create-an-entity-master-data-services.md

title	Create an Entity (Master Data Services) | Microsoft Docs
ms.custom
ms.date	03/06/2017
ms.prod	sql-server-2014
ms.reviewer
ms.technology	master-data-services
ms.topic	conceptual
helpviewer_keywords	entities [Master Data Services], creating creating entities [Master Data Services]
ms.assetid	d9a6a51e-7b53-4785-a118-3baeb7ca2d48
author	lrtoyou1223
ms.author	lle
manager	craigg

Create an Entity (Master Data Services)

In [!INCLUDEssMDSshort], create an entity to contain members and their attributes.

Prerequisites

To perform this procedure:

• You must have permission to access the System Administration functional area.

• You must be a model administrator. For more information, see Administrators (Master Data Services).

• A model must exist. For more information, see Create a Model (Master Data Services).

To create an entity

1. In [!INCLUDEssMDSmdm], click System Administration.

2. On the Model View page, from the menu bar, point to Manage and click Entities.

3. On the Entity Maintenance page, from the Model list, select a model.

4. Click Add entity.

5. In the Entity name box, type the name of the entity.

6. In the Name for staging tables box, type a name for the staging table.

   [!TIP]
   Use the model name as part of the staging table name, for example Modelname_Entityname. This makes the tables easier to find in the database. For more information about the staging tables, see Data Import (Master Data Services).

7. Optional. Select the Create Code values automatically check box. For more information, see Automatic Code Creation (Master Data Services).

8. From the Enable explicit hierarchies and collections list, select one of the following options:

   • No. Select this option if you do not need to enable the entity for explicit hierarchies and collections. You can change this later if needed.

   • Yes. Select this option when you want to enable the entity for explicit hierarchies and collections. In the Explicit hierarchy name box, type a name. Optionally, select Mandatory hierarchy (all leaf members are included to make the explicit hierarchy a mandatory hierarchy.

9. Click Save entity.

Next Steps

• Create a Text Attribute (Master Data Services)

• Create a Domain-Based Attribute (Master Data Services)

• Create a File Attribute (Master Data Services)

See Also

Entities (Master Data Services)
Explicit Hierarchies (Master Data Services)
Change an Entity Name (Master Data Services)
Delete an Entity (Master Data Services)