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Top 50 Informatica Interview Questions with Answers

1. What do you mean by Enterprise Data Warehousing?

When the organization data is created at a single point of access it is called as enterprise data
warehousing. Data can be provided with a global view to the server via a single source store.
One can do periodic analysis on that same source. It gives better results but however the time
required is high.

2. What the difference is between a database, a data warehouse and a data mart?

Database includes a set of sensibly affiliated data which is normally small in size as compared
to data warehouse. While in data warehouse there are assortments of all sorts of data and data
is taken out only according to the customer's needs. On the other hand datamart is also a set of
data which is designed to cater the needs of different domains. For instance an organization
having different chunk of data for its different departments i.e. sales, finance, marketing etc.

3. What is meant by a domain?

When all related relationships and nodes are covered by a sole organizational point, its called
domain. Through this data management can be improved.

4. What is the difference between a repository server and a powerhouse?

Repository server controls the complete repository which includes tables, charts, and various
procedures etc. Its main function is to assure the repository integrity and consistency. While a
powerhouse server governs the implementation of various processes among the factors of
server's database repository.

5. How many repositories can be created in informatica?

There can be any number of repositories in informatica but eventually it depends on number of

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ports.

6. What is the benefit of partitioning a session?

Partitioning a session means solo implementation sequences within the session. It's main
purpose is to improve server's operation and efficiency. Other transformations including
extractions and other outputs of single partitions are carried out in parallel.

7. How are indexes created after completing the load process?

For the purpose of creating indexes after the load process, command tasks at session level can
be used. Index creating scripts can be brought in line with the session's workflow or the post
session implementation sequence. Moreover this type of index creation cannot be controlled
after the load process at transformation level.

8. Explain sessions. Explain how batches are used to combine executions?

A teaching set that needs to be implemented to convert data from a source to a target is called
a session. Session can be carried out using the session's manager or pmcmd command. Batch
execution can be used to combine sessions executions either in serial manner or in a parallel.
Batches can have different sessions carrying forward in a parallel or serial manner.

9. How many number of sessions can one group in batches?

One can group any number of sessions but it would be easier for migration if the number of
sessions are lesser in a batch.

10. Explain the difference between mapping parameter and mapping variable?

When values change during the session's execution it's called a mapping variable. Upon
completion the Informatica server stores the end value of a variable and is reused when session
restarts. Moreover those values that do not change during the sessions execution are called
mapping parameters. Mapping procedure explains mapping parameters and their usage.
Values are allocated to these parameters before starting the session.

11.What is complex mapping?

Following are the features of complex mapping.

Difficult requirements
Many numbers of transformations
Complex business logic

12. How can one identify whether mapping is correct or not without connecting session?

One can find whether the session is correct or not without connecting the session is with the

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help of debugging option.

13. Can one use mapping parameter or variables created in one mapping into any other
reusable transformation?

Yes, One can do because reusable transformation does not contain any mapplet or mapping.

14. Explain the use of aggregator cache file?

Aggregator transformations are handled in chunks of instructions during each run. It stores
transitional values which are found in local buffer memory. Aggregators provides extra cache
files for storing the transformation values if extra memory is required.

15. Briefly describe lookup transformation?

Lookup transformations are those transformations which have admission right to RDBMS based
data set. The server makes the access faster by using the lookup tables to look at explicit table
data or the database. Concluding data is achieved by matching the look up condition for all look
up ports delivered during transformations.

16. What does role playing dimension mean?

The dimensions that are utilized for playing diversified roles while remaining in the same
database domain are called role playing dimensions.

17. How can repository reports be accessed without SQL or other transformations?

Ans:Repositoryreports are established by metadata reporter. There is no need of SQL or other

transformation since it is a web app.

18. What are the types of metadata that stores in repository?

The types of metadata includes Source definition, Target definition, Mappings, Mapplet,
Transformations.

19. Explain the code page compatibility?

When data moves from one code page to another provided that both code pages have the
same character sets then data loss cannot occur. All the characteristics of source page must be
available in the target page. Moreover if all the characters of source page are not present in the
target page then it would be a subset and data loss will definitely occur during transformation
due the fact the two code pages are not compatible.

20. How can you validate all mappings in the repository simultaneously?

All the mappings cannot be validated simultaneously because each time only one mapping can

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be validated.

21. Briefly explain the Aggregator transformation?

It allows one to do aggregate calculations such as sums, averages etc. It is unlike expression
transformation in which one can do calculations in groups.

22. Describe Expression transformation?

Values can be calculated in single row before writing on the target in this form of transformation.
It can be used to perform non aggregate calculations. Conditional statements can also be tested
before output results go to target tables.

23. What do you mean by filter transformation?

It is a medium of filtering rows in a mapping. Data needs to be transformed through filter

transformation and then filter condition is applied. Filter transformation contains all ports of
input/output, and the rows which meet the condition can only pass through that filter.

24. What is Joiner transformation?

Joiner transformation combines two affiliated heterogeneous sources living in different locations
while a source qualifier transformation can combine data emerging from a common source.

25. What is Lookup transformation?

It is used for looking up data in a relational table through mapping. Lookup definition from any
relational database is imported from a source which has tendency of connecting client and
server. One can use multiple lookup transformation in a mapping.

26. How Union Transformation is used?

Ans: It is a diverse input group transformation which can be used to combine data from
different sources. It works like UNION All statement in SQL that is used to combine result set of
two SELECT statements.

27. What do you mean Incremental Aggregation?

Option for incremental aggregation is enabled whenever a session is created for a mapping
aggregate. Power center performs incremental aggregation through the mapping and historical
cache data to perform new aggregation calculations incrementally.

28. What is the difference between a connected look up and unconnected look up?

When the inputs are taken directly from other transformations in the pipeline it is called
connected lookup. While unconnected lookup doesn't take inputs directly from other

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transformations, but it can be used in any transformations and can be raised as a function
using LKP expression. So it can be said that an unconnected lookup can be called multiple
times in mapping.

29. What is a mapplet?

A recyclable object that is using mapplet designer is called a mapplet. It permits one to reuse
the transformation logic in multitude mappings moreover it also contains set of transformations.

30.Briefly define reusable transformation?

Reusable transformation is used numerous times in mapping. It is different from other

mappings which use the transformation since it is stored as a metadata. The transformations
will be nullified in the mappings whenever any change in the reusable transformation is made.

31. What does update strategy mean, and what are the different option of it?

Row by row processing is done by informatica. Every row is inserted in the target table
because it is marked as default. Update strategy is used whenever the row has to be updated or
inserted based on some sequence. Moreover the condition must be specified in update strategy
for the processed row to be marked as updated or inserted.

32. What is the scenario which compels informatica server to reject files?

This happens when it faces DD_Reject in update strategy transformation. Moreover it disrupts
the database constraint filed in the rows was condensed.

33. What is surrogate key?

Surrogate key is a replacement for the natural prime key. It is a unique identification for each
row in the table. It is very beneficial because the natural primary key can change which
eventually makes update more difficult. They are always used in form of a digit or integer.

34.What are the prerequisite tasks to achieve the session partition?

In order to perform session partition one need to configure the session to partition source data
and then installing the Informatica server machine in multifold CPU's.

35. Which files are created during the session rums by informatics server?

During session runs, the files created are namely Errors log, Bad file, Workflow low and session
log.

36. Briefly define a session task?

It is a chunk of instruction the guides Power center server about how and when to transfer data

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from sources to targets.

37. What does command task mean?

This specific task permits one or more than one shell commands in UNIX or DOS in windows to
run during the workflow.

38. What is standalone command task?

This task can be used anywhere in the workflow to run the shell commands.

39. What is meant by pre and post session shell command?

Command task can be called as the pre or post session shell command for a session task. One
can run it as pre session command r post session success command or post session failure
command.

40.What is predefined event?

It is a file-watch event. It waits for a specific file to arrive at a specific location.

41. How can you define user defied event?

User defined event can be described as a flow of tasks in the workflow. Events can be created
and then raised as need arises.

42. What is a work flow?

Ans: Work flow is a bunch of instructions that communicates server about how to implement
tasks.

43. What are the different tools in workflow manager?

Following are the different tools in workflow manager namely

Task Designer
Task Developer
Workflow Designer

44. Tell me any other tools for scheduling purpose other than workflow manager
pmcmd?

The tool for scheduling purpose other than workflow manager can be a third party tool like
'CONTROL M'.

45. What is OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing?

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A method by which multi-dimensional analysis occurs.

46. What are the different types of OLAP? Give an example?

ROLAP eg.BO, MOLAP eg.Cognos, HOLAP, DOLAP

47. What do you mean by worklet?

When the workflow tasks are grouped in a set, it is called as worklet. Workflow tasks includes
timer, decision, command, event wait, mail, session, link, assignment, control etc.

48. What is the use of target designer?

Target Definition is created with the help of target designer.

49. Where can we find the throughput option in informatica?

Throughput option can be found in informatica in workflow monitor. In workflow monitor, right
click on session, then click on get run properties and under source/target statistics we can find
throughput option.

50. What is target load order?

Ans: Target load order is specified on the basis of source qualifiers in a mapping. If there are
multifold source qualifiers linked to different targets then one can entitle order in which
informatica server loads data into targets.

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