Add Zero Keys
Enable to automatically use a Zero Key for Link Keys when the key column is empty. This ensures that all records are linked, even if some key data is missing.
When enabled, the generated load logic wraps Link reference key columns in a conditional expression that substitutes the default (zero) key value when the source key data is missing, and the Data Vault merge processes exclude the zero-key record itself from delta comparison so it is preserved in the target.
When to Change This Setting
Keep the default N when source key data is reliably populated. Enable it when optional relationships or incomplete source data would otherwise leave Link key columns empty: the zero key keeps referential completeness in the Data Vault so every Link row resolves to a Hub record.
Related Settings
| Setting | Interaction |
|---|---|
| Zero Key Expression | Overrides the SQL expression used to generate the zero key value |
| Use Hash Keys | Determines whether the zero key is generated as a hash-formatted value or a typed default of the primary key |
Notes
- This setting is part of the Data Vault settings category.
- The default value for this setting is
N.