Hierarchy (Master Data Services) |
| Create collections. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Create a Collection (Master Data Services) |
| Create versions of data. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application or web service | Lock a Version (Master Data Services) |
| Deploy models. | [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm] web application, web service, or MDSModelDeploy tool. | Create a Model Deployment Package by Using MDSModelDeploy |