Informatica interview questions and answers.

What is the difference between Informatica 7.0 and 8.0 ?

Features of Informatica 8 The architecture of Power Center 8 has changed a lot;1. PC8 is serviceoriented for modularity, scalability and flexibility.2. The Repository Service and Integration
Service (as replacement for Rep Server andInformatica Server) can be run on differentcomputers
in a network (so called nodes), even redundantly.3. Management is centralized, that means
services can be started and stopped on nodes via acentral web interface.4. Client Tools access
the repository via that centralized machine, resources are distributeddynamically.5. Running all
services on one machine is still possible, of course.6. It has a support for unstructured data which
includes spreadsheets, email, Microsoft Wordfiles, presentations and .PDF documents. It
provides high availability, seamless fail over,eliminating single points of failure.7. It has added
performance improvements (To bump up systems performance, Informaticahas added "push down
optimization" which moves data transformation processing to thenative relational database I/O
engine whenever its is most appropriate.)8. Informatica has now added more tightly integrated
data profiling, cleansing, and matchingcapabilities.9. Informatica has added a new web based
administrative console.10.Ability to write a Custom Transformation in C++ or Java.11.Midstream SQL
transformation has been added in 8.1.1, not in 8.1.12.Dynamic configuration of caches and
partitioning13.Java transformation is introduced.14.User defined functions15.PowerCenter 8 release
has "Append to Target file" feature.
In a scenario I have col1, col2, col3, under that 1,x,y, and 2,a,b and I want in thisform col1,
col2 and 1,x and 1,y and 2,a and 2,b, what is the procedure?
Use Normalizer :create two ports -first port occurs = 1second make occurs = 2two output ports are created
andconnect to target
On a day, I load 10 rows in my target and on next day if I get 10 more rows to beadded to
my target out of which 5 are updated rows how can I send them to target? How can I insert
and update the record?
We can use do this by identifying the granularity of the target table .We can use CRC external procedure after that
to compare newly generated CRC no. with theold one and if they do not match then update the row.
What is the method of loading 5 flat files of having same structure to a single targetand
which transformations I can use?
union transformation,otherwise write all file paths of five files in one file and use this file in session properties
asindirect
In a scenario I want to change the dimensions of a table and normalize therenormalized
table which transformation can I use?
you can use normalizer transformation .It will normalize the records.
Why is meant by direct and indirect loading options in sessions?
Direct loading can be used to Single transformation where as indirect transformation can beused to multiple
transformations or filesIn the direct we can perform recovery processbut in Indirect we cant do it .
SCD Mappings are mosltly used Unconnected Lookup Transformation.
UnconnectedLookup used static Cache only.At this time how can u insert or update
date inTarget by using static cache?How many types of dimensions are available in
informatica?
There r 3 types of dimensions1.star schema2.snowflake schema3.glaxy schema3 types.That are1. SCD(slowly
changing dimension) type12. SCD type23. SCD type3

When we create a target as flat file and source as oracle.. how can i specify firstrows as
column names in flat files...
use a pre sql statement....but this is a hardcoding method...if you change the column namesor put in extra columns
in the flat file, you will have to change the insert statementYou can also achive this by changing the setting in the
Informatica Repository manager todisplay the columns heading. The only disadvantage of this is that it will be
applied on all thefiles that will be generated by This server
1.can u explain one critical mapping? 2.performance issue which one is better?whether
connected lookup tranformation or unconnected one?
it depends on your data and the type of operation u r doing.If u need to calculate a value for all the rows or for the
maximum rows coming out of thesource then go for a connected lookup.Or,if it is not so then go for unconnectd
lookup.Specially in conditional case like,we have to get value for a field 'customer' from order tabel or from
customer_data table,onthe basis of following rule:If customer_name is null then
,customer=customer_data.ustomer_Idotherwisecustomer=order.customer_name.so in this case we will go for
unconnected lookup

Dimesions are1.SCD2.Rapidly changing Dimensions3.junk Dimensions4.Large Dimensions5.Degenerated

Dimensions6.Conformed Dimensions.
How can you improve the performance of Aggregate transformation?
we can improve the agrregator performence in the following ways1.send sorted input.2.increase aggregator cache
size.i.e Index cache and data cache.3.Give input/output what you need in the transformation.i.e reduce number of
input andoutput ports.Use Sorter Transformation to sort input in aggregrator propertiesfilter the records before
Why did you use stored procedure in your ETL Application?
usage of stored procedure has the following advantages1checks the status of the target database2drops and
recreates indexes3determines if enough space exists in the database4performs aspecilized calculation
why did u use update stategy in your application?
Update Strategy is used to drive the data to be Inert, Update and Delete depending uponsome condition. You can
do this on session level tooo but there you cannot define anycondition.For eg: If you want to do update and insert
in one mapping...you will create twoflows and will make one as insert and one as update depending upon some
condition.Refer :Update Strategy in Transformation Guide for more informationI have used in the case where i
wanted to insert and update therecordsin the same mapping.
How do you create single lookup transformation using multiple tables?
Write a overridesql query. Adjust the ports as per the sql query.By writingSQLoverride and specifying joins in
the SQL override.
In update strategy target table or flat file which gives more performance ? why?
Pros: Loading, Sorting, Merging operations will be faster as there is no indexconceptandData will be in ASCII
mode.Cons: There is no concept of updating existingrecordsin flat file.As there is no indexes, while lookups
speed will be lesser.
How to load time dimension?
We can use SCD Type 1/2/3 to load any Dimensions based on the requirement.We can also use procedure to
populate Time Dimension
What is a source qualifier?When you add a relational or aflat filesource definition to a mapping, you need to connect itto a Source Qualifier
transformation. The Source Qualifier represents the rows that theInformaticaServerreads when it executes a
session.Basic purpose of a source qualifier is to make the database specific data types intoinformatica specific
types , so that data can be integrated easily.

After draging the ports of three sources(sql server,oracle,informix) to a singlesource

qualifier, can u map these three ports directly to target?
if u drag three hetrogenous sources and populated to target without any join means you areentertaining Carteisn
product. If you don't use join means not only diffrent sources buthomegeous sources are show same error.If you
are not interested to use joins at source qualifier level u can add some joins sepratly.In Source qualifier we can join
the tables from samedatabaseonly.
How can u work with remote database in informatica?did u work directly by usingremote
connections?
You can work with remote,But you have toConfigure FTPConnection detailsIP addressUser authentication
What is power center repository?
Standalone repository. A repository that functions individually, unrelated and unconnected toother
repositories.Global repository. (PowerCenter only.) The centralized repository in adomain, a group of connected
repositories. Each domain can contain one global repository. Theglobalrepositorycan contain common objects to
be shared throughout the domain through global shortcuts.Local repository. (PowerCenter only.) A repository
within a domain that is not the globalrepository. Each local repository in the domain can connect to the global
repository and useobjects in itsshared folders.Power Center repository is used to store informatica's meta data
.Information such as mapping name,location,target definitions,sourcedefinitions,transformation and flow is stored
asmeta datain the repository.
What r the types of metadata that stores in repository?

The both the table should have a common feild with same datatype.Its not neccessary both should follow primary
and foreignrelationship. If any relation shipexists that will help u in performance point of view.
What is the default join that source qualifier provides?
The Joiner transformation supports the following join types, which you set in the Propertiestab:Normal
(Default)Master OuterDetail OuterFull OuterInner equil joint is default joint in source qualifier.
What is the target load order?
A target load order group is the collection of source qualifiers, transformations, and targetslinked together in a
mapping.
What r the tasks that source qualifier performs?
Join data originating from the same sourcedatabase. You can join two or more tables withprimary-foreign key
relationships by linking the sources to one Source Qualifier.Filterrecordswhen the Informatica Server reads
source data. If you include a filter condition,the InformaticaServeradds a WHERE clause to the default
query.Specify an outer join rather than the default inner join. If you include a user-defined join, theInformatica
Server replaces the join information specified by the metadata in the SQL query.Specify sorted ports. If you
specify a number for sorted ports, the Informatica Server adds anORDER BY clause to the default SQL
query.Select only distinct values from the source. If you choose Select Distinct, the InformaticaServer adds a
SELECT DISTINCT statement to the default SQL query.Create a custom query to issue a special SELECT
statement for the Informatica Server toread source data. For example, you might use a custom query to perform
aggregatecalculations or execute astored procedure.
What is source qualifier transformation?
When you add a relational or aflat filesource definition to a mapping, you need to connect itto a Source Qualifier
transformation. The Source Qualifier represents the rows that theInformaticaServerreads when it executes a
session.Join data originating from the same source database. You can join two or more tables withprimary-foreign
key relationships by linking the sources to one Source Qualifier.Filterrecordswhen the Informatica Server reads

source data. If you include a filter condition,the Informatica Server adds a WHERE clause to the default
query.Specify an outer join rather than the default inner join. If you include a user-defined join, theInformatica
Server replaces the join information specified by the metadata in theSQL query.Specify sorted ports. If you
specify a number for sorted ports, the Informatica Server adds anORDER BY clause to the default SQL
query.Select only distinct values from the source. If you choose Select Distinct, the InformaticaServer adds a
SELECT DISTINCT statement to the default SQL query.Create a custom query to issue a special SELECT
statement for the Informatica Server toread source data. For example, you might use a custom query to perform
aggregatecalculations or execute astored procedure

Why we use stored procedure transformation?

A Stored Procedure transformation is an important tool for populating and maintainingdatabases. Database
administrators create stored procedures to automate time-consumingtasks that are too complicated for standard
SQL statements.
What r the types of groups in Router transformation?
A Router transformation has the following types of groups:InputOutputInput GroupTheDesignercopies property
information from the input ports of the input group to create aset of output ports for each output group.Output
GroupsThere are two types of output groups:User-defined groupsDefault groupYou cannot modify or delete
output ports or their properties.Two types of groupsuser defined groupdefault group.
What is the Router transformation?
A Router transformation is similar to a Filter transformation because both transformationsallow you to use a
condition to test data. A Filter transformation tests data for one conditionand drops the rows of data that do not
meet the condition. However, a Router transformationtests data for one or more conditions and gives you the
option to route rows of data that donot meet any of the conditions to a default output group.
What is the Rankindex in Ranktransformation?
Based on which port you want generate Rank is known as rank port, the generated values areknown as rank index.
How the informatica server sorts the string values in Ranktransformation?
When InformaticaServerruns in UNICODE data movement mode ,then it uses the sort orderconfigured in session
properties.Hi,We can run informatica server either in UNICODE data moment mode orASCIIdata
momentmode.Unicode mode: in this mode informatica server sorts the data as per the sorted order
insession.ASCII Mode:in this mode informatica server sorts the date as per the binary order
Which transformation should we use to normalize the COBOL and relationalsources?

The Normalizer transformation normalizesrecordsfrom COBOL and relational sources,allowing you to organize
the data according to your own needs. A Normalizer transformationcan appear anywhere in a data flow when you
normalize a relational source. Use a Normalizertransformation instead of the Source Qualifier transformation
when you normalize a COBOLsource. When you drag a COBOL source into the MappingDesignerworkspace,
theNormalizer transformation automatically appears, creating input and output ports for everycolumn in the source
Difference between static cache and dynamic cache
Static cacheDynamic cacheU can not insert or update the cacheU can insert rows into the cache as u pass to the
targetThe informaticserverreturns a value from the lookup table or cache when the condition istrue.When the
condition is not true, informatica server returns thedefault valueforconnected transformations and null for
unconnected transformations.The informatic server inserts rows into cache when the condition is false.This
indicates thatthe the row is not in the cache or target table. U can pass these rows to the target table

What r the types of lookup caches?

Cache1. Static cache2. Dynamic cache3. Persistent cache
Differences between connected and unconnected lookup?
Connected lookupUnconnected lookupReceives input values diectly from the pipe line.Receives input values
from the result of a lkp expression in a another transformation.U can use a dynamic or static cacheU can use a
static cache.Cache includes all lookup columns used in the mapingCache includes all lookup out put ports in the
lookup condition and the lookup/return port.Support user defineddefault valuesDoes not support user defiend
default values
what is the look up transformation?
Using it we can access the data from a relational table which is not a source in the mapping.For Ex:Suppose the
source contains only Empno, but we want Empname also in themapping.Then instead of adding another tbl which
contains Empname as a source ,we canLkp the table and get the Empname in target.
What r the joiner caches?
Specifies the directory used to cache masterrecordsand the index to these records. Bydefault, the cached files are
created in a directory specified by theservervariable