Sample data create and import

Overview

Goal: creating sample data for the database.

The sample data should have

• many donors
• many recipients
• many donations

Data creation and import is done in a two step process:

1. The 3rd-party data creation tool benedata benerator creates raw data (names, addresses, phone numbers...)
2. The OpenPetra SampleDataConstructor-tool is specifically built to take this data, assemble, and import it into OpenPetra

Related Bugtracking-Issues

• create sample data (issue #29)
• import this data (issue #220)

Current State

• names and addresses are created, and assembled
• putting these into the OpenPetra database is in progress (hopefully nearly finished)
• creating donations is not done yet

Steps:

1. create raw data as csv files (sufficiently complete!) -- done
2. import and put together raw data in SampleDataConstructor (for creating relationships) -- nearly done
3. connect to petra server from temporary program, assemble data as OpenPetra TDS, save -- in progress

Additionally:

1. create nant job to import data

Installing third party software

Currently the only external software used is Benedata Benerator for creation of the raw data, but this in turn requires the java runtime enviroment.

Java

• Required: Java Runtime Environment only

Abridged Instructions

• Download the current Java Runtime environment and install
• You might need to add the bin directory to your PATH:

PATH = ....; "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin"

• Give it a quick test by opening a new command prompt / terminal and typing:

java -version

Example output:

java version "1.6.0_25"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_25-b06)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 20.0-b11, mixed mode, sharing)

Databene Benerator

• Project Website: http://databene.org/databene-benerator.html
• Note: The project is a java project
• Used version: 0.6.6 (as of 2011-July - but it may be advisable to use the recent one, we just use simple features anyway)
• Other requirements: Java Runtime Enviroment

These instructions are largely copied from benerator website and slightly abridged. The original instructions are more detailed and contain details about installing benerator on a Windows / Mac / Linux-System.

Abridged Instructions

• Download the Benerator distribution from SourceForge
• Unzip into a directory of your choice (e.g. C:\Program Files\Development\databene-benerator-0.6.6)
• Create an environment variable BENERATOR_HOME that points to the path you extracted benerator (example located below).
• Append BENERATOR_HOME/bin to your environment variable PATH (examples located below)
• Give benerator a quick test by just opening a new command prompt / terminal and typing

benerator -v

Example Output:

Local classpath: .; ...
Benerator 0.6.6 build 1255
Java version 1.6.0_25
JVM Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM 20.0-b11 (Sun Microsystems Inc.)
OS Windows 2003 5.2 (x86)
Installed JSR 223 Script Engines:
- Mozilla Rhino[js, rhino, JavaScript, javascript, ECMAScript, ecmascript]

Examples for Environment Variables

BENERATOR_HOME = C:\Program Files\Development\databene-benerator-0.6.6

PATH = C:\WINDOWS; ....; %BENERATOR_HOME%\bin

See also

• List of possible 3rd party 3rd-party Test Data Generators