Data Warehouse FAQ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. What is data warehouse? Difference between connected and unconnected look up? (Informatica) What is source qualifier? (Informatica) Can we use a source qualifier to join data from two tables of the same source? What are Hierarchies in DW? Data mart whether it is logical or physical? How many repositories can we create in informatica? What is a surrogate key? What is the difference between mapplet & reusable transformation? (Informatica) Which is used for 1Bm(db2) in Informatica? What is a fact table? Is add a function or an aggregator? Explain reference cursor? (Oracle) What are Parallel querys and query hints? (Oracle) What is materialized view? (Oracle) Inline view? (Oracle) Difference between snowflake schema & star schema? How can we Populate the data into a time Dimension? Crystal reports in which type of OLAP & ROLAP? DW architecture? Advantage of de-normalized data? What is snapshot? Oracle server architecture? What is ODS (Operational Data sources or Operational Data Stage)? What is Mata data and system catalog? What is star schema? What is fact less fact schema? What is confirmed dimension? What services the broadcast agent offers on the server side? How can you access your repository with different user profiles? How many built in objects created in BOs repository? What is Mata data? What is the difference between view and materialized view? (Oracle) What is the difference between star flake & snowflake schema and which one is preferable for DWH? What is data mart and cube? Which kind of index is preferable for DWH? What is hash partition? What is SQL*Loader? What are the inputs of SQL loader? What information the control files contains the SQL loader concept? What is DTM session? How can you define a transformation, what are the different types of transformations in informatica? What is mapplet? (Informatica) Informatica platform dependent or independent? What is aggregation transformation in informatica? What is a lookup function? What is default transformation for lookup function? (Informatica) What is the difference between connected lookup & unconnected lookups? (Informatica) What is staging area? What is data merging, data cleansing, and sampling? What is update strategy & what are the options for update strategy? (Informatica) What is fact table? OLAP architecture

INFORMATICA INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 1) How can you load random values to target? 2) How to use file test option? 3) I have a source file in relational and I want to load to a flat file. I need to give column headings in flat file: 4) How to merge 3 rows into one row using normalize transformation? 5) My flat files consist of 1000 records and I need to load only 100 records into the target how? 6) I want populate 100 records from source to target but I dont want to commit in target? I need to check whether data gets populated after running the session. 7) How to pass a parameter/variable for the source file name in session properties C.T.S FAQS 8) 9) 10) 11) What is DTM? Explain pre & post session SQL& CURSOR. What are the steps you involved when you using the cursor? What is incremental loading?

I-FLUX Questions 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) Diff between union and union all SQL Override function? Session properties Can u use filter transformation in aggregator Characterizes of fact table Characterizes of DWH Diff between procedures and functions What are the disadvantages of joiner transformation Write a query to display duplicate records only? What is conformed dimension Where u can use mapping parameters and variable? What is outer join What are the types of joins How can u tune the mapping While running your session if the server is crashed. How do you recover from the incomplete session? Explain about TOP-DOWN &BOTTOM UP approaches Where can u use mapplet Diff between DECODE & CASE statement Write a query to delete duplicate rows Explain about group by function

TAVANT Technologies 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) What is source qualifier Can u load the relational data into target without source qualifier Can u write aggregator function in expression What is pre session and post session What is the diff between filter and router How can u return multiple return ports from un-connected lookup Diff between connected and un connected lookup transformation Diff between source qualifier and aggregator Can u write non aggregator functions in expression EX: IIF (ISNULL (PM_KEY, X, Y))

41) Diff between INFORMATICA 5.1 &6.1 WIPRO Technologies 42) I have multiple workflows they all are running properly but one workflow performance is not good how can u improve performance. With out changing source, target definitions, with out creating partitions. 43) What are the diff between DATAMART & DWH? 44) I have one source table and one target table. I am using three unconnected lookups. I want to use single lookup instead of three lookups. 45) I have a fact table and four dimensions. I am loading data daily but I added one more dimension to my fact table. How to maintain free space. Ex: D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 10 10 10 10 ---20 20 20 20 20 46) 47) 48) 49) 50) 51) Explain informatica architecture Explain DWH architecture How u r calling stored procedure What are the transformations u used in your project How you are assigning hierarchies in BOs I have five source tables and I am using three source qualifiers in my mapping. I want to use single source qualifier is it possible or not. 52) Write a query for self join 53) Select e.ename, e.sal,d.deptno from emp e,dept d what is the result of this query. I-FLUX Solutions 54) 55) 56) 57) 58) 59) 60) What are the diff between router and filter Explain SCD (all types). Diff between informatica 5.1 &6.1 Draw the hierarchy of workflow manager in informatica What are the events u used in your data loading environment What type of schema you used What are the diff between connected and unconnected lookups and how many types of caches are there? 61) I have one source table in my source analyzer I want to load multiple targets. Each and every target is one type of database. (Ex oracle, flat file, XML) is it possible or not. 62) Explain about fact less fact table 63) Explain about surrogate key 64) Explain about additive, semi additive, non-additive measures. 65) How to use XML source qualifier 66) I have one flat file in source how to improve the session performance 67) I have one source and I am using router transformation. Can I load to three targets. It is possible or not. 68) Before running a workflow what are the things u have to configure. 69) What is the diff between normal and bulk loading? 70) I want populate 100 records from source to target but I dont want to commit in target? I need to check whether data gets populated after running the session. 71) What r the diff between procedure and function 72) Write a PL/SQL program structure 73) How many types of TRIGGERS r there 74) Diff between TRUNCATE &DELETE 75) After deleting &truncating the table I rollback what happened?

76) Write a cursor and tell 2 more exceptions 77) What are the parameters are there in procedure? SOFTECH Training Center 78) What are the characterizes of DWH? 79) What is the staging area 80) Diff between OTP & OLAP 81) What is ODS 82) Diff between View and Materialized view 83) What is fact table 84) What is dimension table 85) What is fact less fact table 86) Diff between star schema and snow flake schema 87) What is bitmap and b-tree index 88) What is default index in fact table 89) What is data mart 90) How can u eliminate duplicate records in flat file 91) What are the caches in lookups 92) What are the types of joins are there in joins 93) In which transformations is possible to call unconnected lookup 94) Diff between mapping variable and parameters 95) Diff between mapplet and reusable transformation 96) What are the scheduling types 97) Diff between router and filter 98) What are the diff SCD in informatica 99) What is the performance recovery 100) Write any four ways to improve session performance

Data Stage Interview Questions 1.Date functions 2.parameters 3.Stage variables 4.hash file does allows null values 5.merge 6.sub-routines 7.after/before sub-routines 8.difference b/w routine and transform 9.what is plug-in? 10.difference b/w plug-in and ODBC 11.Hash file? 12.Source code: source code is original from of the program written by the programmer 13.Object code: it is compiler output, which can be executed by the Data Stage RUN command or called a subroutine. 14.Function: Function performs mathematical or string manipulations

on its arguments. Functions are two types. 1. Numerical 2.String 15. Subroutine is a set of instructions that perform a specific task. it is small program that can be embedded in a program and accessed with a GOSUB statement. 16.Container, is a group of stages and link that are reusable Two types of container 1.local, a local container is only accessible to the job in which it is created. 2.shared: and you can use shared containers to make common job Components available throughout the project. 17.Transform is a function that takes one value and calculates another value from it. Types of transforms 1.String CAPITAL DIGITS LETTERS StringLeftJust StringRighJust StringUpperFirst 2.Date MONTH.FIRST MONTH.LAST QUARTER.FIRST QUARTER.LAST WEEK.FIRST WEEK.LAST YEAR.FIRST YEAR.LAST TIMESTAMP.TO.DATE TAG.TO.DATE DATE.TAG WEEK.TAG MONTH.TAG 3.KEY MANAGEMENT KeyMgtGetMaxKey KeyMgtGetNextValue KeyMgtGetNextValueConcurrent 4. Row Processor Transform RowProcCompareWithPreviousValue 18.Types of Before/After routines 1.DSSendMail 2.DSWaitForFile 3.DSJobRport 4.ExecDOS 5.EexcDOSSilent 6.ExecSH

7.ExecSHSilent 8.ExecTCL 19.Stage Variables, the value of stage variables will be substituted when the jobs run 20.How do you execute a Data stage job from a command line prompt? Answer Use the "DATA STAGE job" command as follows: DATA STAGE job -run -job status project name job name 20) What are Stage Variables, Derivations and Constants? Answer Stage Variable - An intermediate processing variable that retains value during read and Doesnt pass the value into the target column. Derivation - Expression that specifies value to be passed on to the target column. Constant - Conditions that are either true or false which specifies the flow of data with a link. 21) What is the default cache size? How do you change the cache size if needed? Answer Default cache size is 256 MB. It can be increased by going into Datastage Administrator, selecting the Tunable Tab and specifying the cache size. Default cache size is 256 MB. Going into Data stage Administrator, selecting the Tunable Tab and specifying the cache size can increase it. 22) What are types of Hashed File? Answer Hashed File is broadly classified into 2 types: a) Static - Subdivided into 17 types based on Primary Key Pattern. b) Dynamic - Subdivided into 2 types i) Generic ii) Specific. Default Hashed File is "Dynamic - Type Random 30 D" 23) What are Containers and what are the Container types? Answer A container is a collection of stages used for the purpose of reusability. There are 2 types of Containers: a) Local Container - Job Specific b) Shared Container - Used in any job within a project. 24) Compare and contrast ODBC and Plug-In stages? Answer ODBC: a) Poor performance b) Can be used for variety of databases c) Can handle stored procedures Plug-In: a) Good performance b) Database specific (only one database) c) Cannot handle stored procedures 25) How do you run a Shell Script within the scope of a Data stage job? Answer By using "ExcecSH" command at Before/After job properties. 14) How do you handle data conversions in Data stage? Convert mm/dd/yyyy format to yyyy-dd-mm?

Answer Use a) "Iconv" function - Internal Conversion b) "Oconv" function - External Conversion Function to convert mm/dd/yyyy format to yyyy-dd-mm is: Oconv(Iconv(Filedname,"D/MDY[2,2,4]"),"D-MDY[2,2,4]") 26) What are the types of Parallel Processing? Answer Parallel Processing is broadly classified into 2 types: a) SMP - Symmetrical Multi Processing b) MPP - Massive Parallel Processing 27) What does a Config file in Parallel Extender consist of? Answer A Config file consists of the following: a) Number of Processes or Nodes b) Actual Disk Storage Location 28) What is the functionality of Link Partitioner and Link Collector? Answer Link Partitioner - actually splits data into various partitions or data flows using various partitioning methods LinkCollector - collects the data coming from partitions, merges it into a single data flow and loads it to the target 29) What is Modulus and Splitting in a Dynamic Hashed File? Answer In a Hashed File, the size of the file keeps changing randomly. If the size of the file increases, it is called as "Modulus". If the size of the file decreases, it is called as "Splitting". 30) What are types of views in Data stage Director? Answer There are 3 types of views in Data stage Director: a) Job View - Dates of jobs compiled b) Log View - Status of job last run c) Status View - Warning Messages, Event Messages, Program Generated Messages BUSINESS OBJECT & COGNOS 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) What is universe? (Bo) Difference between DSS & OLTP? Explain drill through? Explain grouped cross tab? Data mart whether it is logical or physical? Loops in BO? Analysis in BO? What is Mata data and system catalog? What is the difference between Cognos and BO? What is security domain in BOs? Where you will find the address of repository in BOs? What is broadcast agent? In BO 4.1 version, what is an alternative name for broadcast agent? What services the broadcast agent offers on the server side?

15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41)

What is an infoview? (BO) What is BOs reader? (BO) How can you access your repository with different user profiles? How many built in objects created in BOs repository? What is context & loop? What are alerter in BOs? What is hot-file and snapshot? (Cognos) What are aliases? What is the difference between powerplay transformer & powerplay reports? (Cognos) What is IQD file? (Cognos) What is Cognos script editor? In which language Cognos & BOs are developed? What is the difference between macros and prompts? What is powerplay plug in? What are the different types of saving options in web intelligence? (BO) What is batch processing in BOs? How can you first report in BOs by using broadcasting agent? Can we use snapshot as source? (Cognos) What is subject area? (SAP BW) Why do we use DSS database for OLAP tools? Can we take report on excel in BO? How do u pull reports to excel from business objects? How do u publish your reports in BO with out using broadcast agent, to a corporate database? (Might be web intelligence) Have u worked in web intelligence Can a universe point to multiple databases simultaneously? How? Can I grant permission to a user to view only a particular report? If I want to grant access to a group of users, how do I do?

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