1. Explain the situations where snowflake is better than star schema 2.

How do you connect two fact tables ? Is it possible ? 3. explain the flow of data starting with OLTP to OLAP including staging ,summar y tables,Facts and dim explain the flow of data starting with OLTP to OLAP includi ng staging ,summary tables,Facts and dimensions. 4. What are the vaious ETL tools in the Market 5. What is ETL 6. Explain ODS and ODS types. 7. can you convert a snowflake schema in to star schema? 9. what is the datatype of the surrgate key 10. What is the difference between Data modelling and Dimensional modelling? 11. What is meant by Aggregate Factable? 12. what is the main FUNCTIONAL difference between ROLAP,MOLAP,HOLAP? 13. can a dimension table contains numeric values? Subscribe 14. what is BUS Schema? Subscribe 15. 1.what is incremental loading?2.what is batch processing?3.what is cross reference table?4.what is 1.what is incremental loading?2.what is batch processing?3.what is cross referen ce table?4.what is aggregate fact table Subscribe 16. What is ER Diagram 17. Do u need seperate space for Datawarehouse & Data mart Subscribe 18. What are conformed dimensions Subscribe 19. Explain Bill Inmon's versus Ralph Kimball's Approach to Data Warehousing. 20. Is it correct/feasible develop a Data Mart using an ODS? 21. What is the Difference between OLTP and OLAP 22. What are the various techniques in ER modelling? 23. What is the business rule for writing the requirement? 24. How do you load the data conditionally by run steps ? 25. What Snow Flake Schema 26. Why are OLTP database designs not generally a good idea for a Data Warehouse 27. What are Data Marts 28. What is a Data Warehousing? 29. what are the different architecture of datawarehouse 30. what is the life cycle of data warehouse projects 31. What is a CUBE in datawarehousing concept? Subscribe 32. What are late arriving Facts and late arriving dim ? How does it impacts DW? 33. What is Dimensional Modelling 34. For 80GB Datawarehouse How many records are there in Fact Table There are 25 Dimension and 12 Fa For 80GB Datawarehouse How many records are there in Fact Table There are 25 Dimension and 12 Fact Tables 35. What is hybrid slowly changing dimension 36. What is ODS 37. What are Semi-additive and factless facts and in which scenario will you use such kinds of fact tab What are Semi-additive and factless facts and in which scenari o will you use such kinds of fact tables 38. What are slowly changing dimensions 39. What are non-additive facts 40. what is rapidly changing dimension? 41. What are the various Reporting tools in the Market 42. What is a dimension table 43. What is the purpose of "Factless Fact Table"? How it is involved in Many to many relation What is the purpose of "Factless Fact Table"? How it is involved in Man y to many relationship?

44. What type of Indexing mechanism do we need to use for a typical datawarehous e 45. What is Fact table Subscribe 46. What are modeling tools available in the Market 47. What is SCD1 , SCD2 , SCD3 48. What is a Star Schema 49. What is Data warehosuing Hierarchy? 50. What are the possible data marts in Retail sales.? 51. What is slicing and dicing? Explain with real time usage and business reason s of it's use 52. What is the role of surrogate keys in data warehouse and how will u generate them? 53. what is junk dimension?what is the difference between junk dimension and degenerated dimension? 54. i want to know how to protect my data over networ.which software will be use 55. Difference between Snow flake and Star Schema. What are situations where Snow flake Schema is bette Difference between Snow flake and Star Schema. What are situations where Snow flake Schema is better than Star Schema to use and when the opposite is true? 56. What is source qualifier? 57. why fact table is in normal form? 58. Explain degenerated dimension in detail. 59. what are the various attributes in time dimension, If this dimension has to consider only date of what are the various attributes in time dimension, If this dimension has to consider only date of birth of a citizen of a country? 60. What is difference between BO, Microstrategy and Cognos 61. how data in datawarehouse stored after data has been extracted and transformed from hetrogeneous sources and where does the data go from datawarehouse. 62. what is the difference between star schema and snow flake schema ?and when we use those schema's? 63. what is the difference between Datawarehouse and Datawarehousing 64. what is data cleaning? 65. How do you load the time dimension 66. What are the Different methods of loading Dimension tables 67. What is Difference between E-R Modeling and Dimentional Modeling. 68. what is the need of surrogate key;why primary key not used as surrogate key 69. What is a linked cube? 70. What is surrogate key ? where we use it expalin with examples 71. Summarize the differene between OLTP,ODS AND DATA WAREHOUSE ? 72. what is cube and why we are crating a cube what is diff between etl and olap cubes any budy a what is cube and why we are crating a cube what is diff between etl and olap cubes any budy ans plz? 73. what is conformed fact? 74. What is meant by metadata in context of a Datawarehouse and how it is important? 75. which automation tool is used in data warehouse testing? 76. what is the differences between the static and dynamic caches? 77. What is a lookup table 78. what are the steps to build the datawarehouse 79. what is the definition of normalized and denormalized view and what are the differences between the what is the definition of normalized and denormalized vi ew and what are the differences between them 80. Give examples of degenerated dimensions 81. What are the methodologies of Data Warehousing. 82. What is data mining 83. What is meany by survey and extraction tables in DW? 84. What is the difference between view and materialized view

85. What is Replicate,Transparent and Linked cubes? 86. What is the main difference between Inmon and Kimball philosophies of data warehousing? 87. what are the advantages data mining over traditional approaches? 88. wht r the data types present in bo?n wht happens if we implement view in the designer n report 89. What is Normalization, First Normal Form, Second Normal Form , Third Normal Form 90. what is data validation strategies for data mart validation after loading pr ocess 91. Differences between star and snowflake schemas 92. What is real time data-warehousing 93. Which columns go to the fact table and which columns go the dimension table 94. What does level of Granularity of a fact table signify 95. What is the main differnce between schema in RDBMS and schemas in DataWarehouse....? 96. What is degenerate dimension table? 97. Information Packages(IP) are advanced by some author as a way of building dimensional models - e.g. Information Packages(IP) are advanced by some author a s a way of building dimensional models - e.g. star schemas. Explain what IPs are a nd Give an example of it\'s use in building a dimensional model. 98. What is VLDB 99. What is a general purpose scheduling tool 100. What are Aggregate tables 101. Explain the advanatages of RAID 1, 1/0, and 5. What type of RAID setup woul d you put your TX logs 102. How are the Dimension tables designed 103. Why should you put your data warehouse on a different system than your OLTP system 104. What is a level of Granularity of a fact table 1) What is surrogate key? 2) What processes are involved for building a data warehousing project? 3) What are different data warehousing methodologies and what are the advantages of one above other 4) what is star schema 5) What is Dimension Table 6) 6 What is Fact TableWhat is Fact Table 7) what is snowflake schema and when do you decide to snowflake ,advantages and disadvantages of snowflake 8) what are slowly changing dimensions 9) what are degenerative dimensions 10) How do you maintain history data? 11) how big is the database 12) How was the data fed into data warehousing database. 13) What are the different ETL tools used? 14) Difference between DSS & OLTP? 15) Explain grouped cross tab? 16) Hierarchy of DWH? 17) What is difference between Mapplet and reusable transformation? 18) What is aggregate awareness? 19) Explain reference cursor? 20) What are parallel querys and query hints? 21) DWH architecture? 22) What are cursors? 23) Advantages of de normalized data? 24) What is operational data source (ODS)? 25) What is meta data and system catalog?

26) What is fact-less fact schema? 27) What is confirmed dimension? 28) What is the capacity of power cube? 29) Which kind of index is preferred in DWH? 30) What is hash partition? 31) What is DTM session? 32) What is a look up function? What is default transformation for the look up function? 33) What is difference between a connected look up and unconnected look up? 34) What is staging area? 35) What is data merging, data cleansing and sampling? 36) What is up date strategy and what are th options for update strategy? 37) OLAP architecture? 38) What is subject area? 39) Why do we use DSS database for OLAP tools?

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1. Assignment task in informatica 2. what is a source qualifier?It represents all data queried from the source. 3. What is a Shortcut and What is the difference between a Shortcut and a Reusab le Transformation? 4. What is difference between source based commit) and target based commit? 5. what types of Errors occur when you run a session, can you describe them with real time example 6. What is key factor in BRD? 7. How to implement de-normalization concept in Informatica Mappings? 8. What is intermediate task in informatica? In what situation this task will be executed? 9. How many types of facts and what are they? 10. Performance tuning in Informatica? 11. How to append records in flat file using Informatica?For eg : In Datastage w e can append the records in flat file(sequential file) using the options i) overwrite the existinf file.ii) Append the existing file. 12. How to append the records in flat file(Informatica) ? Where as in Datastage we have the options i) overwrite the existing fileii) Append existing file 13. how to get the first 100 rows from the flat file into the target? 14. Explain pmcmd? 15. Explain Session Recovery Process? 16. in which particular situation we use unconnected lookup transformation? 17. parameter file how to create parameter file and how to use it in a mapping explain with example 18. aggregator transformation how does sorted input works in aggregator transformation 19. Informatica Working with flat files how can we display delimiters beside column names of target flat file? 20.How many repositories can we create in Informatica?What is aggregate awareness? 21. How can we delete duplicate rows from your source in mapping without using

SELECT DISTINCT option in source qualifier? 22. What is Target Update Override? What is the Use ? 23. When we are having data in the target table and there are no primary key or foreign key mentioned in the target table then how will you update as well as in sert the data? 24. 1.how to enter same record twice in target table? give me syntax.2. how to g et particular record from the table in informatica?3.how to create primary key only on odd numbers?4. how to get the records starting with particular letter like A in informatica? 25. How can you join two tables without using joiner and sql override transformations? 26. Can u start a batches with in a batch? U can not. If u want to start batch that resides in a batch,create a new indepen dent batch and copy the necessary sessions into the new batch. 27. Can u copy the batches? 28. What is the difference between SQL Overriding in Source qualifier and Lookup transformation? 29. Informatica : set statement in update Need to update the existing records,The record which is coming for update should be inserted and also the previous record's one column must be modified. i have used look up to look up the data.used ro 30. Informatica sessions what is the difference between a session and a task? 31. What is source qualifier transformation? When U add a relational or a flat file source definition to a maping,U need to c onnect it to a source qualifer transformation.The source qualifier transformation repre snets the records that the inform 32. What are tracing levels in transformation? 33. What are Meta Data Extenstions used in an informatica mapping? What is the significance,usage and how informatica handles them? 34. In your mapping using sequence generator transformation, the limitation of t he transformation is it generates key values only around 2 million. If it is more t han 3 million records are there in your source, how will you generate key values and l oad into target. 35. why do we need lookup sql override? Do we write sql override in lookup with special aim? 36. Informatica union transformation What is the practical use of a union transformation? 37. How many types of TASKS we have in Workflomanager? What r they? 38. What is the size of data mart? 39. Repository deletion what happens when a repository is deleted?If it is deleted for some time and if we want to delete it permanently?where is stored (address of the file) 40. Informatica objects File Format What is the file extension and format of the files for the Informatica objects l ike Mappings, sessions etc in the repository ? 41. how to use the shared cache feature in look up transformation 42. what are the steps follow in performance tuning ?

43. In case of use of dynamic lookup cache in a lookup transformation, the looku p cache gets updated first and then the target table. What happens if the target t able rejects a row after it is updated in the Cache? 44. 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 transform 45. What is the use of Shared Folder? 46. What is Informatica basic data flow? 47. what is the difference between reusable transformation and mapplets? 48. What is the functionality of Lookup Transformation (connected & un connected) Asked by: M.Maheswar Reddy 49. How do you maintain Historical data and how to retrieve the historical data? 50. Which transformation replaces the look up transformation? 51. What are Dimensions and various types of Dimensions? set of level properties that describe a specific aspect of a business, used for analyzing the factual measures of one or more cubes, which use that dimension. E gs. Geography, time, customer and produc 52. What is pre-session and post-session? 53. which activities can be performed using the repository manager? 54. what is the difference between source qualifier transformation and filter transformation? 55. What r the diffrence between joiner transformation and source qualifier transformation? U can join hetrogenious data sources in joiner transformation which we can not achieve in source qualifier transformation. U need matching keys to join two relational sources in source qualifier trans 56. why do we use reusable sequencegenerator transformation only in mapplet? 57. what is the economic comparision of all the Informatica versions? 58. What is one disadvantage of using an unconnected (sometimes called function mode) Lookup transformation? (1) If there is no match in the Lookup condition, t he Informatica server returns a transformation error(2) A reusable unconnected Look up can not have more than one instance in a mapping(3) An unconnected Lookup transformation does not support user-defined default values(4) An unconnected Lookup transformation does not support a static lookup cache 59. when we create a target as flat file and source as oracle.. how can i specif y first rows as column names in flat files.. 60. Eliminate Duplicate Records 61. How to assign a work flow to multiple servers? I have multiple servers, I want to assign a work flow to multiple servers Asked by: SRIRAM N 62. What are the locks with respect to mappings?How do you manually lock or unlo ck the mappings for chages? 63. What is the default join that source qualifier provides? Inner equi join. 64. How to read rejected data or bad data from bad file and reload it to target? 65. Discuss the advantages & Disadvantages of star & snowflake schema? 66. Can U use the maping parameters or variables created in one maping into another maping? 67. If i done any modifications for my table in back end does it reflect in info rmatca

warehouse or maping desginer or source analyzer? NO. Informatica is not at all concern with back end data base.It displays u all the information that is to be stored in repository.If want to reflect back end chang es to informatica screens, again u h 68. Suppose I have one source which is linked into 3 targets.When the workflow r uns for the first time only the first target should be populated and the rest two(se cond and last) should not be populated.When the workflow runs for the second time onl y the second target should be populated and the rest two(first and last) should no t be populated.When the workflow runs for the third time only the third target should be populated and the rest two(first and second) should not be populated.Could any o ne 69. total how many joiner transformations needed to join 10 different sources.(r ecent tcs intervie w question) 70. How do you migrate from one environment to another like development to production in Informatica. 71. In what all transformations the mapplets cant be used in informatica?? 72. What r the mapings that we use for slowly changing dimension table? Type1: Rows containing changes to existing dimensions are updated in the target by overwriting the existing dimension. In the Type 1 Dimension mapping, all rows contain current dimension data. 74. Can we revert back reusable transformation to normal transformation? 75. inteview questionwhy do u use a reusable sequence genator tranformation in mapplets? 76. 1)how can we delete the cache files while we using aggregator transformaatio n? 2)exlain about cache files handling in informatica3) there are two flat files an d the two flat files contain two fileds as states.both the flat files contain duplicat es how to eliminate this duplicates?4) can we use lookup transformation with out using sou rce qualifier transformation? 77. When do you use Normal Loading and the Bulk Loading, Tell the difference? 78. How do you define fact less Fact Table in Informatica 79. What is Repository size, What is its min and max size? 80. would you recommend using an orderby clause as part of a lookup sql override for a cached lookup da 81. Have you implmented Lookup in your mapping, If yes give some example? 82. 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 ca 83. What does the first column of bad file (rejected rows) indicate? Explain 84. how do you measure slowly changing dimensions using lookup table 85. What is the difference between source definition database and source qualifi er? 86. What is the logic will you implement to load data into a fact table from n dimension tables? 87. what is semi additve measuresand fully additive measures 88. how do you add and delete header , footer records from flat file during load to

oracle? 89. What is the maplet? Maplet is a set of transformations that you build in the maplet designer and U c an use in multiple mapings. 90. What r two types of processes that informatica runs the session? 91. Hi Allwhat is the logic will you implement to laod the data in to one factv from 'n' number of dimension tables. 92. what is update strategy transformation ? This transformation is used to maintain the history data or just most recent cha nges in to target table. 93. What r the connected or unconnected transforamations? An unconnected transforamtion is not connected to other transformations in the mapping.Connected transforamation is connected to other transforamtions in the mapping. 94. What r the mapping paramaters and maping variables? 95. Does Informatica provide a SAS exit in any of its products? What I am trying to determine is if I could invoke a SAS session from within Informatica's ETL product(s) in order to execute a complicated transformation wr itten in SAS which would then return the re 96. Which SDLC suits best for the datawarehousing project. 97. in Dimensional modeling fact table is normalized or denormalized?in case of star schema and incase of snow flake schema? 98. What is granularity in INFORMATICA? How should be the level of granularity f or a fact table as well as for a dimension table? 99. What r the active and passive transforamtions? 100. What r the designer tools for creating tranformations? 101. What is Session and Batches? Session - A Session Is A set of instructions that tells the Informatica Server H ow And When To Move Data From Sources To Targets. 102. 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 i 103. Why we use lookup transformations? Lookup Transformations can access data from relational tables that are not sourc es in mapping. With Lookup transformation, we can accomplish the following tasks:Ge t a related value-Get the Employee N 104. Source Qualifier in Informatica What is the Technical reason for having Source Qualifier in Informatica? Can a mapping be implemented without it? (Please don't mention the functionality of SQ ) but the main reason why a mapping can't 105. where does the records goes which does not satisfy condition in filter transformation? 106. How can U create or import flat file definition in to the warehouse designe r? U can not create or import flat file defintion in to warehouse designer directly .Instead U must analyze the file in source analyzer,then drag it into the warehouse designer.When U drag the flat file s

107. How do you identify existing rows of data in the target table using lookup transformation? Can identify existing rows of data using unconnected lookup transformation. 108. what are the main issues while working with flat files as source and as tar gets ? 109. can any one tell why we are populating time dimension only with scripts not with mapping? 110. What are the challenges you have faced in your Project (DWH-ETL)? Explain w ith example? 111. What r the different options used to configure the sequential batches? Two options Run the session only if previous session completes sucessfully. Alwa ys runs the session. 112. What is meant by named cache?At what situation we can use it? Asked by: prakash B S 113. 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 per 114. How can U improve session performance in aggregator transformation? Use sorted input. 115. what is the hierarchies in DWH 116. What will be the way to send only duplicate records to the Target? 117. What is difference between maplet and reusable transformation? Maplet consists of set of transformations that is reusable.A reusable transforma tion is a single transformation that can be reusable. If u create a variables or paramet ers in maplet that can not be us 118. In Source Qualifier and in Target I have 1,2,3 row and I want to insert 4,5 records in source and I want them in target also? What is the procedure to load them? 119. What is Router transformation? Router transformation allows you to use a condition to test data. It is similar to filter transformation. It allows the testing to be done on one or more conditions. 120. What are Aggregate transformation? 121. can we lookup a table from a source qualifer transformation-unconnected lookup 122. What is redo log file in Informatica ?. 123. How to run a workflow without using GUI i.e, Worlflow Manager, Workflow Monitor and pmcmd? 124. What are the Commit & Commit Intervals? 125. We are using Update Strategy Transformation in mapping how can we know whether insert or update or reject or delete option has been selected during run ning of sessions in Informatica. 126. what is the output for different groups in case of router transformation if i. 1-Aii.2--Biii.3--A or Biv. 4--A and Bv.5--Default 127. why dimenstion tables are denormalized in nature ? 128. In the source, if we also have duplicate records and we have 2 targets, T1for unique values and T In the source, if we also have duplicate records and we have 2 targets, T1- for unique values and T2- only for duplicate values. How do we pass the unique values to T1

and duplicate values to T2 from the source to these 2 different targets in a single mapping? 129i was asked by the interviewer like,in the concept of mapping parameters and variables, the variable value will be saved to the repository after the completi on of the session and the next time when u run the session, the server takes the saved variable value in the repository and starts assigning the next value of the save d value. for example i ran a session and in the end it stored a value of 50 to the repository.next time when i run the session, it should start with the value 130. Where and Why do we use Joiner Cache? 131. What is the Router transformation? A Router transformation is similar to a Filter transformation because both transformations allow you to use a condition to test data. However, a Filter transformation tests data for one condition and 132. What is difference between IIF and DECODE function 133. how do you use Normalizer to convert columns into rows ? 134. To provide support for Mainframes source data,which files r used as a sourc e definitions? COBOL files 135. What is the difference between Enterprise data warehouse and a data warehouse ??Which all transform 136. What are the Data Cleansing Tools used in the DWH?What are the Data Profili ng Tools used for DWh? 137. What is the best way to modify a mapping if the target table name is change d? 138. What is a Materialized view? Diff. Between Materialized view and view 139. How many ways u create ports? Two ways 1.Drag the port from another transforamtion 2.Click the add buttion on the ports tab. 140. Source table has 1000 rows. In session configuration --- target Load option -- \ 141. what transformation you can use inplace of lookup? 142. what is incremental loading in informatica(that is used to load only update d information in the source)?how and where u use it in informatica? 143. how many types of dimensions are available in informatica? 144. How can we access MAINFRAME tables in INFORMATICA as a source ? ex-: Suppose a table EMP is in MAINFRAME then how can we access this table as SOURCE TABLE in informatica? Asked by: Md Iqbal Hassan 145. How can u stop a batch? By using server manager or pmcmd. 146. what is the main difference bw using an object from shared folder and copyi ng an object and using that copied object ? 147. how do you fine tune the mapping and what methods we follow for different types of transformations? 148. in realtime which one is better star schema or snowflake star schemathe surrogate will be linked to which columns in the dimension table.thanks in advan ce 149. Can u use the maping parameters or variables created in one maping into any other reusable transformation? Yes.Because reusable tranformation is not contained with any maplet or maping. 150. Can we update target table without using update strategy transformation? wh y? 151. What is the difference between SQL override in Source Qualifier and SQL override in Look up transformation.

152. What is the difference between power connect and power centre? What is the use of power connect. 153. what is the new lookup port in look-up transformation? 154. What is source based commit and target based commit with an example ? What is the background process that wil be done if you select source based commit or target based commit ? 155. What does Check-In and Check-Out option refer to in the mapping designer? Asked by: sanghala 156. can any body write a session parameter file which will change the source an d targets for every session. i.e different source and targets for each session run . thx in advance 157. what is homogeneous transformation? 158. For homogeneous sources we use Source Qualifier to join the sources? Why no t the joiner transformation. 159. If a Mapping is running slow, What steps you will take, to correct it? 160. How to delete duplicate rows in flat files source is any option in informat ica 161. How to create slowly changing dimension in informatica? 162. How do you recover a session or folder if you accidentally dropped them? 163. How can you call trigger in stored procedure transformation 164. How do you automatically execute a batch or session? 165. If a session fails after loading of 10,000 records in to the target.How can u load the records from 10001 th record when u run the session next time in informatica 6.1? 166. What is the difference between Power Centre and Power Mart?What is the procedure for creating Independent Data Marts from Informatica 7.1? 167. What are the general reasons of session failure with Look Up having Dynamic Cache? 168. How do we estimate the depth of the session scheduling queue? Where do we set the number of maximum concurrent sessions that Informatica can run at a give n time? 169. What r the joiner caches? When a Joiner transformation occurs in a session, the Informatica Server reads a ll the records from the master source and builds index and data caches based on the master rows. After building the cach 170. Where should U place the flat file to import the flat file defintion to the designer? 171. Why we use stored procedure transformation? For populating and maintaining data bases. 172. What is tracing level and what r the types of tracing level? Tracing level represents the amount of information that informatcia server write s in a log file. Types of tracing level Normal Verbose Verbose init Verbose data 173. What are Target Types on the Server? Target Types are File, Relational and ERP. 174 What happens when the session stops half way while loading? How to join a fl at file without matching keys in RDBMS? 175. 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 an d easily. Both wizards are designed to create mappings for loading and maintaining star schemas, a series of dimensions 176. What r the reusable transforamtions?

Reusable transformations can be used in multiple mappings.When u need to incorporate this transformation into maping,U add an instance of it to maping.La ter if U change the definition of the transform 177. what is the gap analysis? 178. If a session fails after loading of 10,000 records in to the target.How can u load the records from 10001 th record when u run the session next time? As explained above informatcia server has 3 methods to recovering the sessions.U se performing recovery to load the records from where the session fails. 179 what is the mapping for unit testing in Informatica, are there any other tes tings in Informatica, and how we will do them as a etl developer. how do the testing p eople will do testing are there any specific tools for testing 180. What r the types of lookup? 181. what is the difference between mapplet and reusable Transformation? 182. How to parse characters using functions in the expression transformation. F or example if a column has character like mgr=a. I have to parse the character 'mgr ='. Which function should I use? 183. Strategy Transformation By using Update Strategy Transformation we use to maintain historical data using Type2 & Type3. By both of this which is better to use? Why? Asked by: phanimv 184. how do you test mapping and what is associate port? 185. Why can't we use normalizer transformation in mapplet? 186. what is associated port in look up. 187. what is session recovery? 188. What is use of event waiter? 189. which transformation can perform the non equi join? 190. Which objects cannot be used in a mapplet transformation 191. What is re-dimension? 192. What is inline view? 193. What is the exact difference between joiner and lookup transformation 194. How do you handle two sessions in Informatica can any one tell me the option between the two session . if previous session exe cute successfully than run the next session... Asked by: ravi214u 195. Explain about Informatica server process that how it works relates to mappi ng variables? 196. What are the steps involved in to get source from OLTP system to staging ar ea 197. Why use the lookup transformation ? To perform the following tasks. Get a related value. For example, if your source table includes employee ID, but you want to include the employee name in your target table to make your summary data ea 198. How can you migrate Mappings and Sessions from informatica 6.2 to informati ca 7.1? 199. what are steps invovlved in connecting OLTP system to DATAWARE HOUSE to get the souce from OLTP system 200. How many mappings you have done in your project(in a banking)? 201. What is Dataware house key? 202. How do we delete staging area in our project? 203. How to do aggregation with out using AGGREGAROR Transformation ? 204. 1)What are the various test procedures used to check whether the data is

loaded in the back end, performance of the mapping, and quality of the data load ed in INFORMATICA.2) What are the common problems developers face while ETL development 205. how do we remove the staging area 206. What are the types of loading in Informatica? 207. In my source table 1000 rec's are there. I want to load 501 rec to 1000 rec into my Target table ? 208. how can we eliminate source bottleneck using query hint 209. when informatica 7.1.1 version was introduced into market 210. How to partition the Session?(Interview question of CTS) 211. How do you change change column to row in Informatica 212. How do we lookup data in the target and the source to compare them without using lookup transformation? basically i mean getting lookup functionality witho ut using lookup transformation?thank you 213. We can insert or update the rows without using the update strategy. Then wh at is the necessity of the update strategy? 214. How a LOOKUP is passive? 215. Hello,I was asked this question in an interview,Where did you implement SCD 2 and what was the transformations used.What was the complex transformations did you use.Answers please........ 216. Hi ,About Informatica Power center 7:1) I want to Know which mapping properties can be overridden on a Session Task level.2)Know what types of permissions are needed to run and schedule Work flows.Someone can help me? Thank you. 217. write a query to retrieve the latest records from the table sorted by version(scd). 218. what s an ODS? what s the purpose of ODS?s that a logical database that sto res extracted data from source ? 219. Is it possible to execute work flows in different repositories at the same time using the same informatica server? 220. Explain about scheduling real time in informatica 221. What are the Differences between Informatica Power Center versions 6.2 and 7.1, also between Versions 6.2 and 5.1? 222. hii. this question was asked in accenture interviewIf ur having source tabl e in which there are records of 10 different countries and ur havig 10 target tables so tell me how should we load the individual data of country in individual table.i know that we can do this using router transformation but i m not able to make it so plz ca n anyone help me in this.regardsTarang Jain 223. How Can we join one relational table and one flat file without having commo n key using joiner transoformation? Is it possible to join without common key to j oin using joiner transformation? 224. how can we remove/optmize source bottlenecks using "query hints" 225. what is the advantages of converting stored procedures into Informatica mappings? 226. hi, how we validate all the mappings in the repository at once 227. How to use incremental aggregation in real time? 228. How many staging areas are there in your project? Recently I have asked thi

s question is there number of staging areas? Please briefly explain it , Thanks in advance. 229. What are Target Options on the Servers? Target Options for File Target type are FTP File, Loader and MQ.There are no tar get options for ERP target typeTarget Options for Relational are Insert, Update (as Update), Update (as Insert), Update 230. what is sql override where do we use and which transformations 231. what is constraint based error? how ll u clarify it? 232. How do you import 500file from tally software in informatica. ? 233. Which transformation has the most complexity Lookup or Joiner? 234. What's the difference between source and target object definitions in Informatica? 235. What are variable ports and list two situations when they can be used? 236. What are all the new features of informatica 8.1? 237. How to FTP a file to a remote server? 238. how do u check the source for the latest records that are to be loaded into the target.i.e i have loaded some records yesterday, today again the file has been populated with some more records today, so how do i find the records populated today. 239. What is the purpose of using UNIX commands in informatica. Which UNIX commands are generally used w What is the purpose of using UNIX commands in informatica. Which UNIX commands are generally used with informatica. 240. what is the difff between static cache and dynamic cache in which scenario do we use them .give the 241. Kindly suggest how to install and configure Informatica in Unix. I have ins talled informatica in Windows 2000 can I use the same CDs to install in unix .. 242. which one is better performance wise joiner or lookup 243. hi... this was asked in acccenture interview can anyone plz tell me the answerwhat is the difference between informatica 7.1 and 8.1 244. what is the logic will you implement to load the data in to one fact from ' n' number of dimension tables. 245. What is meant by source is changing incrementally? explain with example 246. how can we delete duplicate rows from flat files ? 247. How to load the time dimension using Informatica ? 248. What can we do in mapplets,that we cannot do in mappings 249 1. While executing an FTP command in a Shell script, we get following error : TM_6056 Error executing shell command [FILE_TRANSFER.sh]. Return code is [256]. 2. From experience we know that this is due to FTP failure. Resolution is to fir st resolve the FTP error & then re-start the workflow/server. 3. I want to know what is the method of getting more details & resolution for su ch "Return Codes" (256 or any other) ? 250. Explain the pipeline partition with real time example? 251. where from we get the source data or how we access the source data 252. how many types of sessions are there in informatica.please explain them. 253. what is the diffrence between SCD and INCREMENTAL Aggregation? 254. What r the unsupported repository objects for a mapplet? COBOL source definition Joiner transformations Normalizer transformations Non reusable sequence generator transformations. Pre or post session stored procedur es Target defintions Power mart 3.5 style

255. What r the basic needs to join two sources in a source qualifier? Two sources should have primary and Foreign key relation ships. Two sources shou ld have matching data types. 256. what is the event-based scheduling? 257. You transfer 100000 rows to target but some records get discard. How wil yo u trace them? and where its get loaded? 258. when do u we use dynamic cache and when do we use static cache in an connected and unconnected lookup transformation 259. what is the look up transformation? Use lookup transformation in u r mapping to lookup data in a relational table,view,synonym. Informatica server queries the look up table based on the lookup ports in the transformation.It compares the 260. You need to prepare common documentation of session+it's source and target.How do You make it 261. How to load time dimension? 262. how do you load the time dimension. 263. What is the process of loading the time dimension? 264. what is dynamic insert? 265. 1.can u look up a flat file ? how ?2.what is test load? 266. what is auxiliary mapping ? 267. interview questiontell me what would the size of ur warehouse project? 268. what is authenticator ? 269. what is Powermart and Power Center? 270. What is the optimum method to load five flat files with same structures int o target? What is meant 271. how can we store previous session logs 272. How to load fact table ? 273. What is exact use of 'Online' and 'Offline' server connect Options while de fining Work flow in Work flow monitor? . The system hangs when 'Online' server connect option. The Informatica is installed on a Personal laptop. 274. Differences between Informatica 6.2 and Informatica 7.0Yours sincerely,Rush i. 275 how to write a filter condition to get all the records of employees hired be tween any two given dates. 276. HOw do u setup a schedule for data loading from scratch? 277. I have an requirement where in the columns names in a table (Table A) shoul d appear in rows of target table (Table B) i.e. converting columns to rows. Is it possible through Informatica? If so, how? 278. What is ODS ?what data loaded from it ? What is DW architecture? 279. what is the diff b/w source qualifier transformation and application source qualifier transformation? 280. how to create primary key only on odd numbers? 281. what is meant by lookup caches? The informatica server builds a cache in memory when it processes the first row af a data in a cached look up transformation.It allocates memory for the cache based on the amount u configure in the tr 282. how can we populate the data into a time dimension ? 283. Define maping and sessions? Maping: It is a set of source and target definitions linked by transformation ob jects that define the rules for transformation. Session : It is a set of instructions

that describe how and when to move 284. Why and where we are using factless fact table? 285. tell me one complecated mapping 286. why exactly the dynamic lookup?plz can any bady can clarify it? 287. Is a fact table normalized or de-normalized? 288. how did you handle errors?(ETL-Row-Errors) 289. what is referential Intigrity error? how ll u rectify it? 290. Informatica Live Interview Questions 291. what are the UTP'S 292. hw to work with pmcmd on windows platform 293. how to get 25 of 100 fields table is there any transformation available in informatica i know route how to get 25 of 100 fields table is there any transformation available in infor matica i know router/filter or any other? 294. what is aggregate awareness? 295. E-R modelling is used for OLTP systemsDimesional modelling for data modelli ng of datwarehouse.why is this so.what is the difference between E-R modelling and dimesional modelling.thank in advance. 296. what is the difference between connected stored procedure and unconnected stored procedure? 297. Wat is QTP in Data Warehousing? 298. What are the questions asked in PDM Round(Final Hr round) 299. what is a transforamation? It is a repostitory object that generates,modifi es or passes data. 300. How do you create single lookup transformation using multiple tables? 301. How do we load from PL/SQL script into Informatica mapping? 302. what is grouped cross tab? 303. How to import oracle sequence into Informatica. 304. what is the procedure to write the query to list the highest salary of thre e employees? 305. what are the differences between informatica6.1 and informatica7.1 306. what is the diff b/w STOP & ABORT in INFORMATICA sess level ? 307what is E-R modelling and why is it used for OLTP designwhat is dimesional modelling and why is it used for datawarehouse desgn 308. what is DTM process? 309. HOw do u select duplicate rows using informatica? 310. What is target load order ? 311. What TOAD and for what purpose it will be used? 312. How to extract 10 records out of 100 records in a flat file 313. What is user defined Transformation? 314. how to get two targets T1 containing distinct values and T2 containing dupl icate values from one source S1. 315. When do u use a unconnected lookup and connected lookup....what is the difference between dynamic and static lookup...y and when do v use these types o f lookups ( ie...dynamic and static ) 316. What are the common errors that you face daily? 317 Target file has duplicate records, eventhough the source tables has single records. Selecting data from 5 different SQL tables using the user defined join. 318. What Bulk & Normal load? Where we use Bulk and where Normal? 319. while Running a Session, what are the two files it will create? 320. Can we use lookup instead of join? Reason 321. What is JMS and what is the relation between powerconnect and JMS? 322. what is surrogate key ? how many surrogate key used in ur dimensions?

323. in which particular situation we use dynamic lookup? 324. Is it possible to run one loading session with one particular target and mu ltiple types of data sources? 325. How to load data to target where the source and targets are XML'S? 326. Can we create duplicate rows in star schema? 327. what happens if the informatica server doesn't find the session parameter i n the parameter file? 328. How to call stored Procedure from Workflow monitor in Informatica 7.1 versi on 329. what r the types of target loads 330. what is suggested method for validating fields/marking them with errors? 331. In a flat file sql override will work r not? what is the extension of flatf ile. 332. is there any relationship between java & inforematica? 333. 1. what is DTM process?2. what r the output files that informatica creates during the session running?3. limitations of joiner transformations?under which conditi ons we can't use joiner transformation? 334. what r the advantages and disadvantagesof a star schema and snoflake schema.thanks in advance. 335. How many types of flatfiles available in Informatica? 336. Where persistent cache will be stored? 337. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOGICAL DESIGN AND PHYSICAL DESIGN INA DATAWAREHOUSE 338. what is the difference between constraind base load ordering and target loa d plan 339. Architectural diff b/w informatica 7.1 and 5.1? 340. What r the different threads in DTM process? 341. what is cost effective transformation b/w lookup and joiner 342. Why did you use stored procedure in your ETL Application? 343. What is the difference between PowerCenter 6 and powercenter 7? 344. Explain in detail about Key Range & Round Robin partition with an example. 345. what are the transformations that restrict the partitioning of sessions? *Advanced External procedure transformation and External procedure transformation: This Transformation contains a check box on the properties tab t o allow partitioning.*Aggregator Transformation: If y Asked by: satyaneerumalla Latest Answer: Advanced External procedure transformation and External procedure transformation: This Transformatio... 346. give me an scenario where flat files are used? 347. what is the use of Factless Facttable? 348. IS Router Transformation Active or Passive?Desc: RouT pass the rows by checking the condetion but IS Router Transformation Active or Passive?Desc: RouT pass the rows by checking the condetion but it never Rejects( Rejected Rows in Default target). so how ll u say it is active............ 349. what r the types of data flows in workflow manager 350. In workflow can we send multiple email 351. what is lookup transformation and update strategy transformation and explai n with an example.Thanks in Advance 352. Is it possible to refresh the Materialized view? 353. what is difference between COM & DCOM? 354. Where we use Star Schema & where Snowflake? 355. At what frequent u load the data? 356. What is Shortcut? What is use of it? 357. COMMITS: What is the use of Source-based commits ? PLease tell with an

example ? 358. What is SQL override? In which transformation we use override? 359. Can you update the Target table? 360. How to Generate the Metadata Reports in Informatica? 361. While importing the relational source definition from database, what are th e meta data of source U import? Source name Database location Column names Datatypes Key constraints 362. What is the use of incremental aggregation? Explain me in brief with an example. 363. what is difference between dimention table and fact table and what are diff erent dimention tables and fact tables 364. how to create a custom transformation, can u give a realtime example where exactly u have used it. just give some explanation why u used the custom transformation.thx in advance 365. How do we do complex mapping by using flatfiles / relational database? 366. if source qualifier having employee details.the empid is in 5th placle and deptno is in 7th column then. u selected sort by 2. but how the informatica server will come know that those r the fields to sort. 367. What is CDC? 368. If u had to split the source level key going into two seperate tables. One as surrogate and other as primary. Since informatica does not gurantee keys are loa ded properly(order!) into those tables. What are the different ways you could handle this type of situation? 369. What is the differance between Local and Global repositary? 370. what is bottleneck in informatica? 371. I am working on Infromatica. I want to do Certification in Infromatica desi gner. Can anybody please suggest me on how to start? 372. How can you say that union Transormation is Active transformation. 373. what is the basic language of informatica? 374. what is Partitioning ? where we can use Partition? wht is advantages?Is it nessisary? 375. how do we load data by using period dimension? 376. How can you improve the performance of Aggregate transformation? 377. why did u use update stategy in your application? 378. In update strategy target table or flat file which gives more performance ? why? 379. 1) How to load the data (like refresh load, quarterly load, hourly load etc )2) what is lookup ? (Lookup is a join is it wright or wrong)ub 380. What is the difference between materialized view and a data mart? Are they same? 381. What about rapidly changing dimensions?Can u analyze with an example? 382. Wht is incremental loading?Wht is versioning in 7.1? 383. what are the type costing functions in informatica 384. what is the repository agent? 385. what r the mapping specifications? how versionzing of repository objects? 386. Can any one please tell me the architecture of Informatica and please tell me the flow of data in Iinformatica? 387. what is the exact meaning of domain? 388. can u explain one critical mapping?2.performance issue which one is better? whether connected lookup tranformation or unconnected one?

389. can we eliminate duplicate rows by using filter and router transformation ? if so explain me in detail . 390. what are the difference between view and materialized view? 391. Differences between connected and unconnected lookup? Connected lookupUnconnected lookup Receives 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 s 392. What is Transaction? 393. What are Data driven Sessions? The informatica server follows instructions coded into update strategy transformations with in the session mapping to determine how to flag records for insert,update,delete or reject. If you do not ch 394. what is the architecture of any Data warehousing project? what is the flow? 395. How can I get distinct values while mapping in Informatica in insertion? 396. whats the diff between Informatica powercenter server, repositoryserver and repository? Powercenter server contains the sheduled runs at which time data should load fro m source to target Repository contains all the definitions of the mappings done in designer. 397. my source is having 1000 rows. i have brought 300 records into my ODS. so next time i want to load the remaining records. so i need to load from 301 th re cord. when ever i start the work flow again it will load from the begining. how do we solve this problem. thanks in advance kiran 398. what is surrogatekey ? In ur project in which situation u has used ? explai n with example ? 399. can we modify the data in flat file? 401. What is Datadriven 401. What is Datadriven? The informatica server follows instructions coded into update strategy transformations with in the session maping determine how to flag records for ins ert, update, delete or reject. If u do not choose 402. What is Data cleansing..? The process of finding and removing or correcting data that is incorrect, out-of -date, redundant, incomplete, or formatted incorrectly. 403. What is a view? How it is related to data independence?And what are the different types of views,and what is Materialize view 404. how u will create header and footer in target using informatica? 405. What is the difference between PowerCenter 7 and PowerCenter 8? 406. How to move the mapping from one database to another? 407. What is change data capture? 408. how do we do unit testing in informatica?how do we load data in informatica ? 409. How to use the unconnected lookup i.e., from where the input has to be take n and the output is linked?What condition is to be given? 410. How to join two tables without using the Joiner Transformation. 411. Can Informatica be used as a Cleansing Tool? If Yes, give example of transformations that can imple Can Informatica be used as a Cleansing Tool? If Yes, give example of transformat ions that can implement a data cleansing routine. 412. How do you decide whether you need ti do aggregations at database level or at

Informatica level? 413. How do we estimate the depth of the session scheduling queue? Where do we set the number of maximum concurrent sessions that Informatica can run at a give n time? 414. which is better among connected lookup and unconnected lookup transformations in informatica or any other ETL tool? 415. How to lookup the data on multiple tabels. 416. What is the procedure to load the fact table.Give in detail? 417. In a sequential Batch how can we stop single session? 418. How do you handle decimal places while importing a flatfile into informatic a? 419. With out using Updatestretagy and sessons options, how we can do the update our target table? 420. hello friends.Somebody ca explain me the 3 points:I want to Know :1) the differences between using 421. where do we use MQ series source qualifier, application multi group source qualifier. just give an where do we use MQ series source qualifier, application multi group source quali fier. just give an example for a better understandingthx in advance 422. What is meant by Junk Attribute in Informatica? 423. 1)What are the various test procedures used to check whether the data is loaded in the backend, performance of the mapping, and quality of the data loade d in INFORMATICA.2) What are the common problems developers face while ETL development 424. If you want to create indexes after the load process which transformation y ou choose?a) Filter Tranformationb) Aggregator Tranformationc) Stored procedure Tranformationd) Expression Tranformation 425. Where is the cache stored in informatica? 426. What will happen if you are using Update Strategy Transformation and your session is configured for "insert"?What are the types of External Loader availab le with Informatica?If you have rank index for top 10. However if you pass only 5 records, what will be the output of such a Rank Transformation? 427. how do u check the source for the latest records that are to be loaded into the target.i.e i have loaded some records yesterday, today again the file has been populated with some more records today, so how do i find the records populated today.thanks in advance 428. how can we join the tables if the tables have no primary and forien key rel ation and no matchig port to join? 429. if the workflow has 5 session and running sequentially and 3rd session hasb een failed how can we run again from only 3rd to 5th session? 430. how can we use pmcmd command in a workflow or to run a session 431. Can u tell me how to go for SCD's and its types.Where do we use them mostly 432. how is the union transformation active transformation? 433. why sorter transformation is an active transformation? 434. hi Gurus, I was working in SQL server, now i got an golden opertunity to wo rk in INFORMATICA. I have lots of (silly) Questions to build my Career, so pls guide m e properly. I will ask lots of questions....What is the process flow of informatic a, Thanks in advance 435. How to define Informatica server?

436. Can we use aggregator/active transformation after update strategy transformation 437. Two relational tables are connected to SQ Trans,what are the possible error s it will be thrown? 438. what is worklet and what use of worklet and in which situation we can use i t 439. can anyone explain about incremental aggregation with an example? 440. Partitioning, Bitmap Indexing (when to use), how will the bitmap indexing w ill effect the performan 441. 1]In certain mapping there are four targets tg1,tg2,tg3 and tg4.tg1 has a primary key,tg2 foreign k 1]In certain mapping there are four targets tg1,tg2,tg3 and tg4.tg1 has a primar y key,tg2 foreign key referencing the tg1's primary key,tg3 has primary key that t g2 and tg4 refers as foreign key,tg2 has foreign key referencing primary key of tg4 ,the order in which the informatica will load the target?2]How can I detect aggregate tranformation causing low performance? 442. what is tracing level? 443. there are 3 depts in dept table and one with 100 people and 2nd with 5 and 3rd with some 30 and so. i want to diplay those deptno where more than 10 people exi sts 444. what is rank transformation?where can we use this transformation? 445. How can we join 3 database like Flat File, Oracle, Db2 in Informatrica 446. Hi,In Power Center 7.1.2 how can we take a Backup of a Versioned Repository such that I get a Non-Versioned Repository when i restore it.I need a way to get a non-versioned repository from a versioned one.Creating a new Repository(NonVersioned) and then copying all the folders is an option.But is there any other better way...? 447. What is difference between partioning of relatonal target and partitioning of file targets? If u parttion a session with a relational target informatica server creates mult iple connections to the target database to write target data concurently.If u partiti on a session with a file target the 448. hwo can we eliminate duplicate rows from flat file? 449. How do we analyse the data at database level? 450. what is hash table informatica? 451. How to export mappings to the production environment? 452. can any one tell me how to run scd1 bec it create two target tables in mapp ing window and there are only one table in warehouse designer(means target).. so if we create one new table in target it gives error..thanks in advance 453. In my source table 1000 rec's r there.I want to load 501 rec to 1000 rec in to my Target table ?how can u do this ? 454. What are the properties should be notified when we connect the flat file so urce definition torelational database target definition? 455. I have a situation here to load the Table into informatica.I have 5 tempora ry

tables as sources. They look like:Table1: (K - Key, N-Null, X,Y,Z - values)K1 X N N N NK2 X N N N N--------------------------Table2: K1 N X N N NK2 N X N N N--------------------------the other 3 tables are in the same way. But there can be a situation like any of the table can contain duplicates like:K1 X N N N NK1 Y N N N N-------456. what are the different types of transformation available in informatica. an d what are the mostly us what are the different types of transformation available in informatica. and wha t are the mostly used ones among them 457. Can u generate reports in Informatcia? 458. what does the expression n filter transformations do in Informatica Slowly growing target wizard? 459. How to view and Generate Metadata Reports(for a particular session would li ke to generate a report which shows source table , source column and related target table , target column) in informatica? 460. What is the diff b/w Stored Proc (DB level) & Stored proc trans (INFORMATIC A level) ?again why should we use SP trans ? 461. Which tool U use to create and manage sessions and batches and to monitor and stop the informatica server? Informatica server manager. 462. What is meant by EDW? 463. what are the measure objects 464. what are the real time problems generally come up while doing/running mapping/any transformation?can any body explain with example. 465. how to load the data from people soft hrm to people soft erm using informat ica? 466. can batches be copied/stopped from server manager? 467. Can Informatica load heterogeneous targets from heterogeneous sources? 468. What is exact use of 'Online' and 'Offline' server connect Options while de fining Work flow in Work flow monitor? . The system hangs when 'Online' server connect option. The Informatica is installed on a Personal laptop. 469. while running multiple session in parallel which loads data in the same tab le, throughput of each session becomes very less and almost same for each session. How can we improve the performance (throughput) in such cases? 470. what are the enhancements made to Informatica 7.1.1 version when compared to 6.2.2 version? 471. explain use of update strategy transformation 472. what is polling? 473. what is the difference between stop and abort 474. How can you delete duplicate rows with out using Dynamic Lookup? Tell me an y other ways using lookup delete the duplicate rows? 475. Could anyone please tell me what are the steps required for type2 dimension/version data mapping. how can we implement it 476. what is the mapping for unit testing in Informatica, are there any other te stings in Informatica, and how we will do them as a etl developer. how do the testing p eople will do testing are there any specific tools for testing 477. Explain the informatica Architecture in detail 478. what happens if you try to create a shortcut to a non-shared folder? 479. In a joiner trasformation, you should specify the source with fewer rows as the

master source. Why? 480. What are the various test procedures used to check whether the data is load ed in the backend, performance of the mapping, and quality of the data loaded in INFORMATICA. 481. what are mapping parameters and varibles in which situation we can use it 482. Talk about the Kimball vs. Inmon approaches.Talk about the concepts of ODS and information factory.Talk about challenges of real-time load processing vs. b atch. 483. Waht are main advantages and purpose of using Normalizer Transformation in Informatica? 484. Can any one explain real time complain mappings or complex transformations in Informatica.Specially in Sales Domain. 485. Difference between Rank and Dense Rank? 486. hi everyone,can anyone explain error handling in informatica with examples so that it will be easy to explain the same in the interview. 487. how do you create a mapping using multiple lookup transformation? 488. what is mystery dimention? 489. What is the default source option for update stratgey transformation? Data driven. 490. At the max how many tranformations can be us in a mapping? 491. What is the difference between Narmal load and Bulk load? 492. Can i use a session Bulk loading option that time can i make a recovery to the session? 493. How do you configure mapping in informatica 494. I have an requirement where in the columns names in a table (Table A) shoul d appear in rows of target table (Table B) i.e. converting columns to rows. Is it possible through Informatica? If so, how? 495. what is meant by complex mapping, 496. What is Micro Strategy? Why is it used for? Can any one explain in detail a bout it? 497. what is a junk dimension 498. What is data merging, data cleansing, sampling? 499. what is difference b/w Informatica 7.1 and Abinitio 500. Can i start and stop single session in concurent bstch? 501. Differences between Normalizer and Normalizer transformation. 502. Difference between static cache and dynamic cache Static cache Dynamic cache U can not insert or update the cacheU can insert rows into the cache as u pass to the target The informatic server returns a value fro m the lookup table or cache when the co 503. How to perform a "Loop Scope / Loop condition" in an Informaticaprogram ? G ive me few examples . 504. can we run a group of sessions without using workflow manager 505. what are cost based and rule based approaches and the difference 506. What is the target load order? 507. what are partition points? 508. what is difference between lookup cashe and unchashed lookup?Can i run the mapping with out starting the informatica server? 509. hi all,can any one comment onsignificance of oracle 9i in informatica when compared to oracle 8 or 8i.i mean how is oracle 9i advantageous when compared to oracle 8 or 8i when used in informatica thanksKumar 510. What is IQD file?

511. hy,I want to prepare a questionnaire. The details about it are as follows: -1. Identify a large com hy,I want to prepare a questionnaire. The details about it are as follows: -1. I dentify a large company/organization that is a prime candidate for DWH project. (For examp le Telecommunication, an insurance company, banks, may be the prime candidate for this)2. Give at least four reasons for the selecting the organization.3. Prepare a questionnaire consisting of at least 15 non-trivial questions to collect requirements/information about the organization. This information is required to build data 512. what is the best way to show metadata(number of rows at source, target and each transformation level, error related data) in a report format 513. how to use mapping parameters and what is their use 514. How do I import VSAM files from source to target. Do I need a special plugi n 515. What is batch and describe about types of batches? Grouping of session is known as batch.Batches r two types Sequential: Runs sessi ons one after the other Concurrent: Runs session at same time. If u have sessions wi th source-target dependencies u have 516. How the informatica server increases the session performance through partitioning the source? For a relational sources informatica server creates multiple connections for eac h parttion of a single source and extracts seperate range of data for each connection.Informatica server reads multiple 517. What is the procedure or steps implementing versioning if you are already i n version7.X. Any gotcha\'s or precautions.. 518. Compare Data Warehousing Top-Down approach with Bottom-up approach Asked by: sarath 519. If you have four lookup tables in the workflow. How do you troubleshoot to improve performance? 520. If you are workflow is running slow in informatica. Where do you start trou ble shooting and what are the steps you follow 521. How to retrive the records from a rejected file. explane with syntax or exa mple 522. Can u copy the session to a different folder or repository? 523. What r the options in the target session of update strategy transsformatioi n? Insert Delete Update Update as update Update as insert Update esle insert Trunca te table 524. How many ways you can update a relational source defintion and what r they? Two ways 1. Edit the definition 2. Reimport the defintion 525. Discuss which is better among incremental load, Normal Load and Bulk load 526. In a filter expression we want to compare one date field with a db2 system field CURRENT DATE.Our Syntax: datefield = CURRENT DATE (we didn't define it by ports, its a system field ), but this is not valid (PMParser: Missing Operator)..Can so meone help us. Thanks 527. how to create the staging area in your database client having database throught that data base u get all sources

528. How can u work with remote database in informatica?did u work directly by using remote connections? To work with remote datasource u need to connect it with remote connections.But it is not preferable to work with that remote source directly by using remote connections .Instead u bring that source i 529. What is the difference between connected and unconnected stored procedures. 530. What r the tasks that source qualifier performs? 531. What r the types of groups in Router transformation? Input group Output group The designer copies property information from the input ports of the input group to create a set of output ports for each output group. Two types of output groups User defined 532. Which transformation should u need while using the cobol sources as source defintions? Normalizer transformaiton which is used to normalize the data.Since cobol source s r oftenly consists of Denormailzed data. 533. what r the settiings that u use to cofigure the joiner transformation? Master and detail source Type of join Condition of the join 534. What are various types of Aggregation? Various types of aggregation are SUM, AVG, COUNT, MAX, MIN, FIRST, LAST, MEDIAN, PERCENTILE, STDDEV, and VARIANCE. 535. Briefly explian the Versioning Concept in Power Center 7.1. 536. What r the methods for creating reusable transforamtions? Two methods 1.Design it in the transformation developer. 2.Promote a standard transformation from the mapping designer.After U add a transformation to the mapping , U can promote it to the status of r 537. What r the join types in joiner transformation? Normal (Default) Master outer Detail outer Full outer 538. What is power center repository? The PowerCenter repository allows you to share metadata across repositories to create a data mart domain. In a data mart domain, you can create a single global repository to store metadata used across 539. What r the types of metadata that stores in repository? Following r the types of metadata that stores in the repository Database connect ions Global objects Mappings Mapplets Multidimensional metadata Reusable transformations Sessions and batches Short cuts 540. What is parameter file? 541. Which transformation should we use to normalize the COBOL and relational sources? Normalizer Transformation. When U drag the COBOL source in to the mapping Designer workspace,the normalizer transformation automatically appears,creating input and output ports for every column in the 542. What is the Rankindex in Ranktransformation? The Designer automatically creates a RANKINDEX port for each Rank transformation . The Informatica Server uses the Rank Index port to store the ranking position fo r each record in a group. For example, 543. 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 Grow 544. How do we estimate the number of partitons that a mapping really requires? Is it dependent on the m How do we estimate the number of partitons that a mapping really requires? Is it

dependent on the machine configuration? 545. Define informatica repository? The Informatica repository is a relational database that stores information, or metadata, used by the Informatica Server and Client tools. Metadata can include information such as mappings describing 546. which objects are required by the debugger to create a valid debug session? 547. What r the different types of Type2 dimension maping? Type2 Dimension/Version Data Maping: In this maping the updated dimension in the source will gets inserted in target along with a new version number.And newly ad ded dimension in source will inserted i 548. How does the server recognise the source and target databases? 549. What is the limit to the number of sources and targets you can have in a mapping 550. Suppose session is configured with commit interval of 10,000 rows and sourc e has 50,000 rows. 552. After draging the ports of three sources(sql server,oracle,informix) to a s ingle source qualifier, can u map these three ports directly to target? NO.Unless and until u join those three ports in source qualifier u cannot map th em directly. 553. How the informatica server sorts the string values in Ranktransformation 554. What is the difference between summary filter and detail filter 555. How do you transfert the data from data warehouse to flatfile? 556. What r the tasks that Loadmanger process will do? 557. what is a time dimension? give an example. 558. What r the types of data that passes between informatica server and stored procedure? 559. Why we use partitioning the session in informatica? 560. What are 2 modes of data movement in Informatica Server? 561. Diff between informatica repositry server & informatica server 562. how can we partition a session in Informatica? 563. What is Load Manager? 564. What is Code Page Compatibility? 565. What is Code Page used for? 566. What r the rank caches? 567. What is the status code? 568. Describe two levels in which update strategy transformation sets? 569. What r the new features of the server manager in the informatica 5.0? 570. What is metadata reporter? 571. To achieve the session partition what r the necessary tasks u have to do? Configure the session to partition source data. Install the informatica server o n a machine with multiple CPU s. 572. Why u use repository connectivity? When u edit,schedule the sesion each time,informatica server directly communicat es the repository to check whether or not the session and users r valid.All the met adata of sessions and mappings will b 573. What is DTM process? 574. What r the data movement modes in informatcia? 576. In which circumstances that informatica server creates Reject files? 577. What is polling? 578. How many number of sessions that u can create in a batch? 579. When the informatica server marks that a batch is failed? If one of session is configured to "run if previous completes" and that previous session fails.

580. What is a command that used to run a batch? 581. In a sequential batch can u run the session if previous session fails? 582. Can u start a session inside a batch idividually? We can start our required session only in case of sequential batch.in case of concurrent batch we cant do like this. 583. What r the session parameters? 584. How can u access the remote source into U r session? 585. what r the transformations that restricts the partitioning of sessions? 586. What r the new features in Informatica 5.0? U can Debug U r maping in maping designer U can view the work space over the entire screen The designer displays a new icon for a invalid mapings in the navi gator window U can use a dynamic lookup cac 587. what is incremantal aggregation? 588. What r the scheduling options to run a sesion? 589. What is difference between stored procedure transformation and external procedure transformation? 590. Explain about Recovering sessions? 591. Explain about perform recovery? 592. How to recover the standalone session? 593. How can u recover the session in sequential batches? If you configure a session in a sequential batch to stop on failure, you can run recovery starting with the failed session. The Informatica Server completes the session and then runs the rest of the b 594. How to recover sessions in concurrent batches? If multiple sessions in a concurrent batch fail, you might want to truncate all targets and run the batch again. However, if a session in a concurrent batch fails and t he rest of the sessions complete 595. How can u complete unrcoverable sessions? Under certain circumstances, when a session does not complete, you need to truncate the target tables and run the session from the beginning. Run the sessi on from the beginning when the Informatica Se 596. What r the circumstances that infromatica server results an unreciverable session?

=================================== Informatica Interview questions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q3) Tell me what exactly, what was your role ? A3) I worked as ETL Developer. I was also involved in requirement gathering, dev eloping mappings, checking source data. I did Unit testing (using TOAD), helped in User Acceptance Testing. Q4) What kind of challenges did you come across in your project ? A4) Mostly the challenges were to finalize the requirements in such a way so tha t different stakeholders come to a common agreement about the scope and expectations from the project. Q5) Tell me what was the size of your database ? A5) Around 3 TB. There were other separate systems, but the one I was mainly usi ng was around 3 TB. Q6) what was the daily volume of records ? A6) It used to vary, We processed around 100K-200K records on a daily basis, on weekends, it used to be

higher sometimes around 1+ Million records. Q7) So tell me what were your sources ? A7) Our Sources were mainly flat files, relational databases. Q What tools did you use for FTP/UNIX ? A For UNIX, I used Open Source tool called Putty and for FTP, I used WINSCP, Fil ezilla. Q9) Tell me how did you gather requirements? A9) We used to have meetings and design sessions with end users. The users used to give us sketchy requirements and after that we used to do further analysis and used to create de tailed Requirement Specification Documents (RSD). Q10) Did you follow any formal process or methodology for Requirement gathering ? A10) As such we did not follow strict SDLC approach because requirement gatherin g is an iterative process. But after creating the detailed Requirement Specification Documents, we used to take User signoff. Q11) Tell me what are the steps involved in Application Development ? A11) In Application Development, we usually follow following steps: ADDTIP. a) A - Analysis or User Requirement Gathering b) D - Designing and Architecture c) D - Development d) T - Testing (which involves Unit Testing,System Integration Testing, UAT - User Acceptance Testing ) e) I - Implementation (also called deployment to production) f) P - Production Support / Warranty Q12) What are the drawbacks of Waterfall Approach ? A12) This approaches assumes that all the User Requirements will be perfect befo re start of design and development. That is not the case most of the time.Users can change their mi nd to add few more detailed requirements or worse change the requirements drastically. So in those cases thi s approach (waterfall) is likely to cause a delay in project which is a RISK to the project. Q13) what is mapping design document ? A13) In a mapping design document, we map source to target field, also document any special business logic that needs to be implemented in the mapping. Q14) What are diferent Data Warehousing Methodologies that you are familiar with ? A14) In Data Warehousing, two methodologies are poopulare, 1st one is Ralph Kimb al and 2nd one is Bill Inmon. We mainly followed Ralph Kimball's methodlogy in my last project. In this methodlogy, we have a fact tables in the middle, surrounded by dimension tables. This is also a basic STAR Schema which is the basic dimensional model. A Snowflake schema. In a snowflake schema, we normalize one of the dimension tab les. Q15) What do you do in Bill Inmon Approach ? A15) In Bill Inmon's approach, we try to create an Enterprise Data Warehouse usi ng 3rd NF, and then Data Marts are mainly STAR Schemas in 2nd NF. Q16) How many mappings have you done ? A16) I did over 35+ mappings, around 10+ were complex mappings. Q17) What are Test cases or how did you do testing of Informatica Mappings ? A17) Basically we take the SQL from Source Qualifier and check the source / targ et data in Toad.

Then we try to spot check data for various conditions according to mapping docum ent and look for any error in mappings. For example, there may be a condition that if customer account does not exist th en filter out that record and write it to a reject file. Q18) What are the other error handlings that you did in mappings? A18) I mainly looked for non-numeric data in numeric fields, layout of a flat fi le may be different. Also dates from flat file come as a string Q19) How did you debug your mappings ? A19) I used Informatica Debugger to check for any flags being set incorrectly. W e see if the logic / expressions are working or not. We may be expecting data We use Wizard to configure the debugger. Q20) Give me an example of a tough situation that you came across in Informatica Mappings and how did you handle it ? A20) Basically one of our colleagues had created a mapping that was using Joiner and mapping was taking a lot of time to run, but the Join was in such a way that we could do the Join at Data base Level (Oracle Level). So I suggested and implemented that change and it reduced the run time by 40%. Q21) Tell me what are various transformations that you have used ? A21) I have used Lookup, Joiner, Update Strategy, Aggregator, Sorter etc. Q22) How will you categorize various types of transformation ? A22) Transformations can be connected or unconnected. Active or passive. Q23) What are the different types of Transformations ? A23) Transformations can be active transformation or passive transformations. If the number of output rows are different than number of input rows then the transformation is an activ e transformation. Like a Filter / Aggregator Transformation. Filter Transformation can filter out some records based on condition defined in filter transformation. Similarly, in an aggregator transformation, number of output rows can be less th an input rows as after applying the aggregate function like SUM, we could have less records. Q24) What is a lookup transformation ? A24) We can use a Lookup transformation to look up data in a flat file or a rela tional table, view, or synonym. We can use multiple Lookup transformations in a mapping. The PowerCenter Server queries the lookup source based on the lookup ports in th e transformation. It compares Lookup transformation port values to lookup source c olumn values based on the lookup condition. We can use the Lookup transformation to perform many tasks, including: 1) Get a related value. 2) Perform a calculation. 3) Update slowly changing dimension tables. Q25) Did you use unconnected Lookup Transformation ? If yes, then explain. A25) Yes. An Unconnected Lookup receives input value as a result of :LKP Express ion in another transformation. It is not connected to any other transformation. Instead, it has input ports, output ports and a Return Port. An Unconnected Lookup can have ONLY ONE Return PORT. Q26) What is Lookup Cache ?

A26) The PowerCenter Server builds a cache in memory when it processes the first row of data in a cached Lookup transformation. It allocates the memory based on amount configured in the session. Default is 2M Bytes for Data Cache and 1M bytes for Index Cache. We can change the default Cache size if needed. Condition values are stored in Index Cache and output values in Data cache. Q27) What happens if the Lookup table is larger than the Lookup Cache ? A27) If the data does not fit in the memory cache, the PowerCenter Server stores the overflow values in the cache files. To avoid writing the overflow values to cache files, we can increase the default cache size. When the session completes, the PowerCenter Server releases cache memory and del etes the cache files. If you use a flat file lookup, the PowerCenter Server always caches the lookup s ource. Q28) What is meant by "Lookup caching enabled" ? A28) By checking "Lookup caching enabled" option, we are instructing Informatica Server to Cache lookup values during the session. Q29) What are the different types of Lookup ? A29) When configuring a lookup cache, you can specify any of the following optio ns: a) Persistent cache.You can save the lookup cache files and reuse them the next time the PowerCenter Server processes a Lookup transformation configured to use the cache . b) Recache from source. If the persistent cache is not synchronized with the loo kup table, you can configure the Lookup transformation to rebuild the lookup cache. c) Static cache. You can configure a static, or read-only, cache for any lookup source. By default, the PowerCenter Server creates a static cache. It caches the lookup file or table and looks up values in the cache for each row that comes into the transformation . When the lookup condition is true, the PowerCenter Server returns a value from t he lookup cache. The PowerCenter Server does not update the cache while it processes the L ookup transformation. d) Dynamic cache. If you want to cache the target table and insert new rows or u pdate existing rows in the cache and the target, you can create a Lookup transformatio n to use a dynamic cache. The PowerCenter Server dynamically inserts or updates data in the lookup cache a nd passes data to the target table. You cannot use a dynamic cache with a flat file lookup. e) Shared cache. You can share the lookup cache between multiple transformations . You can share an unnamed cache between transformations in the same mapping. You can shar e a named cache between transformations in the same or different mappings. Q30) What is a Router Transformation ? A30) A Router transformation is similar to a Filter transformation because both transformations allow you to use a condition to test data. A Filter transformation tests data fo

r one condition and drops the rows of data that do not meet the condition. However, a Router transformation tests data for one or more conditions and gives you the option to route rows of data that do not meet any of the conditions to a default output group. Q31) What is a sorter transformation ? A31) The Sorter transformation allows you to sort data. You can sort data in asc ending or descending order according to a specified sort key. You can also configure the S orter transformation for case-sensitive sorting, and specify whether the output rows s hould be distinct. The Sorter transformation is an active transformation. It must be connected to the data flow. Q32) What is a UNION Transformation ? A32) The Union transformation is a multiple input group transformation that you can use to merge data from multiple pipelines or pipeline branches into one pipeline branch . It merges data from multiple sources similar to the UNION ALL SQL statement to combine the results from two or more SQL statements. Similar to the UNION ALL statement, the Union transformation does not remove duplicate rows. You can connect heterogeneous sources to a Union transformation. The Union transformation merges sources with matching ports and outputs the data from one output group with the same ports as the input groups. Q33) What is Update Strategy ? A33) Update strategy is used to decide on how you will handle updates in your pr oject. When you design your data warehouse, you need to decide what type of information to store in targets. As part of your target table design, you need to determine whether t o maintain all the historic data or just the most recent changes. For example, you might have a target table, T_CUSTOMERS, that contains customer data. When a customer address changes, you may want to save the original address in th e table instead of updating that portion of the customer row. In this case, you would cr eate a new row containing the updated address, and preserve the original row with the old custo mer address. This illustrates how you might store historical information in a target table. H owever, if you want the T_CUSTOMERS table to be a snapshot of current customer data, you would update the existing customer row and lose the original address. The model you choose determines how you handle changes to existing rows. In PowerCenter, you set your update strategy at two different levels: 1) Within a session. When you configure a session, you can instruct the PowerCen ter Server to either treat all rows in the same way (for example, treat all rows as inserts ), or use instructions coded into the session mapping to flag rows for different database operations. 2) Within a mapping. Within a mapping, you use the Update Strategy transformatio n to flag rows for insert, delete, update, or reject. Note: You can also use the Custom transformation to flag rows for insert, delete

, update, or reject. Q34) Joiner transformation? A34) A Joiner transformation joins two related heterogenous sources residing in different location. The combination of sources can be varied like - two relational tables existing in seperate database. - two flat files in potentially different file systems. - two different ODBC sources. - two instances of the same XML sources. - a relational table and a flat file source. - a relational table ans a XML source. Q35) How many types of Joins can you use in a Joiner ? A35) There can be 4 types of joins a) Normal Join (Equi Join) b) Master Outer Join - In master outer join you get all rows from Detail table c) Detail Outer Join - In Detail Outer Join you get all rows from Master table d) FULL Outer Join Q36) What are Mapping Parameter & variables ? A36) We Use Mapping parameter and variables to make mappings more flexible. Value of a parameter does not change during session, whereas the value stored in a variable can change. Q37) TELL ME ABOUT PERFORMANCE TUNING IN INFORMATICA? A37) Basically Performance Tuning is an Iterative process, we can do lot of tuni ng at database level and if database queries are faster then Informatica workflows will be automatically faster. For Performance tuning, first we try to identify the source / target bottlenecks . Meaning that first we see what can be do so that Source data is being retrieved as fast possible. We try to filter as much data in SOURCE QUALIFIER as possible. If we have to use a filter then filtering records should be done as early in the mapping as possible. If we are using an aggregator transformation then we can pass the sorted input t o aggregator. We need to ideally sort the ports on which the GROUP BY is being done. Depending on data an unconnected Lookup can be faster than a connected Lookup. Also there should be as less transformations as possible. Also in Source Qualifi er, we should bring only the ports which are being used. For optimizing the TARGET, we can disable the constraints in PRE-SESSION SQL and use BULK LOADING. IF the TARGET Table has any indexes like primary key or any other indexes / cons traints then BULK Loading will fail. So in order to utilize the BULK Loading, we need to disable the index es. In case of Aggregator transformation, we can use incremental loading depending o n requirements. Q18) How did you do Error handling in Informatica ? A18) Typically we can set the error flag in mapping based on business requiremen ts and for each type of error, we can associate an error code and error description and write all errors to a s eparate error table so that we capture all rejects correctly. Also we need to capture all source fields in a ERR_DATA table so that if we need to correct the erroneous data fields and Re-RUN the corrected data if needed. Usually there could be a separate mapping to handle such error data file. Typical errors that we come across are 1) Non Numeric data in Numeric fields. 2) Incorrect Year / Months in Date fields from Flat files or varchar2 fields.

Q19) Did you work in Team Based environments ? A19) Yes, we had versioning enabled in Repository. Q12) What kind of workflows or tasks have you used ? A12) I have used session, email task, command task, event wait tasks. Q21) Explain the process that happens when a WORKFLOW Starts ? A21) when a workflow starts, the informatica server retrieves mappings, workflow s & session metadata from the repository to extract the data from the source, transform it & load it into Targ et. - it also runs the task in the workflow. - The informatica server uses load manager & Data Transformation manager (DTM) p rocess to run the workflow. - The informatica server can combine data from different platforms & source type s. For ex. joins data from flat file & an oracle source. It can also load data to different platforms & tar get types. For ex. can load, transform data to both a FF target & a MS SQL server db in same session. Q27) What all tasks can we perform in a Repository Manager ? A27) The Repository Manager allows you to navigate through multiple folders & re positories & perform basic repository tasks. Some examples of these tasks are: - Add or remove a repository - work with repository connections : can connect to one repo or multiple reposit ories. - view object dependencies : b4 you remove or change an object can view dependen cies to see the impact on other objects. - terminate user connections : can use the repo manager to view & terminate resi dual user connections - Exchange metadata with other BI tools : can export & import metadata from othe r BI tools like cognos, BO.. IN REPOSITORY MANAGER NAVIGATOR WINDOW, WE FIND OBJECTS LIKE : _ Repositories : can be standalone, local or global. - Deployment groups : contain collections of objects for deployment to another r epository in the domain. - Folders : can be non-shared. - Nodes : can inlcude sessions, sources, targets, transformation, mapplets, work flows, tasks, worklets & mappings. - Repository objects : same as nodes along with workflow logs & sessions logs. Q) Did you work on ETL strategy ? A) Yes, my Data modeler & ETL lead along with developers analysed & worked on de pendencies between tasks(workflows). well there are Push & Pull strategies which is used to determine how the data co mes from source systems to ETL server. Push strategy : with this strategy, the source system pushes data ( or send the data ) to the ETL server. Pull strategy : with this strategy, the ETL server pull the data(or gets the dat a) from the source system. Q20) How did you migrate from Dev environment to UAT / PROD Environment ? A20) We can do a folder copy or export the mapping in XML Format and then Import it another Repository or folder. In my last project we used Deployment groups. Q) External Scheduler ? A) with exteranal schedulers, we used to run informatica jobs like workflows usi ng pmcmd command in parallel with some oracle jobs like stored procedures. there were variuos kinds of external sc hedulers available in market like AUtosys, Maestro, Control M . So we can use for mix & match for informatica & oracle jobs using external schedulers.

Q10) What is a Slowly Changing Dimension ? A10) In a Data Warehouse, usually the updates in Dimension tables don't happen f requently. So if we want to capture changes to a dimension, we usually resolve it with Type 2 or Type 3 SCD. So basically we keep historical data with SCD. Q11) Explain SLOWLY CHANGING DIMENSION (SCD) Type, which one did you use ? A11) There are 3 ways to resolve SCD. First one is Type 1, in which we overwrite the changes, so we loose history. Type 1 OLD RECORD ========== Surr Dim Cust_Id Cust Name Key (Natural Key) ======== =============== ========================= 1 C01 ABC Roofing NEW RECORD ========== Surr Dim Cust_Id Cust Name Key (Natural Key) ======== =============== ========================= 1 C01 XYZ Roofing I mainly used Type 2 SCD. In Type 2 SCD, we keep effective date and expiration date. For older record, we update the exp date as the The current Date - 1, if the cha nges happened today. In the current Record, we keep Current Date as Surr Dim Cust_Id Cust Name Eff Date Exp Date Key (Natural Key) ======== =============== ========================= ========== ========= 1 C01 ABC Roofing 1/1/0001 12/31/9999 Suppose on 1st Oct, 2007 a small business name changes from ABC Roofing to XYZ R oofing, so if we want to store the old name, we will store data as below: Surr Dim Cust_Id Cust Name Eff Date Exp Date Key (Natural Key) ======== =============== ========================= ========== ========= 1 C01 ABC Roofing 1/1/0001 09/30/2007 101 C01 XYZ Roofing 10/1/2007 12/31/9999 We can implment TYPE 2 as a CURRENT RECORD FLAG Also In the current Record, we keep Current Date as Surr Dim Cust_Id Cust Name Current_Record Key (Natural Key) Flag ======== =============== ========================= ============== 1 C01 ABC Roofing Y Suppose on 1st Oct, 2007 a small business name changes from ABC Roofing to XYZ R oofing, so if we want to store the old name, we will store data as below: Surr Dim Cust_Id Cust Name Current_Record Key (Natural Key) Flag ======== =============== ========================= ============== 1 C01 ABC Roofing N 101 C01 XYZ Roofing Y Q3) What is a Mapplets? Can you use an active transformation in a Mapplet? A3) A mapplet has one input and output transformation and in between we can have various mappings. A mapplet is a reusable object that you create in the Mapplet

Designer. It contains a set of transformations and allows you to reuse that transformation logic in multiple mappings. Yes we can use active transformation in a Mapplet. 1)A data warehouse is a relational database that is designed for query and analy sis rather than for transaction processing. It usually contains historical data deri ved from transaction data, but it can include data from other sources. It separates analysis workload from transaction workload and enables an organization to consolidate data from several sources. In addition to a relational database, a data warehouse environment includes an extraction, transportation, transformation, and loading (ETL) solution, an onlin e analytical processing (OLAP) engine, client analysis tools, and other applicatio ns that manage the process of gathering data and delivering it to business users. A common way of introducing data warehousing is to refer to the characteristics of a data warehouse as set forth by William Inmon: Subject Oriented Integrated Nonvolatile Time Variant 2)Surrogate Key Data warehouses typically use a surrogate, (also known as artificial or identity key), key for the dimension tables primary keys. They can use Infa sequence gen erator, or Oracle sequence, or SQL Server Identity values for the surrogate key. There are actually two cases where the need for a "dummy" dimension key arises: 1) the fact row has no relationship to the dimension (as in your example), and 2) the dimension key cannot be derived from the source system data. 3)Facts & Dimensions form the heart of a data warehouse. Facts are the metrics t hat business users would use for making business decisions. Generally, facts are mere numbers. The facts cannot be used without their dimensions. Dimensions are those attributes that qualify facts. They give structure to the facts. Dimensio ns give different views of the facts. In our example of employee expenses, the e mployee expense forms a fact. The Dimensions like department, employee, and loca tion qualify it. This was mentioned so as to give an idea of what facts are. Facts are like skeletons of a body. Skin forms the dimensions. The dimensions give structure to the facts. The fact tables are normalized to the maximum extent. Whereas the Dimension tables are de-normalized since their growth would be very less. 4)Type 2 Slowly Changing Dimension In Type 2 Slowly Changing Dimension, a new record is added to the table to repre sent the new information. Therefore, both the original and the new record will b e present. The newe record gets its own primary key.Type 2 slowly changing dimen sion should be used when it is necessary for the data warehouse to track histori cal changes. SCD Type 2 Slowly changing dimension Type 2 is a model where the whole history is stored in the database. An additional dimension record is created and the segmenting betw een the old record values and the new (current) value is easy to extract and the history is clear. The fields 'effective date' and 'current indicator' are very often used in that dimension and the fact table usually stores dimension key and version number. 4)CRC Key Cyclic redundancy check, or CRC, is a data encoding method (noncryptographic) or iginally developed for detecting errors or corruption in data that has been tran smitted over a data communications line. During ETL processing for the dimension table, all relevant columns needed to de

termine change of content from the source system (s) are combined and encoded th rough use of a CRC algorithm. The encoded CRC value is stored in a column on the dimension table as operational meta data. During subsequent ETL processing cycl es, new source system(s) records have their relevant data content values combine d and encoded into CRC values during ETL processing. The source system CRC value s are compared against CRC values already computed for the same production/natur al key on the dimension table. If the production/natural key of an incoming sour ce record are the same but the CRC values are different, the record is processed as a new SCD record on the dimension table. The advantage here is that CRCs are small, usually 16 or 32 bytes in length, and easier to compare during ETL proce ssing versus the contents of numerous data columns or large variable length colu mns. 5)Data partitioning, a new feature added to SQL Server 2005, provides a way to d ivide large tables and indexes into smaller parts. By doing so, it makes the lif e of a database administrator easier when doing backups, loading data, recovery and query processing. Data partitioning improves the performance, reduces contention and increases ava ilability of data. Objects that may be partitioned are: ?? Base tables ?? Indexes (clustered and nonclustered) ?? Indexed views Q)Why we use stored procedure transformation? A Stored Procedure transformation is an important tool for populating and mainta ining databases . Database administrators create stored procedures to automate time-consuming ta sks that are too complicated for standard SQL statements. You might use stored procedures to do the following tasks: Check the status of a target database before loading data into it. Determine if enough space exists in a database. Perform a specialized calculation. Drop and recreate indexes. Q)What r the types of data that passes between informatica server and stored pro cedure? types of data Input/Out put parameters Return Values Status code. Q) What is source qualifier transformation? A) When you add a relational or a flat file source definition to a mapping, you need to connect it to a Source Qualifier transformation. The Source Qualifier represents the row s that the Informatica Server reads when it executes a session. The Transformation which Converts the source(relational or flat) datatype to Informatica datatype.So it works as an intemediator between and source and infor matica server. Tasks performed by qualifier transformation:1. Join data originating from the same source database. 2. Filter records when the Informatica Server reads source data. 3. Specify an outer join rather than the default inner join. 4. Specify sorted ports. 5. Select only distinct values from the source. 6. Create a custom query to issue a special SELECT statement for the Informatica Server to read source data =====================================