The Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamSystem.Data.DataGenerator namespace provides interfaces and classes that you can use to customize the built-in data generator functionality.

You can use Microsoft Visual Studio Team Edition for Database Professionals to generate meaningful data for testing. By using the built-in data generators, you can generate random data, generate data from existing data sources, and control many aspects of data generation. If the functionality of the built-in generators is insufficient, you can create custom data generators. You can also create custom data distributions and custom designers for data generators and distributions. For more information, see An Overview of Data Generator Extensibility.

You can find an example of how to create a simple custom data generator in Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Data Generator.

 Classes

	Class	Description
	DefaultDistributionDesigner	The default designer that you can use for all distributions.
	DefaultGeneratorDesigner	The default designer that can be used for all data generators.
	DesignerInit	Provides initialization information for designers.
	Distribution	The abstract base class for distributions.
	DistributionAttribute	Identifies a class as a distribution.
	DistributionInit	Contains the information that is used to initialize an instance of a Distribution class.
	Generator	The abstract base class for data generators.
	GeneratorAttribute	Identifies a class as a data generator.
	GeneratorInit	Contains the information that is used to initialize an instance of a data generator class.
	GeneratorStylesAttribute	The attribute that identifies the generator styles of a data generator.
	GeneratorUserException	An exception that can be thrown by implementers of data generators if an error occurs while generating data.
	InputAttribute	The attribute that identifies input properties of generators.
	InputChangedEventArgs	Provides data for the events that occur after the user changes input properties.
	InputChangingEventArgs	Provides data for the validation events that occur when the user changes input properties.
	InputDescriptor	Describes a single input of a data generator.
	InputValidationException	The exception that implementers of IGenerator throw during validation to indicate that an input value is not correct.
	OutputAttribute	The attribute used to identify the output properties of data generators.
	OutputDescriptor	Describes a single output of a data generator.

 Interfaces

	Interface	Description
	IDesigner	Defines the contract for distribution designers. IGeneratorDesigner implements this interface. Therefore, this interface also defines the contract for data generators.
	IDistribution	Defines the distribution contract.
	IGenerator	Defines the data generator contract.
	IGeneratorDesigner	Defines the contract for data generator designers.

 Enumerations

	Enumeration	Description
	AutoAssignedInput	Specifies the types of input properties for a standard data generator.
	ErrorType	Indicates the type of a failure that occurs during data generation.
	GeneratorDesignerStyles	Specifies how a data generator appears in the user interface for data generation plans.
	Severity	Indicates the severity of a failure that occurs during data generation.