Comparison of Master Data Services Functionality in Web Interface versus Excel Add-In
There are some differences in functionality available in the MDS web interface (known as Master Data Manager) versus the MDS Excel Add-In. Following is a quick reference which is applicable to SQL Server 2012.
Management of Data:
Feature
|
Web
Interface
|
Excel
Add-In
|
Add or update members individually
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Delete members individually
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Add or update members in bulk
|
No
|
Yes
|
Delete members in bulk
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Create annotations of changes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Create and manage attribute groups
|
Yes
|
No
|
View attribute groups
|
Yes
|
Yes (Via filters)
|
View transactions
|
Yes
|
No
|
Filters
|
Yes
|
Yes (Fewer options)
|
Match data
|
No
|
Yes (If DQS integration is enabled)
|
Combine data |
No |
Yes |
Create shortcut query file |
No |
Yes |
Model Structure:
Feature
|
Web
Interface
|
Excel
Add-In
|
Create model
|
Yes
|
No
|
Create entity
|
Yes
|
Yes (Code and Name columns only)
|
Create attribute
|
Yes
|
No
|
Edit attribute data type or length
|
No
|
Yes
|
Business Rules:
Feature
|
Web
Interface
|
Excel
Add-In
|
Create and edit business rules
|
Yes
|
No
|
Apply business rules (validate)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Hierarchies:
Feature
|
Web
Interface
|
Excel
Add-In
|
Create explicit hierarchy
|
Yes
|
No
|
View explicit hierarchy
|
Yes
|
Yes (Via filters)
|
Manage explicit hierarchy
|
Yes
|
No
|
Create derived hierarchy |
Yes
|
No
|
View derived hierarchy
|
Yes
|
No
|
Collections:
Feature
|
Web
Interface
|
Excel
Add-In
|
Create and view collections
|
Yes
|
No
|
Add or update collection members
|
Yes
|
No
|
Administration:
Feature
|
Web
Interface
|
Excel
Add-In
|
Administrator tasks such as managing permissions, versions, subscription views, and deployment
|
Yes
|
No
|