Change the Source of a Record Type

This page explains the different ways to change the source and what to expect from each approach.

After you create a record type, you may need to change its data source. For example, you might change the source when you migrate to a new database, retire an Admin Console data source, or consolidate multiple databases into one.

You can change the source of a record type to:

• A different database. If the target database is compatible, field references and relationships stay intact.
• A different source type. If the target source has fields you can remap to, field references and relationships stay intact. Unmapped fields must be removed, which breaks any expressions and relationships that reference them.

Change the source to a different database

If your record type uses a database as its source, you can change it to another database. How you start depends on how many record types you need to change:

• Change all record types that use the same database at once from a data source connected system or the Admin Console.
• Change a single record type's database table or view from the record type.

As long as the target database meets the compatibility requirements, Appian preserves the record type's relationships, record-level security, and field references without any application rework.

Database compatibility requirements

Changing to a different database is a metadata update, not a rebuild. Appian does not copy data between databases, so the target database must already contain the matching tables.

The target database is compatible when it meets the following requirements:

• Valid connection: The target data source must already exist and have a valid connection.
• Matching table: The target database must contain a table that matches the record type's current table reference. For record types created in Appian 25.3 or later with a selected schema, the target must contain the same schema.table reference. For record types created before Appian 25.3, the target only needs a table with the same table name.
• Matching fields: Each field in the record type must exist in the target database with the same name and data type.

If the target database is not compatible, the outcome depends on the entry point:

• From a data source connected system or the Admin Console: Appian marks the record type as Incompatible during validation and prevents you from changing its source until you resolve the mismatch in the target database.
• From the record type: Appian prompts you to remap or remove any fields that don't have a corresponding field in the new source. Removing fields may break existing expressions and relationships.

Change all record types that use a data source connected system

Change the source from a data source connected system when you need to move record types that use the same connected system to a different database. Appian validates every record type that uses the connected system and lets you change the compatible ones in a single action.

To change the source from a data source connected system:

1. Open the data source connected system.

2. In the Dependent Record Types section, click CHANGE SOURCE.

   Note:  The Dependent Record Types section appears only when one or more record types use the connected system as their source.

3. In the Change Source for Record Types dialog, select the Target Source. The target source can be another data source connected system or an Admin Console data source.

   

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4. Click VALIDATE.

5. Review the results. Each record type shows a status of Compatible or Incompatible. A record type is compatible when it meets the compatibility requirements. For incompatible record types, the details explain what doesn't match.

   

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6. Select the compatible record types you want to change. By default, up to 200 compatible record types are selected.
7. Click CHANGE SOURCE.

Appian changes the source for the selected record types. Synced record types automatically start a full sync from the new source. Unsynced record types begin querying the new source immediately.

Change all record types that use an Admin Console data source

Change the source from an Admin Console data source when you need to move the record types that use it to a different data source, such as a data source connected system or another Admin Console data source.

To change the source from an Admin Console data source:

1. In the Admin Console, go to the Data Sources page.
2. Start the change source action:
   • If you're changing the source for a business data source, click the name of the data source. In the Configure Data Source dialog, click CHANGE RECORD TYPE SOURCE.
   • If you're changing the source for a server-managed data source, click CHANGE RECORD TYPE SOURCE next to the data source.

3. In the Change Source for Record Types dialog, select a Target Source. The target source can be another Admin Console data source or a data source connected system.

   

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4. Click VALIDATE.

5. Review the results. Each record type shows a status of Compatible or Incompatible. A record type is compatible when it meets the compatibility requirements. For incompatible record types, the details explain what doesn't match.

   

   Scroll or drag to pan · ⌘+/⌘− to zoom · Esc to close

6. Select the compatible record types you want to change. By default, up to 200 compatible record types are selected.
7. Click CHANGE SOURCE.

Appian changes the source for the selected record types. Synced record types automatically start a full sync from the new source. Unsynced record types begin querying the new source immediately.

Change a record type's database table or view

Change the source from the record type when you need to change a single record type to a different database table or view. The same compatibility requirements apply.

To change the database table or view from the record type:

1. Open the record type and go to Data Model.
2. Click > Change Database Table.
3. Select the table or view you want to use instead.

4. If any source fields have changed or been removed, map the associated record fields to a source field in the new table. Remove any record fields that are no longer needed.

   Caution:  Removing a field deletes its UUID. Any expressions, queries, or views that reference a removed field or its relationships will break.

5. Click SAVE.

Appian changes the source for the record type. If the record type is synced, Appian automatically starts a full sync from the new source. If the record type is unsynced, Appian begins querying the new source immediately.

Change the source to a different source type

You can change a single record type's source to a different source type from the record type. For example, you can change from a database to a web service, or from Salesforce to a database.

To change the source to a different source type:

1. Open the record type and go to Data Model.
2. Click > Change Source.
3. Select the new data source type and finish configuring the record type:
   • Database
   • Web Service
   • Salesforce
   • Snowflake
   • Process
4. (Optional) If the new source type supports a different data access method, you can change the data access method as part of this flow. Changing the data access method may affect which field references and relationships are preserved.

5. Remap each existing field to a field in the new source. Remove any fields that don't have a corresponding field.

   Caution:  Removing a field deletes its UUID. Any expressions, queries, or views that reference a removed field or its relationships will break.

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