What are Target Options on the Servers?

Target Options for File Target type are FTP File, Loader and MQ.

There are no target options for ERP target type

Target Options for Relational are Insert, Update (as Update), Update (as Insert), Update (else
Insert), Delete, and Truncate Table.

What are 2 modes of data movement in Informatica Server?

the two types of modes are:

1) Normal Mode in which for every record a separate DML stmt will be prepared and executed

Bulk Mode in which for multiple records DML stmt will be preapred and executed thus improves
performance.

What is Code Page Compatibility?

Compatibility between code pages is used for accurate data movement when the Informatica
Sever runs in the Unicode data movement mode. If the code pages are identical, then there will
not be any data loss. One code page can be a subset or superset of another. For accurate data
movement, the target code page must be a superset of the source code page.

Superset - A code page is a superset of another code page when it contains the character encoded in the other code
page, it also contains additional characters not contained in the other code page.

Subset - A code page is a subset of another code page when all characters in the code page are encoded in the other
code page.

What is Router transformation?

Router transformation is use to load data in multiple targets depending on the test condition.

What is Load Manager?

Ans: While running a Workflow,the PowerCenter Server uses the Load Manager process and the
Data Transformation Manager Process (DTM) to run the workflow and carry out workflow
tasks.When the PowerCenter Server runs a workflow, the Load Manager performs the following
tasks:

1. Locks the workflow and reads workflow properties.

2. Reads the parameter file and expands workflow variables.
3. Creates the workflow log file.
4. Runs workflow tasks.
5. Distributes sessions to worker servers.
6. Starts the DTM to run sessions.
7. Runs sessions from master servers.

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8. Sends post-session email if the DTM terminates abnormally.

When the PowerCenter Server runs a session, the DTM performs the following tasks:
1. Fetches session and mapping metadata from the repository.
2. Creates and expands session variables.
3. Creates the session log file.
4. Validates session code pages if data code page validation is enabled. Checks query
conversions if data code page validation is disabled.
5. Verifies connection object permissions.
6. Runs pre-session shell commands.
7. Runs pre-session stored procedures and SQL.
8. Creates and runs mapping, reader, writer, and transformation threads to extract,transform, and
load data.
9. Runs post-session stored procedures and SQL.
10. Runs post-session shell commands.
11. Sends post-session email.

What is Data Transformation Manager?

After the load manager performs validations for the session, it creates the DTM process. The
DTM process is the second process associated with the session run. The primary purpose of the
DTM process is to create and manage threads that carry out the session tasks.

The DTM allocates process memory for the session and divide it into buffers. This is also
known as buffer memory. It creates the main thread, which is called the master thread. The
master thread creates and manages all other threads.

If we partition a session, the DTM creates a set of threads for each partition to allow concurrent
processing.. When Informatica server writes messages to the session log it includes thread type
and thread ID.

Following are the types of threads that DTM creates:

Master Thread - Main thread of the DTM process. Creates and manages all other threads.

Mapping Thread - One Thread to Each Session. Fetches Session and Mapping Information.

Pre and Post Session Thread - One Thread each to Perform Pre and Post Session Operations.

Reader Thread - One Thread for Each Partition for Each Source Pipeline.

Writer Thread - One Thread for Each Partition if target exist in the source pipeline write to the
target.

Transformation Thread - One or More Transformation Thread For Each Partition.

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What is a Source Qualifier?

source qualifier is used to convert the source data type to Informatica readable format.

we can do mapping without source qualifier..in that case the datatypes of the source columns should be
same as what will be mentioned in source qualifier..

To provide support for Mainframes source data,which files r used as a source definitions?
COBOL files

The mainframe files are Used as VSAM files in Informatica by using the Normaliser transformation.

Which transformation should u need while using the cobol sources as source defintions?
Normalizer transformaiton which is used to normalize the data.Since cobol sources r oftenly consists of
Denormailzed data

what is a transforamation?

A TransFormation Is a Repository Object.

That Generates,Modifies or Passes Data.
The Designer Provides a Set of Transformations That perform Specific Functions.
For Example An AGGREGATOR Transformation Performs Calculations On Groups Of Data..

What r the mapping paramaters and maping variables?

Maping parameter represents a constant value that U can define before running a session.A mapping
parameter retains the same value throughout the entire session.
When u use the maping parameter ,U declare and use the parameter in a maping or maplet.Then define
the value of parameter in a parameter file for the session.
Unlike a mapping parameter,a maping variable represents a value that can change throughout the
session.The informatica server saves the value of maping variable to the repository at the end of session
run and uses that value next time U run the session.

What is aggregate cache in aggregator transforamtion?

The aggregator stores data in the aggregate cache until it completes aggregate calculations.When u run
a session that uses an aggregator transformation,the informatica server creates index and data caches in
memory to process the transformation.If the informatica server requires more space,it stores overflow
values in cache files.

In which condtions we can not use joiner transformation(Limitaions of joiner transformation)?

Both pipelines begin with the same original data source.
Both input pipelines originate from the same Source Qualifier transformation.
Both input pipelines originate from the same Normalizer transformation.
Both input pipelines originate from the same Joiner transformation.
Either input pipelines contains an Update Strategy transformation.
Either input pipelines contains a connected or unconnected Sequence Generator transformation.

What r the joiner caches?

When a Joiner transformation occurs in a session, the Informatica Server reads all the records from the
master source and builds index and data caches based on the master rows.

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After building the caches, the Joiner transformation reads records from the detail source and perform
joins.

Differences between connected and unconnected lookup?

Connected lookup Unconnected lookup

Receives input
Receives input values from
values diectly
the result of a lkp expression
from the pipe
in a another transformation.
line.
U can use a
dynamic or static U can use a static cache.
cache
Cache includes Cache includes all lookup out
all lookup put ports in the lookup
columns used in condition and the
the maping lookup/return port.
Does not support user defiend
Support user
default values
defined default
values

What r the types of lookup caches?

Persistent cache: U can save the lookup cache files and reuse them the next time the informatica server
processes a lookup transformation configured to use the cache.

Recache from database: If the persistent cache is not synchronized with he lookup table,U can configure
the lookup transformation to rebuild the lookup cache.

Static cache: U can configure a static or readonly cache for only lookup table.By default informatica
server creates a static cache.It caches the lookup table and lookup values in the cache for each row that
comes into the transformation.when the lookup condition is true,the informatica server does not
update the cache while it prosesses the lookup transformation.

Dynamic cache: If u want to cache the target table and insert new rows into cache and the target,u can
create a look up transformation to use dynamic cache.The informatica server dynamically inerts data to
the target table.

shared cache: U can share the lookup cache between multiple transactions.U can share unnamed cache
between transformations inthe same maping.

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Difference between static cache and dynamic cache

Static cache Dynamic cache

U can not insert or update the
cache
The informatic server returns a
value from the lookup table or
cache when the condition is
true.When the condition is not
true, informatica server returns
the default value for connected
transformations and null for
unconnected transformations.
U can insert rows
into the cache as u
pass to the target
The informatic
server inserts rows
into cache when the
condition is
false.This indicates
that the the row is
not in the cache or
target table. U can
pass these rows to
the target table

What r the rank caches?

During the session ,the informatica server compares an inout row with rows in the datacache.If the
input row out-ranks a stored row,the informatica server replaces the stored row with the input row.The
informatica server stores group information in an index cache and row data in a data cache.

What is the status code?

Status code provides error handling for the informatica server during the session.The stored procedure
issues a status code that notifies whether or not stored procedure completed sucessfully.This value can
not seen by the user.It only used by the informatica server to determine whether to continue running
the session or stop.

Describe two levels in which update strategy transformation sets?

Within a session. When you configure a session, you can instruct the Informatica Server to either treat
all records in the same way (for example, treat all records as inserts), or use instructions coded into the
session mapping to flag records for different database operations.

Within a mapping. Within a mapping, you use the Update Strategy transformation to flag records for
insert, delete, update, or reject.

What r the options in the target session of update strategy transsformatioin?

Insert
Delete
Update
Update as update
Update as insert

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Update esle insert
Truncate table

What r the types of maping wizards that r to be provided in Informatica?

The Designer provides two mapping wizards to help you create mappings quickly and easily. Both
wizards are designed to create mappings for loading and maintaining star schemas, a series of
dimensions related to a central fact table.

Getting Started Wizard. Creates mappings to load static fact and dimension tables, as well as slowly
growing dimension tables.
Slowly Changing Dimensions Wizard. Creates mappings to load slowly changing dimension tables based
on the amount of historical dimension data you want to keep and the method you choose to handle
historical dimension data.

What r the types of maping in Getting Started Wizard?

Simple Pass through maping :
Loads a static fact or dimension table by inserting all rows. Use this mapping when you want to drop all
existing data from your table before loading new data.

Slowly Growing target :

Loads a slowly growing fact or dimension table by inserting new rows. Use this mapping to load new
data when existing data does not require updates.

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