Building a Model (MDS Add-in for Excel)
Applies to: 
SQL Server - Windows only
Azure SQL Managed Instance
In the Master Data Services Add-in for Excel, administrators can perform a subset of the administrative functions available in the Master Data Manager web application.
The model building tasks administrators can do in the Master Data Services Add-in for Excel are:
Create entities. For more information about entities, see Entities (Master Data Services).
Create attributes of all types, including domain-based attributes. For more information about attributes, see Attributes (Master Data Services) and Domain-Based Attributes (Master Data Services).
As an administrator, you must create the model by using the Master Data Manager web application or the web service. Then you can use the Add-in for Excel to create entities and attributes within the model. For more information about model objects, see Models (Master Data Services).
Related Tasks
Most administrative tasks must still be done in the Master Data Manager web application or by using the web service. The following table shows which tools administrators can use to complete tasks in MDS.
| Task Description | Tool | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Create models. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Create a Model (Master Data Services) |
| Create an entity. | Master Data Manager web application, web service, or the Add-in for Excel | Create an Entity (MDS Add-in for Excel) |
| Create a domain-based attribute. | Master Data Manager web application, web service, or the Add-in for Excel | Create a Domain-based Attribute (MDS Add-in for Excel) |
| Create attribute groups. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Create an Attribute Group (Master Data Services) |
| Create business rules. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Create and Publish a Business Rule (Master Data Services) |
| Create subscription views. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Create a Subscription View to Export Data (Master Data Services) |
| Create hierarchies. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Create a Derived Hierarchy (Master Data Services) Create an Explicit Hierarchy (Master Data Services) |
| Create collections. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Create a Collection (Master Data Services) |
| Create versions of data. | Master Data Manager web application or web service | Lock a Version (Master Data Services) |
| Deploy models. | Master Data Manager web application, web service, or MDSModelDeploy tool. | Create a Model Deployment Package by Using MDSModelDeploy |