ODI 11g Smart Export and Import a Single interface

Oracle Data Integrator 11.1.1.6.0 introduces a major new feature called Smart Export and Import. This post will give you an overview of this feature.

ODI export and import feature has been used in previous releases to move ODI objects in and out of ODI repository. Smart Export and Import builds on top of the existing ODI capabilities to avoid common pitfalls and guide end users through the process.

Let’s take an example of an ETL developer who wants to export two interfaces (Load_Dept and Load_Sales) to another repository. One of these interfaces (Load_Dept) uses a temporary interface (Load_Dept_temp_interface) and there are associated Data Stores and Model for source and target.

Let’s take an example of an ETL developer who wants to export two interfaces (Load_Dept and Load_Sales) to another repository. One of these interfaces (Load_Dept) uses a temporary interface (Load_Dept_temp_interface) and there are associated Data Stores and Model for source and target.
The following screenshots gives you an example with 2 interfaces that need to be exported.

By doing a Smart Export of these two interfaces we can create an export file which has all the dependent objects. In this case temporary interface Load_Dept_temp_interface and Data Stores from Model Sources will be exported in the same xml export file. The dependency is discovered by the smart export process and there is no need to export all the dependent objects one by one.


On the import side the same export file will be used to do a Smart Import. The Smart import process finds the objects in target repository that best matches with the objects in the export file and provide action choices to the end user. These choices are Merge, Overwrite, Create Copy, Reuse or Ignore. It is also possible that there may be some mismatches and Smart Export gives warning messages and action options to fix it. The resolution actions are Ignore, Change, Do not change and Fix Link.


User can also save the actions in the response file which can be used in the silent mode.
In earlier releases import of individual objects required a careful planning of exported objects and import order of the objects based on dependency. The new Smart Export and Import process makes this task very simple.