A data mapping tool facilitates database engineer interaction with a data mapping document design system that facilitates creating the technical specification for migrating legacy databases. The data mapping tool provides a flexible selection of mapping modes, including a fully automated mode that resolves conflicts that may occur during the creation of the technical specification. The available modes also allow the database engineer to fully specify the intermediate staging tables used in the technical specification, and to request an partially automatic and partially interactive role over the execution of the data mapping document design system.