Transforming Data Linkage: An In-Depth Look at IntaLink

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Posted on October 8, 2024

Transforming Data Linkage: An In-Depth Look at IntaLink

In-depth Analysis of IntaLink Data Auto-Linking Platform's Product Strength!

Hidden Gem, Yuantuo Data Intelligence


1. The Goal of IntaLink

In one sentence: IntaLink's goal is to achieve automatic data linkage in the field of data integration.

Let's break down this definition:

  • IntaLink's application scenario is for data integration. The simplest case is linking multiple data tables within the same system; the more complex case is linking data across heterogeneous sources.
  • For data integration applications, relationships between tables need to be established.
  • The data to be integrated must be able to form linkable relationships.

With the above conditions met, IntaLink’s goal is: Given the data tables and data items specified by the user, IntaLink will provide the available data linkage routes.


2. The Role of IntaLink

Let's explain the problem IntaLink solves through a specific scenario. This example is complex and requires careful consideration to understand the data relationships, which highlights IntaLink's value.

Scenario:

A university has different departments. Each department is identified by an abbreviation, and the table is defined as T_A. Sample data:

DEPARTMENT_ID DEPART_NAME
GEO School of Earth Sciences
IT School of Information Engineering

Each department has several classes, and each class has a unique ID based on the enrollment year and a class number. This table is T_B. Sample data:

CLASSES_ID CLASSES_NAME DEPARTMENT
2020_01 Earth Sciences Class 1 (2020) GEO
2020_02 Earth Sciences Class 2 (2020) GEO

Each class has students, and each student has a unique ID. This table is T_C. Sample data:

STUDENT_ID STUDENT_NAME CLASSES
202000001 Zhang San 2020_01
202000002 Li Si 2020_02

The university offers various courses. Each course has a course code, maximum score, and credits. This table is T_D. Sample data:

CLASS_CODE CLASS_TITLE FULL_SCORE CREDIT
MATH_01 Advanced Math I 100 4

Different departments have different pass scores for the same course. This table is T_E. Sample data:

DEPARTMENT CLASS PASS_SCORE
GEO MATH_02 60
IT MATH_02 75

Different semesters offer different courses, and students have scores for each course. This table is T_F. Sample data:

STUDENT_ID TERM CLASS SCORE
202000001 2023_1 MATH_02 85

Based on this scenario, the requirement is to list each student’s courses for the 2023_1 semester, showing their score and the passing score. The result might look like this:

Class Name Term Course Pass Score Score
Earth Sciences 2020 Class 1 Zhang San 2023_1 Advanced Math II 60 85

The critical challenge lies in determining which tables to link and ensuring the relationships between tables are correctly interpreted. For example, a student is not directly linked to a department but to a class, and the class belongs to a department.


3. Problems Solved by IntaLink

You might think this is just a standard multi-table data linkage application that can be easily achieved with SQL queries. However, the real challenge is identifying which tables to use, especially when the system comprises numerous tables and fields across different applications.

For instance, imagine a university with dozens of application systems, each containing numerous tables. A non-IT personnel requesting data might not know which table contains the required data. IntaLink automatically generates the necessary links between the data tables, reducing the complexity of data analysis and saving significant development time.


Conclusion

IntaLink solves the following key challenges:

  • No need to understand underlying business logic—just focus on the data integration goal.
  • No need to manually identify which tables to link—IntaLink determines the relationships.
  • Significantly reduces the time spent on data analysis and development, enhancing efficiency by over 10 times.

Join the IntaLink Community!

We would love for you to be a part of the IntaLink journey! Connect with us and contribute to our project:

🔗 GitHub Repository: IntaLink

💬 Join our Discord Community

Be a part of the open-source revolution and help us shape the future of intelligent data integration!

💖 💪 🙅 🚩
intalink
intalink

Posted on October 8, 2024

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