---
title: Working with Sources and Targets
description: Managing, defining and working source and target schemas and data
---

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3. [Sources and Targets](https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/data-migration?hsLang=en#sources-and-targets)

August 24, 2026

# Working with Sources and Targets

Source and Targets are how Zengines organizes the schemas (and their data) in migration projects. For data to be migrated it must belong to a Source and have a schema defined for it.

#### **Defining Sources and Targets**

- Sources and Targets contain the schema, related meta data, and associated data, they are defined by either: 
    - Creating using a [schema definition file](https://help.zengines.ai/en/help/zengines-schema-definition-template?hsLang=en) which can contain multiple tables and should contain column data type definitions, as well and other constraints and metadata.
    - Using a data file that represents a single table, data types and other metadata is inferred in this case and should be reviewed before use.

- Sources and targets can be duplicated
- Source and Target must have unique and SQL compliant names.
- Sources and Target can be deleted depending on the user's role and specific project restrictions.
- Source and Target schema can be edited: 
    - Tables and fields can be modified .
    - Tables and fields can be added.
    - Tables can be duplicated.
    - Tables and fields can be deleted depending on the user's role and specific project restrictions.

- - Batch updates can be made (excluding delete actions).

- Sources and Targets have 2 statuses: Draft and Ready, 
    - In Draft status, they will not be used in Zengines matching processes (although they can be manually set in Mapping).
    - In Draft status, a Target schema will not be available to use in a Conversion Job.
    - In Ready status they will be included in matching processes and conversion jobs.

#### **Associating Data with a Source or Target**

- Data files can be associated with a table, as long as the Data file headers (column names) match the table field names. 
    - Files paired with a table can optionally be set as example data to display on in the schema/table definition. Example data is a random sample of 10 values extracted from the Data file.
- Associated data files can have their use restricted, so that no part of their content is sent to LLMs.
- Associated data files can be profiled and a report generated (statistics for value per field).
- Associated data files can be validated for conformity against the schema (data types, constraints).
- Associated data files appear as the default selectable items for data sources in Conversion jobs.
- A table can have many associated data files.
- A data file can only be associated with 1 table.

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