Informatica PowerCenter (Version 9.1.

0)

Getting Started

Informatica PowerCenter Getting Started

Version 9.1.0
March 2011
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Table of Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Informatica Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Informatica Customer Portal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Informatica Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Informatica Web Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Informatica How-To Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Informatica Knowledge Base. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Informatica Multimedia Knowledge Base. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Informatica Global Customer Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Chapter 1: Product Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Informatica Domain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Service Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Application Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
PowerCenter Repository. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Informatica Administrator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Domain Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Security Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Domain Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
PowerCenter Client. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
PowerCenter Designer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Mapping Architect for Visio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Repository Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Workflow Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Workflow Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
PowerCenter Repository Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
PowerCenter Integration Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Web Services Hub. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Data Analyzer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Data Analyzer Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Metadata Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Metadata Manager Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 2: Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Before You Begin Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Table of Contents

Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Using Informatica Administrator in the Tutorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Using the PowerCenter Client in the Tutorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Informatica Domain and the PowerCenter Repository. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Domain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Administrator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PowerCenter Repository and User Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PowerCenter Source and Target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Chapter 3: Tutorial Lesson 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Creating Users and Groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Logging In to Informatica Administrator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Creating a Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Creating a User. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Creating a Folder in the PowerCenter Repository. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Folder Permissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Connecting to the Repository. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Creating a Folder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Creating Source Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Chapter 4: Tutorial Lesson 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Creating Source Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Viewing Source Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Creating Target Definitions and Target Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Creating Target Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Creating Target Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Chapter 5: Tutorial Lesson 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Creating a Pass-Through Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Creating a Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting Transformations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Creating Sessions and Workflows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Configuring Database Connections in the Workflow Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Creating a Reusable Session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Creating a Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Running and Monitoring Workflows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Opening the Workflow Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Previewing Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Using Transformations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Creating a New Target Definition and Target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Creating a Target Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

ii

Table of Contents

Creating a Target Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Creating a Mapping with T_ITEM_SUMMARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Creating an Aggregator Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Creating an Expression Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Creating a Lookup Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Connecting the Target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Designer Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Using the Overview Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Arranging Transformations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Creating a Session and Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Creating the Session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Creating the Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Running the Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Viewing the Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Creating a Mapping with Fact and Dimension Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Creating Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Creating the Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Creating a Filter Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Creating a Sequence Generator Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Creating a Stored Procedure Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Completing the Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Creating a Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Creating the Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Adding a Non-Reusable Session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Defining a Link Condition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Running the Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Using XML Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Creating the XML Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Importing the XML Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Editing the XML Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Creating the Target Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Creating a Mapping with XML Sources and Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Creating an Expression Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Creating Router Transformations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Completing the Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Creating a Workflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Table of Contents

iii

Appendix A: Naming Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Suggested Naming Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Transformations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Mappings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Mapplets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Sessions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Worklets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Workflows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Appendix B: Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

iv

Table of Contents

Preface
PowerCenter Getting Started is written for the developers and software engineers who are responsible for
implementing a data warehouse. It provides a tutorial to help first-time users learn how to use PowerCenter.
PowerCenter Getting Started assumes you have knowledge of your operating systems, relational database
concepts, and the database engines, flat files, or mainframe systems in your environment. The guide also
assumes you are familiar with the interface requirements for your supporting applications.

Informatica Resources
Informatica Customer Portal
As an Informatica customer, you can access the Informatica Customer Portal site at
http://mysupport.informatica.com. The site contains product information, user group information, newsletters,
access to the Informatica customer support case management system (ATLAS), the Informatica How-To Library,
the Informatica Knowledge Base, the Informatica Multimedia Knowledge Base, Informatica Product
Documentation, and access to the Informatica user community.

Informatica Documentation
The Informatica Documentation team takes every effort to create accurate, usable documentation. If you have
questions, comments, or ideas about this documentation, contact the Informatica Documentation team through
email at [email protected]. We will use your feedback to improve our documentation. Let us
know if we can contact you regarding your comments.
The Documentation team updates documentation as needed. To get the latest documentation for your product,
navigate to Product Documentation from http://mysupport.informatica.com.

Informatica Web Site

You can access the Informatica corporate web site at http://www.informatica.com. The site contains information
about Informatica, its background, upcoming events, and sales offices. You will also find product and partner
information. The services area of the site includes important information about technical support, training and
education, and implementation services.

Informatica How-To Library

As an Informatica customer, you can access the Informatica How-To Library at http://mysupport.informatica.com.
The How-To Library is a collection of resources to help you learn more about Informatica products and features. It

includes articles and interactive demonstrations that provide solutions to common problems, compare features and
behaviors, and guide you through performing specific real-world tasks.

Informatica Knowledge Base

As an Informatica customer, you can access the Informatica Knowledge Base at http://mysupport.informatica.com.
Use the Knowledge Base to search for documented solutions to known technical issues about Informatica
products. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions, technical white papers, and technical tips. If
you have questions, comments, or ideas about the Knowledge Base, contact the Informatica Knowledge Base
team through email at [email protected].

Informatica Multimedia Knowledge Base

As an Informatica customer, you can access the Informatica Multimedia Knowledge Base at
http://mysupport.informatica.com. The Multimedia Knowledge Base is a collection of instructional multimedia files
that help you learn about common concepts and guide you through performing specific tasks. If you have
questions, comments, or ideas about the Multimedia Knowledge Base, contact the Informatica Knowledge Base
team through email at [email protected].

Informatica Global Customer Support

You can contact a Customer Support Center by telephone or through the Online Support. Online Support requires
a user name and password. You can request a user name and password at http://mysupport.informatica.com.
Use the following telephone numbers to contact Informatica Global Customer Support:
North America / South America

Europe / Middle East / Africa

Asia / Australia

Toll Free
Brazil: 0800 891 0202
Mexico: 001 888 209 8853
North America: +1 877 463 2435

Toll Free
France: 00800 4632 4357
Germany: 00800 4632 4357
Israel: 00800 4632 4357
Italy: 800 915 985
Netherlands: 00800 4632 4357
Portugal: 800 208 360
Spain: 900 813 166
Switzerland: 00800 4632 4357 or 0800 463
200
United Kingdom: 00800 4632 4357 or 0800
023 4632

Toll Free
Australia: 1 800 151 830
New Zealand: 1 800 151 830
Singapore: 001 800 4632 4357

Standard Rate
North America: +1 650 653 6332

Standard Rate
France: 0805 804632
Germany: 01805 702702
Netherlands: 030 6022 797

vi

Preface

Standard Rate
India: +91 80 4112 5738

CHAPTER 1

Product Overview
This chapter includes the following topics:
Introduction, 1
Informatica Domain, 3
PowerCenter Repository, 5
Informatica Administrator, 5
Domain Configuration, 6
PowerCenter Client, 7
PowerCenter Repository Service, 12
PowerCenter Integration Service, 13
Web Services Hub, 13
Data Analyzer, 14
Metadata Manager, 14

Introduction
PowerCenter provides an environment that allows you to load data into a centralized location, such as a data
warehouse or operational data store (ODS). You can extract data from multiple sources, transform the data
according to business logic you build in the client application, and load the transformed data into file and relational
targets.
PowerCenter also provides the ability to view and analyze business information and browse and analyze metadata
from disparate metadata repositories.
PowerCenter includes the following components:
Informatica domain. The Informatica domain is the primary unit for management and administration within

PowerCenter. The Service Manager runs on an Informatica domain. The Service Manager supports the domain
and the application services. Application services represent server-based functionality. The domain supports
PowerCenter and Informatica application services. PowerCenter application services include the PowerCenter
Repository Service, PowerCenter Integration Service, Web Services Hub, and SAP BW Service. Informatica
Services include the Data Integration Service, Model Repository Service, and the Analyst Service.
PowerCenter repository. The PowerCenter repository resides in a relational database. The repository

database tables contain the instructions required to extract, transform, and load data.
Informatica Administrator. Informatica Administrator is a web application that you use to administer the

Informatica domain and PowerCenter security.

 Domain configuration. The domain configuration is a set of relational database tables that stores the

configuration information for the domain. The Service Manager on the master gateway node manages the
domain configuration. The domain configuration is accessible to all gateway nodes in the domain.
PowerCenter Client. The PowerCenter Client is an application used to define sources and targets, build

mappings and mapplets with the transformation logic, and create workflows to run the mapping logic. The
PowerCenter Client connects to the repository through the PowerCenter Repository Service to modify
repository metadata. It connects to the Integration Service to start workflows.
PowerCenter Repository Service. The PowerCenter Repository Service accepts requests from the

PowerCenter Client to create and modify repository metadata and accepts requests from the Integration
Service for metadata when a workflow runs.
PowerCenter Integration Service. The PowerCenter Integration Service extracts data from sources and loads

data to targets.
Web Services Hub. Web Services Hub is a gateway that exposes PowerCenter functionality to external clients

through web services.

SAP BW Service. The SAP BW Service extracts data from and loads data to SAP NetWeaver BI. If you use

PowerExchange for SAP NetWeaver BI, you must create and enable an SAP BW Service in the Informatica
domain.
Reporting Service. The Reporting Service runs the Data Analyzer web application. Data Analyzer provides a

framework for creating and running custom reports and dashboards. You can use Data Analyzer to run the
metadata reports provided with PowerCenter, including the PowerCenter Repository Reports and Data Profiling
Reports. Data Analyzer stores the data source schemas and report metadata in the Data Analyzer repository.
Metadata Manager Service. The Metadata Manager Service runs the Metadata Manager web application. You

can use Metadata Manager to browse and analyze metadata from disparate metadata repositories. Metadata
Manager helps you understand and manage how information and processes are derived, how they are related,
and how they are used. Metadata Manager stores information about the metadata to be analyzed in the
Metadata Manager repository.
The following figure shows the PowerCenter components:

Chapter 1: Product Overview

Sources
PowerCenter accesses the following sources:
Relational. Oracle, Sybase ASE, Informix, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and Teradata.
File. Fixed and delimited flat file, COBOL file, XML file, and web log.
Application. You can purchase additional PowerExchange products to access business sources such as

Hyperion Essbase, WebSphere MQ, IBM DB2 OLAP Server, JMS, Microsoft Message Queue, PeopleSoft, SAP
NetWeaver, SAS, Siebel, TIBCO, and webMethods.
Mainframe. You can purchase PowerExchange to access source data from mainframe databases such as

Adabas, Datacom, IBM DB2 OS/390, IBM DB2 OS/400, IDMS, IDMS-X, IMS, and VSAM.
Other. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and external web services.

Targets
PowerCenter can load data into the following targets:
Relational. Oracle, Sybase ASE, Sybase IQ, Informix, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and Teradata.
File. Fixed and delimited flat file and XML.
Application. You can purchase additional PowerExchange products to load data into business sources such

as Hyperion Essbase, WebSphere MQ, IBM DB2 OLAP Server, JMS, Microsoft Message Queue, PeopleSoft
EPM, SAP NetWeaver, SAP NetWeaver BI, SAS, Siebel, TIBCO, and webMethods.
Mainframe. You can purchase PowerExchange to load data into mainframe databases such as IBM DB2 for z/

OS, IMS, and VSAM.

Other. Microsoft Access and external web services.

You can load data into targets using ODBC or native drivers, FTP, or external loaders.

Informatica Domain
PowerCenter has a service-oriented architecture that provides the ability to scale services and share resources
across multiple machines. The Informatica domain supports the administration of the PowerCenter and Informatica
services. A domain is the primary unit for management and administration of services in PowerCenter.
A domain contains the following components:
One or more nodes. A node is the logical representation of a machine in a domain. A domain may contain

more than one node. The node that hosts the domain is the master gateway for the domain. You can add other
machines as nodes in the domain and configure the nodes to run application services such as the Integration
Service or Repository Service. All service requests from other nodes in the domain go through the master
gateway.
A nodes runs service processes, which is the runtime representation of an application service running on a
node.
Service Manager. The Service Manager is built into the domain to support the domain and the application

services. The Service Manager runs on each node in the domain. The Service Manager starts and runs the
application services on a machine.
Application services. A group of services that represent Informatica server-based functionality. The

application services that run on each node in the domain depend on the way you configure the node and the
application service.

Informatica Domain

You use the Informatica Administrator to manage the domain.

A domain can be a mixed-version domain or a single-version domain. In a mixed-version domain, you can run
multiple versions of services. In a single-version domain, you can run one version of services.
If you have the high availability option, you can scale services and eliminate single points of failure for services.
The Service Manager and application services can continue running despite temporary network or hardware
failures. High availability includes resilience, failover, and recovery for services and tasks in a domain.
This domain has a master gateway on Node 1. Node 2 runs a PowerCenter Integration Service, and Node 3 runs
the PowerCenter Repository Service.

RELATED TOPICS:
Informatica Administrator on page 5

Service Manager
The Service Manager supports the domain and the application services. The Service Manager performs the
following functions:
Alerts. Provides notifications about domain and service events.
Authentication. Authenticates user requests from the Administrator tool, PowerCenter Client, Metadata

Manager, and Data Analyzer.

Authorization. Authorizes user requests for domain objects. Requests can come from the Administrator tool or

from infacmd.
Domain configuration. Manages domain configuration metadata.
Node configuration. Manages node configuration metadata.
Licensing. Registers license information and verifies license information when you run application services.
Logging. Provides accumulated log events from each service in the domain. You can view logs in the

Administrator tool and the Workflow Monitor.

User management. Manages users, groups, roles, and privileges.

Application Services
When you install Informatica, the installation program installs the following application services:
Analyst Service. Manages the connections to Informatica Analyst.
Data Integration Service. Performs data integration tasks for Informatica Analyst, Informatica Developer, and

external clients.
Model Repository Service. Stores metadata for Informatica Developer, Informatica Analyst, the Data

Integration Service, and the Informatica Administrator.

PowerCenter Repository Service. Manages connections to the PowerCenter repository.
PowerCenter Integration Service. Runs PowerCenter sessions and workflows.
Web Services Hub. Exposes PowerCenter functionality to external clients through web services.
SAP BW Service. Listens for RFC requests from SAP NetWeaver BI and initiates workflows to extract from or

load to SAP NetWeaver BI.

Reporting Service. Runs the Data Analyzer application.
Metadata Manager Service. Runs the Metadata Manager application.

Chapter 1: Product Overview

PowerCenter Repository
The PowerCenter repository resides in a relational database. The repository stores information required to extract,
transform, and load data. It also stores administrative information such as permissions and privileges for users and
groups that have access to the repository. PowerCenter applications access the PowerCenter repository through
the Repository Service.
You administer the repository through Informatica Administrator and command line programs.
You can develop global and local repositories to share metadata:
Global repository. The global repository is the hub of the repository domain. Use the global repository to store

common objects that multiple developers can use through shortcuts. These objects may include operational or
application source definitions, reusable transformations, mapplets, and mappings.
Local repositories. A local repository is any repository within the domain that is not the global repository. Use

local repositories for development. From a local repository, you can create shortcuts to objects in shared
folders in the global repository. These objects include source definitions, common dimensions and lookups, and
enterprise standard transformations. You can also create copies of objects in non-shared folders.
You can view repository metadata in the Repository Manager. Informatica Metadata Exchange (MX) provides a set
of relational views that allow easy SQL access to the PowerCenter metadata repository.
You can also create a Reporting Service in Informatica Administrator and run the PowerCenter Repository Reports
to view repository metadata.

Informatica Administrator
Informatica Administrator is a web application that you use to administer the PowerCenter domain and
PowerCenter security. You can also administer application services for the Informatica Analyst and Informatica
Developer. Application services for Informatica Analyst and Informatica Developer include the Analyst Service, the
Model Repository Service, and the Data Integration Service.

Domain Page
Administer the Informatica domain on the Domain page of the Administrator tool. Domain objects include services,
nodes, and licenses.
You can complete the following tasks in the Domain page:
Manage application services. Manage all application services in the domain, such as the Integration Service

and Repository Service.

Configure nodes. Configure node properties, such as the backup directory and resources. You can also shut

down and restart nodes.

Manage domain objects. Create and manage objects such as services, nodes, licenses, and folders. Folders

allow you to organize domain objects and manage security by setting permissions for domain objects.
View and edit domain object properties. View and edit properties for all objects in the domain, including the

domain object.
View log events. Use the Log Viewer to view domain, PowerCenter Integration Service, SAP BW Service,

Web Services Hub, and PowerCenter Repository Service log events.

PowerCenter Repository

 Generate and upload node diagnostics. You can generate and upload node diagnostics to the Configuration

Support Manager. In the Configuration Support Manager, you can diagnose issues in your Informatica
environment and maintain details of your configuration.
Other domain management tasks include applying licenses and managing grids and resources.

Security Tab
You administer PowerCenter security on the Security tab of Informatica Administrator. You manage users and
groups that can log in to the following PowerCenter applications:
Administrator tool
PowerCenter Client
Metadata Manager
Data Analyzer

You can also manager users and groups for the Informatica Developer and Informatica Analyst.
You can complete the following tasks in the Security page:
Manage native users and groups. Create, edit, and delete native users and groups.
Configure LDAP authentication and import LDAP users and groups. Configure a connection to an LDAP

directory service. Import users and groups from the LDAP directory service.
Manage roles. Create, edit, and delete roles. Roles are collections of privileges. Privileges determine the

actions that users can perform in PowerCenter applications.

Assign roles and privileges to users and groups. Assign roles and privileges to users and groups for the

domain, PowerCenter Repository Service, Metadata Manager Service, or Reporting Service.

Manage operating system profiles. Create, edit, and delete operating system profiles. An operating system

profile is a level of security that the Integration Services uses to run workflows. The operating system profile
contains the operating system user name, service process variables, and environment variables. You can
configure the Integration Service to use operating system profiles to run workflows.

Domain Configuration
The Service Manager maintains configuration information for an Informatica domain in relational database tables.
The configuration is accessible to all gateway nodes in the domain. The domain configuration database stores the
following types of information about the domain:
Domain configuration. Domain metadata such as the host names and the port numbers of nodes in the

domain. The domain configuration database also stores information on the master gateway node and all other
nodes in the domain.
Usage. Includes CPU usage for each application service and the number of Repository Services running in the

domain.
Users and groups. Information on the native and LDAP users and the relationships between users and groups.
Privileges and roles. Information on the privileges and roles assigned to users and groups in the domain.

Each time you make a change to the domain, the Service Manager updates the domain configuration database.
For example, when you add a node to the domain, the Service Manager adds the node information to the domain
configuration. All gateway nodes connect to the domain configuration database to retrieve the domain information
and to update the domain configuration.

Chapter 1: Product Overview

PowerCenter Client
The PowerCenter Client application consists of the tools to manage the repository and to design mappings,
mapplets, and sessions to load the data. The PowerCenter Client application has the following tools:
Designer. Use the Designer to create mappings that contain transformation instructions for the Integration

Service.
Mapping Architect for Visio. Use the Mapping Architect for Visio to create mapping templates that generate

multiple mappings.
Repository Manager. Use the Repository Manager to assign permissions to users and groups and manage

folders.
Workflow Manager. Use the Workflow Manager to create, schedule, and run workflows. A workflow is a set of

instructions that describes how and when to run tasks related to extracting, transforming, and loading data.
Workflow Monitor. Use the Workflow Monitor to monitor scheduled and running workflows for each Integration

Service.
Install the client application on a Microsoft Windows computer.

PowerCenter Designer
The Designer has the following tools that you use to analyze sources, design target schemas, and build source-totarget mappings:
Source Analyzer. Import or create source definitions.
Target Designer. Import or create target definitions.
Transformation Developer. Develop transformations to use in mappings. You can also develop user-defined

functions to use in expressions.

Mapplet Designer. Create sets of transformations to use in mappings.
Mapping Designer. Create mappings that the Integration Service uses to extract, transform, and load data.

You can display the following windows in the Designer:

Navigator. Connect to repositories and open folders within the Navigator. You can also copy objects and

create shortcuts within the Navigator.

Workspace. Open different tools in this window to create and edit repository objects, such as sources, targets,

mapplets, transformations, and mappings.

Output. View details about tasks you perform, such as saving your work or validating a mapping.

PowerCenter Client

The following figure shows the default Designer interface:

1. Navigator
2. Output
3. Workspace

Mapping Architect for Visio

Use Mapping Architect for Visio to create mapping templates using Microsoft Office Visio. When you work with a
mapping template, you use the following main areas:
Informatica stencil. Displays shapes that represent PowerCenter mapping objects. Drag a shape from the

Informatica stencil to the drawing window to add a mapping object to a mapping template.
Informatica toolbar. Displays buttons for tasks you can perform on a mapping template. Contains the online

help button.
Drawing window. Work area for the mapping template. Drag shapes from the Informatica stencil to the

drawing window and set up links between the shapes. Set the properties for the mapping objects and the rules
for data movement and transformation.

Chapter 1: Product Overview

The following figure shows the Mapping Architect for Visio interface:

1. Informatica Stencil
2. Informatica Toolbar
3. Drawing Window

Repository Manager
Use the Repository Manager to administer repositories. You can navigate through multiple folders and
repositories, and complete the following tasks:
Manage user and group permissions. Assign and revoke folder and global object permissions.
Perform folder functions. Create, edit, copy, and delete folders. Work you perform in the Designer and

Workflow Manager is stored in folders. If you want to share metadata, you can configure a folder to be shared.
View metadata. Analyze sources, targets, mappings, and shortcut dependencies, search by keyword, and view

the properties of repository objects.

The Repository Manager can display the following windows:
Navigator. Displays all objects that you create in the Repository Manager, the Designer, and the Workflow

Manager. It is organized first by repository and by folder.

Main. Provides properties of the object selected in the Navigator. The columns in this window change

depending on the object selected in the Navigator.

Output. Provides the output of tasks executed within the Repository Manager.

PowerCenter Client

The following figure shows the Repository Manager interface:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Status bar
Navigator
Output
Main

Repository Objects
You create repository objects using the Designer and Workflow Manager client tools. You can view the following
objects in the Navigator window of the Repository Manager:
Source definitions. Definitions of database objects such as tables, views, synonyms, or files that provide

source data.
Target definitions. Definitions of database objects or files that contain the target data.
Mappings. A set of source and target definitions along with transformations containing business logic that you

build into the transformation. These are the instructions that the Integration Service uses to transform and
move data.
Reusable transformations. Transformations that you use in multiple mappings.
Mapplets. A set of transformations that you use in multiple mappings.
Sessions and workflows. Sessions and workflows store information about how and when the Integration

Service moves data. A workflow is a set of instructions that describes how and when to run tasks related to
extracting, transforming, and loading data. A session is a type of task that you can put in a workflow. Each
session corresponds to a single mapping.

Workflow Manager
In the Workflow Manager, you define a set of instructions to execute tasks such as sessions, emails, and shell
commands. This set of instructions is called a workflow.
The Workflow Manager has the following tools to help you develop a workflow:
Task Developer. Create tasks you want to accomplish in the workflow.

10

Chapter 1: Product Overview

 Worklet Designer. Create a worklet in the Worklet Designer. A worklet is an object that groups a set of tasks.

A worklet is similar to a workflow, but without scheduling information. You can nest worklets inside a workflow.
Workflow Designer. Create a workflow by connecting tasks with links in the Workflow Designer. You can also

create tasks in the Workflow Designer as you develop the workflow.

When you create a workflow in the Workflow Designer, you add tasks to the workflow. The Workflow Manager
includes tasks, such as the Session task, the Command task, and the Email task so you can design a workflow.
The Session task is based on a mapping you build in the Designer.
You then connect tasks with links to specify the order of execution for the tasks you created. Use conditional links
and workflow variables to create branches in the workflow.
When the workflow start time arrives, the Integration Service retrieves the metadata from the repository to execute
the tasks in the workflow. You can monitor the workflow status in the Workflow Monitor.
The following figure shows the Workflow Manager interface:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Status bar
Navigator
Output
Main

Workflow Monitor
You can monitor workflows and tasks in the Workflow Monitor. You can view details about a workflow or task in
Gantt Chart view or Task view. You can run, stop, abort, and resume workflows from the Workflow Monitor. You
can view sessions and workflow log events in the Workflow Monitor Log Viewer.
The Workflow Monitor displays workflows that have run at least once. The Workflow Monitor continuously receives
information from the Integration Service and Repository Service. It also fetches information from the repository to
display historic information.
The Workflow Monitor consists of the following windows:
Navigator window. Displays monitored repositories, servers, and repositories objects.

PowerCenter Client

11

 Output window. Displays messages from the Integration Service and Repository Service.
Time window. Displays progress of workflow runs.
Gantt Chart view. Displays details about workflow runs in chronological format.
Task view. Displays details about workflow runs in a report format.

The following figure shows the Workflow Monitor interface:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Gantt chart view

Task view
Output window
Time window

PowerCenter Repository Service

The PowerCenter Repository Service manages connections to the PowerCenter repository from repository clients.
A repository client is any PowerCenter component that connects to the repository. The Repository Service is a
separate, multi-threaded process that retrieves, inserts, and updates metadata in the repository database tables.
The Repository Service ensures the consistency of metadata in the repository.
The Repository Service accepts connection requests from the following PowerCenter components:
PowerCenter Client. Create and store mapping metadata and connection object information in the repository

with the PowerCenter Designer and Workflow Manager. Retrieve workflow run status information and session
logs with the Workflow Monitor. Create folders, organize and secure metadata, and assign permissions to
users and groups in the Repository Manager.
Command line programs. Use command line programs to perform repository metadata administration tasks

and service-related functions.

12

Chapter 1: Product Overview

 PowerCenter Integration Service. When you start the PowerCenter Integration Service, the service connects

to the repository to schedule workflows. When you run a workflow, the Integration Service retrieves workflow
task and mapping metadata from the repository. The Integration Service writes workflow status to the
repository.
Web Services Hub. When you start the Web Services Hub, it connects to the repository to access web-

enabled workflows. The Web Services Hub retrieves workflow task and mapping metadata from the repository
and writes workflow status to the repository.
SAP BW Service. Listens for RFC requests from SAP NetWeaver BI and initiates workflows to extract from or

load to SAP NetWeaver BI.

You install the Repository Service when you install PowerCenter Services. After you install the PowerCenter
Services, you can use Informatica Administrator to manage the Repository Service.

PowerCenter Integration Service

The PowerCenter Integration Service reads workflow information from the repository. The Integration Service
connects to the repository through the Repository Service to fetch metadata from the repository.
A workflow is a set of instructions that describes how and when to run tasks related to extracting, transforming,
and loading data. The Integration Service runs workflow tasks. A session is a type of workflow task. A session is a
set of instructions that describes how to move data from sources to targets using a mapping.
A session extracts data from the mapping sources and stores the data in memory while it applies the
transformation rules that you configure in the mapping. The Integration Service loads the transformed data into the
mapping targets.
Other workflow tasks include commands, decisions, timers, pre-session SQL commands, post-session SQL
commands, and email notification.
The Integration Service can combine data from different platforms and source types. For example, you can join
data from a flat file and an Oracle source. The Integration Service can also load data to different platforms and
target types.
You install the PowerCenter Integration Service when you install PowerCenter Services. After you install the
PowerCenter Services, you can use Informatica Administrator to manage the Integration Service.

Web Services Hub

The Web Services Hub is the application service in the Informatica domain that is a web service gateway for
external clients. The Web Services Hub processes SOAP requests from client applications that access
PowerCenter functionality through web services. Web service clients access the PowerCenter Integration Service
and PowerCenter Repository Service through the Web Services Hub.
The Web Services Hub hosts the following web services:
Batch web services. Includes operations to run and monitor the sessions and workflows. Batch web services

also include operations that can access repository metadata. Batch web services install with PowerCenter.
Real-time web services. Workflows enabled as web services that can receive requests and generate

responses in SOAP message format. Create real-time web services when you enable PowerCenter workflows
as web services.

PowerCenter Integration Service

13

Use Informatica Administrator to configure and manage the Web Services Hub. Use the Web Services Hub
Console to view information about the web service and to download WSDL files to create web service clients.

Data Analyzer
Data Analyzer is a PowerCenter web application that provides a framework to extract, filter, format, and analyze
data stored in a data warehouse, operational data store, or other data storage models. The Reporting Service in
the Informatica domain runs the Data Analyzer application. You can create a Reporting Service in the
Administrator tool.
Design, develop, and deploy reports with Data Analyzer. Set up dashboards and alerts. You also use Data
Analyzer to run PowerCenter Repository Reports, Metadata Manager Reports, Data Profiling Reports. Data
Analyzer can access information from databases, web services, or XML documents. You can also set up reports to
analyze real-time data from message streams.
Data Analyzer maintains a repository to store metadata to track information about data source schemas, reports,
and report delivery.
If you have a PowerCenter data warehouse, Data Analyzer can read and import information about the
PowerCenter data warehouse directly from the PowerCenter repository. Data Analyzer also provides a
PowerCenter Integration utility that notifies Data Analyzer when a PowerCenter session completes. You can set up
reports in Data Analyzer to run when a PowerCenter session completes.

Data Analyzer Components

Data Analyzer includes the following components:
Data Analyzer repository. The Data Analyzer repository stores metadata about objects and processes that it

requires to handle user requests. The metadata includes information about schemas, user profiles,
personalization, reports and report delivery, and other objects and processes. You can use the metadata in the
repository to create reports based on schemas without accessing the data warehouse directly. Data Analyzer
connects to the repository through Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) drivers.
Application server. Data Analyzer uses a third-party application server to manage processes. The application

server provides services such as database access, server load balancing, and resource management.
Web server. Data Analyzer uses an HTTP server to fetch and transmit Data Analyzer pages to web browsers.
Data source. For analytic and operational schemas, Data Analyzer reads data from a relational database. It

connects to the database through JDBC drivers. For hierarchical schemas, Data Analyzer reads data from an
XML document. The XML document may reside on a web server or be generated by a web service operation.
Data Analyzer connects to the XML document or web service through an HTTP connection.

Metadata Manager
Informatica Metadata Manager is a PowerCenter web application to browse, analyze, and manage metadata from
disparate metadata repositories. Metadata Manager helps you understand how information and processes are
derived, how they are related, and how they are used.

14

Chapter 1: Product Overview

Metadata Manager extracts metadata from application, business intelligence, data integration, data modeling, and
relational metadata sources. Metadata Manager uses PowerCenter workflows to extract metadata from metadata
sources and load it into a centralized metadata warehouse called the Metadata Manager warehouse.
You can use Metadata Manager to browse and search metadata objects, trace data lineage, analyze metadata
usage, and perform data profiling on the metadata in the Metadata Manager warehouse. You can also create and
manage business glossaries. You can use Data Analyzer to generate reports on the metadata in the Metadata
Manager warehouse.
The Metadata Manager Service in the Informatica domain runs the Metadata Manager application. Create a
Metadata Manager Service in the Informatica Administrator to configure and run the Metadata Manager application.

Metadata Manager Components

The Metadata Manager web application includes the following components:
Metadata Manager Service. An application service in an Informatica domain that runs the Metadata Manager

application and manages connections between the Metadata Manager components. You create and configure
the Metadata Manager Service in the Administrator tool.
Metadata Manager application. Manages the metadata in the Metadata Manager warehouse. Create and load

resources in Metadata Manager. After you use Metadata Manager to load metadata for a resource, you can
use the Metadata Manager application to browse and analyze metadata for the resource. You can also create
custom models and manage security on the metadata in the Metadata Manager warehouse.
Metadata Manager Agent. Runs within the Metadata Manager application or on a separate machine. Metadata

Exchanges uses the Metadata Manager Agent to extract metadata from metadata sources and convert it to IME
interface-based format.
Metadata Manager repository. A centralized location in a relational database that stores metadata from

disparate metadata sources. The repository also stores Metadata Manager metadata and the packaged and
custom models for each metadata source type.
PowerCenter repository. Stores the PowerCenter workflows that extract source metadata from IME-based

files and load it into the Metadata Manager warehouse.

PowerCenter Integration Service. Runs the workflows that extract the metadata from IME-based files and

load it into the Metadata Manager warehouse.

PowerCenter Repository Service. Manages connections to the PowerCenter repository. The repository stores

the workflows that extract metadata from IME interface-based files.

Custom Metadata Configurator. Creates custom resource templates to extract metadata from metadata

sources for which Metadata Manager does not package a resource type.
The following figure shows the Metadata Manager components:

Metadata Manager

15

CHAPTER 2

Before You Begin

This chapter includes the following topics:
Before You Begin Overview, 16
Informatica Domain and the PowerCenter Repository, 17
PowerCenter Source and Target, 19

Before You Begin Overview

PowerCenter Getting Started provides lessons that introduce you to PowerCenter and how to use it to load
transformed data into file and relational targets. The lessons in this book are for PowerCenter beginners.
This tutorial walks you through the process of creating a data warehouse. The tutorial teaches you how to perform
the following tasks:
Create users and groups.
Add source definitions to the repository.
Create targets and add their definitions to the repository.
Map data between sources and targets.
Instruct the Integration Service to write data to targets.
Monitor the Integration Service as it writes data to targets.

In general, you can set the pace for completing the tutorial. However, you should complete an entire lesson in one
session. Each lesson builds on a sequence of related tasks.
For more information, case studies, and updates about using Informatica products, see the Informatica Knowledge
Base at http://mysupport.informatica.com.

Getting Started
The administrator must install and configure the PowerCenter Services and Client. Verify that the administrator
has completed the following steps:
Installed the PowerCenter Services and created an Informatica domain.
Created a PowerCenter repository.
Installed the PowerCenter Client.

You also need information to connect to the Informatica domain, the repository, and the source and the target
database tables. Use the tables in Informatica Domain and the PowerCenter Repository on page 17 to write

16

down the domain and repository information. Use the tables in PowerCenter Source and Target on page 19 to
write down the source and target connectivity information. Contact the administrator for the necessary information.
Before you begin the lessons, read Chapter 1, Product Overview on page 1. The product overview explains the
different components that work together to extract, transform, and load data.

Using Informatica Administrator in the Tutorial

Informatica Administrator is the administration tool for the Informatica domain. In this tutorial, use Informatica
Administrator to perform the following tasks:
Create a group with all privileges on a PowerCenter Repository Service. The privileges allow users to

design mappings and run workflows in the PowerCenter Client.

Create a user account and assign it to the group. The user inherits the privileges of the group.

Using the PowerCenter Client in the Tutorial

The PowerCenter Client consists of applications that you use to design mappings and mapplets, create sessions
and workflows to load the data, and monitor workflow progress.
In this tutorial, you learn about the following applications and tools:
PowerCenter Repository Manager. Create a folder in the Repository Manager to store the metadata you

create in the lessons.

PowerCenter Designer. Create the source and the target definitions. Create mappings that contain

transformation instructions for the PowerCenter Integration Service. In this tutorial, you learn about the
following tools in the Designer:
- Source Analyzer. Import or create source definitions.
- Target Designer. Import or create target definitions. You also create tables in the target database based on

the target definitions.

- Mapping Designer. Create mappings that the PowerCenter Integration Service uses to extract, transform,

and load data.

Workflow Manager. Create and run the workflows and the tasks in the Workflow Manager. A workflow is a set

of instructions that describes how and when to run tasks to extract, transform, and load data.
Workflow Monitor. Monitor scheduled and running workflows for each Integration Service.

Informatica Domain and the PowerCenter Repository

To use the lessons in this book, you need to connect to the Informatica domain and a PowerCenter repository in
the domain. Log in to Informatica Administrator using the default administrator account.

Domain
Use the tables in this section to record the domain connectivity and default administrator information. If necessary,
contact the Informatica administrator for the information.

Informatica Domain and the PowerCenter Repository

17

Use the following table to record the domain information:

Table 1. Informatica Domain Information
Domain
Domain Name
Gateway Host
Gateway Port

Administrator
Use the following table to record the information you need to connect to Informatica Administrator as the default
administrator:
Table 2. Default Administrator Login
Informatica Administrator
Default Administrator User Name

Administrator

Default Administrator Password

Use the default administrator account for the lessons Creating Users and Groups on page 21. For all other
lessons, you use the user account that you create in lesson Creating a User on page 23 to log in to the
PowerCenter Client.
Note: The default administrator user name is Administrator. If you do not have the password for the default
administrator, ask the Informatica administrator to provide this information or set up a domain administrator
account that you can use. Record the user name and password of the domain administrator.

PowerCenter Repository and User Account

Use the following table to record the information you need to connect to the PowerCenter repository in each
PowerCenter Client tool:
Table 3. PowerCenter Repository Login
PowerCenter Repository
Repository Name
User Name
Password
Security Domain

Native

Note: Ask the Informatica administrator to provide the name of a PowerCenter repository where you can create
the folder, mappings, and workflows in this tutorial. The user account you use to connect to the repository is the
user account you create in Creating a User on page 23.

18

Chapter 2: Before You Begin

PowerCenter Source and Target

In this tutorial, you create mappings to read data from relational tables, transform the data, and write the
transformed data to relational tables. The PowerCenter Client uses ODBC drivers to connect to the relational
tables.
You must have a relational database available and an ODBC data source to connect to the tables in the relational
database. You can use separate ODBC data sources to connect to the source tables and target tables.
Use the following table to record the information you need for the ODBC data sources:
Table 4. ODBC Data Source Information
Source Connection

Target Connection

ODBC Data Source Name

Database User Name
Database Password

Use the following table to record the information you need to create database connections in the Workflow
Manager:
Table 5. Workflow Manager Connectivity Information
Source Connection Object

Target Connection Object

Database Type
User Name
Password
Connect String
Code Page
Database Name
Server Name
Domain Name
Note: You may not need all properties in this table.

PowerCenter Source and Target

19

The following table lists the native connect string syntax to use for different databases:
Table 6. Native Connect String Syntax for Database Platforms

20

Database

Native Connect String

Example

IBM DB2

dbname

mydatabase

Informix

dbname@servername

mydatabase@informix

Microsoft SQL Server

servername@dbname

sqlserver@mydatabase

Oracle

dbname.world (same as TNSNAMES entry)

oracle.world

Sybase ASE

servername@dbname

sambrown@mydatabase

Teradata

Teradata* ODBC_data_source_name or
ODBC_data_source_name@db_name or
ODBC_data_source_name@db_user_name

TeradataODBC
TeradataODBC@mydatabase
TeradataODBC@sambrown

Chapter 2: Before You Begin

CHAPTER 3

Tutorial Lesson 1
This chapter includes the following topics:
Creating Users and Groups, 21
Creating a Folder in the PowerCenter Repository, 24
Creating Source Tables, 26

Creating Users and Groups

You need a user account to access the services and objects in the Informatica domain and to use the
PowerCenter Client. Users can perform tasks in PowerCenter based on the privileges and permissions assigned to
them.
When you install PowerCenter, the installer creates a default administrator user account. You can use the default
administrator account to initially log in to the Informatica domain and create PowerCenter services, domain
objects, and user accounts.
The privileges assigned to a user determine the task or set of tasks a user or group of users can perform in
PowerCenter applications. You can organize users into groups based on the tasks they are allowed to perform in
PowerCenter. Create a group and assign it a set of privileges. Then assign users who require the same privileges
to the group. All users who belong to the group can perform the tasks allowed by the group privileges.
In this lesson, you complete the following tasks:
1.

Log in to Informatica Administrator using the default administrator account.

If necessary, ask the PowerCenter administrator for the user name and password. Otherwise, ask the
PowerCenter administrator to complete the lessons in this chapter for you.

2.

In the Administrator tool, create the TUTORIAL group and assign privileges to the TUTORIAL group.

3.

Create a user account and assign the user to the TUTORIAL group.

4.

Log in to the PowerCenter Repository Manager using the new user account.

Logging In to Informatica Administrator

Use the default administrator user name and password you entered in Domain on page 17. Otherwise, ask the
Informatica administrator to perform the tasks in this section for you.
To log in to the Informatica Administrator:
1.

Open Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

21

2.

In the Address field, enter the following URL for the Informatica Administrator login page:
http://<host>:<port>/adminconsole

If you configure HTTPS for Informatica Administrator, the URL redirects to the HTTPS enabled site. If the
node is configured for HTTPS with a keystore that uses a self-signed certificate, a warning message appears.
To enter the site, accept the certificate. The Informatica Administrator login page appears.
3.

Enter the default administrator user name and password.

Use the Administrator user name and password you recorded in Administrator on page 18.

4.

Select Native.

5.

Click Login.

6.

If the Administration Assistant displays, click Administrator.

Creating a Group
In the following steps, you create a new group and assign privileges to the group.
To create the TUTORIAL group:
1.

In Informatica Administrator, click the Security tab.

2.

Click Groups Actions > Create Group.

3.

Enter the following information for the group.

4.

Property

Value

Name

TUTORIAL

Description

Group used for the PowerCenter tutorial.

Click OK to save the group.

The TUTORIAL group appears on the list of native groups in the Groups section of the Navigator. The details
for the new group displays in the right pane.

22

5.

Click the Privileges view.

6.

Click Edit.

Chapter 3: Tutorial Lesson 1

7.

In the Edit Roles and Privileges dialog box, click the Privileges tab.

8.

Expand the privileges list for the PowerCenter Repository Service that you plan to use.

9.

Click the box next to the Repository Service name to assign all privileges to the TUTORIAL group.

10.

Click OK.
Users in the TUTORIAL group now have the privileges to create workflows in any folder for which they have
read and write permission.

Creating a User
The final step is to create a user account and add the user to the TUTORIAL group. You use this user account
throughout the rest of this tutorial.
To create a new user:
1.

On the Security tab, click Users Actions > Create User.

2.

Enter a login name for the user account.

You use this user name when you log in to the PowerCenter Client to complete the rest of the tutorial.

3.

Enter a password and confirm.

You must retype the password. Do not copy and paste the password.

4.

Enter the full name of the user.

5.

Click OK to save the user account.

The details for the new user account displays in the right pane.

6.

Click the Overview tab.

7.

Click Edit.

8.

In the Edit Properties window, click the Groups tab.

9.

Select the group name TUTORIAL in the All Groups column and click Add.
The TUTORIAL group displays in Assigned Groups list.

10.

Click OK to save the group assignment.

The user account has all the privileges for the TUTORIAL group.

Creating Users and Groups

23

Creating a Folder in the PowerCenter Repository

In this section, you create a tutorial repository folder. You save all objects you create in the tutorial to this folder.
Folders provide a way to organize and store all metadata in the repository, including mappings, schemas, and
sessions. Folders are designed to be flexible to help you organize the repository logically. Each folder has a set of
properties you can configure to define how users access the folder. For example, you can create a folder that
allows all users to see objects within the folder, but not to edit them.

Folder Permissions
Permissions allow users to perform tasks within a folder. With folder permissions, you can control user access to
the folder and the tasks you permit them to perform.
Folder permissions work closely with privileges. Privileges grant access to specific tasks, while permissions grant
access to specific folders with read, write, and execute access. Folders have the following types of permissions:
Read permission. You can view the folder and objects in the folder.
Write permission. You can create or edit objects in the folder.
Execute permission. You can run or schedule workflows in the folder.

When you create a folder, you are the owner of the folder. The folder owner has all permissions on the folder
which cannot be changed.

Connecting to the Repository

To complete this tutorial, you need to connect to the PowerCenter repository.
To connect to the repository:
1.

Launch the PowerCenter Repository Manager.

2.

Click Repository > Add Repository.

The Add Repository dialog box appears.

3.

Enter the repository and user name.

Use the name of the repository in PowerCenter Repository and User Account on page 18.
Use the name of the user account you created in Creating a User on page 23.

4.

Click OK.
The repository appears in the Navigator.

5.

24

Click Repository > Connect or double-click the repository to connect.

Chapter 3: Tutorial Lesson 1

The Connect to Repository dialog box appears.

6.

In the connection settings section, click Add to add the domain connection information.
The Add Domain dialog box appears.

7.

Enter the domain name, gateway host, and gateway port number from Domain on page 17.

8.

Click OK.
If a message indicates that the domain already exists, click Yes to replace the existing domain.

9.

In the Connect to Repository dialog box, enter the password for the Administrator user.

10.

Select the Native security domain.

11.

Click Connect.

Creating a Folder
For this tutorial, you create a folder where you will define the data sources and targets, build mappings, and run
workflows in later lessons.
To create a new folder:
1.

In the Repository Manager, click Folder > Create.

2.

Enter your name prefixed by Tutorial_ as the name of the folder.

By default, the user account logged in is the owner of the folder and has full permissions on the folder.

3.

Click OK.
The Repository Manager displays a message that the folder has been successfully created.

4.

Click OK.

Creating a Folder in the PowerCenter Repository

25

The new folder appears as part of the repository.

5.

Exit the Repository Manager.

Creating Source Tables

Before you continue with the other lessons in this book, you need to create the source tables in the database. In
this section, you run an SQL script in the Target Designer to create sample source tables. The SQL script creates
sources with 7-bit ASCII table names and data.
When you run the SQL script, you create the following source tables:
CUSTOMERS
DEPARTMENT
DISTRIBUTORS
EMPLOYEES
ITEMS
ITEMS_IN_PROMOTIONS
JOBS
MANUFACTURERS
ORDERS
ORDER_ITEMS
PROMOTIONS
STORES

The Target Designer generates SQL based on the definitions in the workspace. Generally, you use the Target
Designer to create target tables in the target database. In this lesson, you use this feature to generate the source
tutorial tables from the tutorial SQL scripts that ship with the product. When you run the SQL script, you also
create a stored procedure that you will use to create a Stored Procedure transformation in another lesson.

26

Chapter 3: Tutorial Lesson 1

To create the sample source tables:

1.

Launch the Designer, double-click the icon for the repository, and log in to the repository.
Use your user profile to open the connection.

2.

Double-click the Tutorial_yourname folder.

3.

Click Tools > Target Designer to open the Target Designer.

4.

Click Targets > Create.

5.

Enter any name for the target and select any target type.

6.

Click Create.
An empty definition appears in the workspace. You must create a dummy target definition in order to access
the Generate/Execute SQL option.

7.

Click Done.

8.

Click Targets > Generate/Execute SQL.

The Database Object Generation dialog box gives you several options for creating tables.
9.
10.

Click the Connect button to connect to the source database.

Select the ODBC data source you created to connect to the source database.
Use the information you entered in PowerCenter Source and Target on page 19.

11.

Enter the database user name and password and click Connect.
You now have an open connection to the source database. When you are connected, the Disconnect button
appears and the ODBC name of the source database appears in the dialog box.

12.

Make sure the Output window is open at the bottom of the Designer.
If it is not open, click View > Output.

13.

Click the browse button to find the SQL file.

The SQL file is installed in the following directory:
C:\Program Files\Informatica PowerCenter\client\bin

14.

Select the SQL file appropriate to the source database platform you are using. Click Open.
Platform

File

Informix

smpl_inf.sql

Microsoft SQL Server

smpl_ms.sql

Oracle

smpl_ora.sql

Creating Source Tables

27

Platform

File

Sybase ASE

smpl_syb.sql

DB2

smpl_db2.sql

Teradata

smpl_tera.sql

Alternatively, you can enter the path and file name of the SQL file.
15.

Click Execute SQL file.

The database now executes the SQL script to create the sample source database objects and to insert values
into the source tables. While the script is running, the Output window displays the progress. The Designer
generates and executes SQL scripts in Unicode (UCS-2) format.

16.

28

When the script completes, click Disconnect, and click Close.

Chapter 3: Tutorial Lesson 1

CHAPTER 4

Tutorial Lesson 2
This chapter includes the following topics:
Creating Source Definitions, 29
Creating Target Definitions and Target Tables, 32

Creating Source Definitions

Now that you have added the source tables containing sample data, you are ready to create the source definitions
in the repository. The repository contains a description of source tables, not the actual data contained in them.
After you add these source definitions to the repository, you use them in a mapping.
To import the sample source definitions:
1.

In the Designer, click Tools > Source Analyzer to open the Source Analyzer.

2.

Double-click the tutorial folder to view its contents.

Every folder contains nodes for sources, targets, schemas, mappings, mapplets, cubes, dimensions and
reusable transformations.

3.

Click Sources > Import from Database.

4.

Select the ODBC data source to access the database containing the source tables.

5.

Enter the user name and password to connect to this database. Also, enter the name of the source table
owner, if necessary.
Use the database connection information you entered in PowerCenter Source and Target on page 19.

29

In Oracle, the owner name is the same as the user name. Make sure that the owner name is in all caps. For
example, JDOE.

6.

Click Connect.

7.

In the Select tables list, expand the database owner and the TABLES heading.
If you click the All button, you can see all tables in the source database.
A list of all the tables you created by running the SQL script appears in addition to any tables already in the
database.

8.

Select the following tables:

CUSTOMERS
DEPARTMENT
DISTRIBUTORS
EMPLOYEES
ITEMS
ITEMS_IN_PROMOTIONS
JOBS
MANUFACTURERS
ORDERS
ORDER_ITEMS
PROMOTIONS
STORES

Hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple tables. Or, hold down the Shift key to select a block of tables. You
may need to scroll down the list of tables to select all tables.
Note: Database objects created in Informix databases have shorter names than those created in other types
of databases. For example, the name of the table ITEMS_IN_PROMOTIONS is shortened to
ITEMS_IN_PROMO.

30

Chapter 4: Tutorial Lesson 2

9.

Click OK to import the source definitions into the repository.

The Designer displays the newly imported sources in the workspace. You can click Layout > Scale to Fit to fit
all the definitions in the workspace.

A new database definition (DBD) node appears under the Sources node in the tutorial folder. This new entry
has the same name as the ODBC data source to access the sources you just imported. If you double-click the
DBD node, the list of all the imported sources appears.

Viewing Source Definitions

You can view details for each source definition.
To view a source definition:
1.

Double-click the title bar of the source definition for the EMPLOYEES table to open the EMPLOYEES source
definition.
The Edit Tables dialog box appears and displays all the properties of this source definition. The Table tab
shows the name of the table, business name, owner name, and the database type. You can add a comment in
the Description section.

2.

Click the Columns tab.

The Columns tab displays the column descriptions for the source table.

Creating Source Definitions

31

Note: The source definition must match the structure of the source table. Therefore, you must not modify
source column definitions after you import them.

3.

Click the Metadata Extensions tab.

Metadata extensions allow you to extend the metadata stored in the repository by associating information with
individual repository objects. For example, you can store contact information, such as name or email address,
with the sources you create.
In this lesson, you create user-defined metadata extensions that define the date you created the source
definition and the name of the person who created the source definition.

4.

Click the Add button to add a metadata extension.

5.

Name the new row SourceCreationDate and enter todays date as the value.

6.

Click the Add button to add another metadata extension and name it SourceCreator.

7.

Enter your first name as the value in the SourceCreator row.

8.

Click Apply.

9.

Click OK to close the dialog box.

10.

Click Repository > Save to save the changes to the repository.

Creating Target Definitions and Target Tables

You can import target definitions from existing target tables, or you can create the definitions and then generate
and run the SQL to create the target tables. In this lesson, you create a target definition in the Target Designer,
and then create a target table based on the definition.

Creating Target Definitions

The next step is to create the metadata for the target tables in the repository. The actual tables that the target
definitions describe do not exist yet.
Target definitions define the structure of tables in the target database, or the structure of file targets the Integration
Service creates when you run a session. If you add a relational target definition to the repository that does not

32

Chapter 4: Tutorial Lesson 2

exist in a database, you need to create target table. You do this by generating and executing the necessary SQL
code within the Target Designer.
In the following steps, you copy the EMPLOYEES source definition into the Target Designer to create the target
definition. Then, you modify the target definition by deleting and adding columns to create the definition you want.
To create the T_EMPLOYEES target definition:
1.

In the Designer, click Tools > Target Designer to open the Target Designer.

2.

Drag the EMPLOYEES source definition from the Navigator to the Target Designer workspace.
The Designer creates a new target definition, EMPLOYEES, with the same column definitions as the
EMPLOYEES source definition and the same database type.
Next, modify the target column definitions.

3.

Double-click the EMPLOYEES target definition to open it.

4.

Click Rename and name the target definition T_EMPLOYEES.

Note: If you need to change the database type for the target definition, you can select the correct database
type when you edit the target definition.

5.

Click the Columns tab.

The target column definitions are the same as the EMPLOYEES source definition.

1. Add button.
2. Delete button.

6.

Select the JOB_ID column and click the delete button.

7.

Delete the following columns:

ADDRESS1
ADDRESS2
CITY
STATE
POSTAL_CODE
HOME_PHONE

Creating Target Definitions and Target Tables

33

 EMAIL

When you finish, the target definition should look similar to the following target definition:

Note: that the EMPLOYEE_ID column is a primary key. The primary key cannot accept null values. The
Designer selects Not Null and disables the Not Null option. You now have a column ready to receive data
from the EMPLOYEE_ID column in the EMPLOYEES source table.
Note: If you want to add a business name for any column, scroll to the right and enter it.
8.

Click OK to save the changes and close the dialog box.

9.

Click Repository > Save.

Creating Target Tables

Use the Target Designer to run an existing SQL script to create target tables.
Note: When you use the Target Designer to generate SQL, you can choose to drop the table in the database
before creating it. To do this, select the Drop Table option. If the target database already contains tables, make
sure it does not contain a table with the same name as the table you plan to create. If the table exists in the
database, you lose the existing table and data.
To create the target T_EMPLOYEES table:
1.

In the workspace, select the T_EMPLOYEES target definition.

2.

Click Targets > Generate/Execute SQL.

The Database Object Generation dialog box appears.

3.

In the File Name field, enter the following text:

C:\<the installation directory>\MKT_EMP.SQL

If you installed the PowerCenter Client in a different location, enter the appropriate drive letter and directory.

34

4.

If you are connected to the source database from the previous lesson, click Disconnect, and then click
Connect.

5.

Select the ODBC data source to connect to the target database.

Chapter 4: Tutorial Lesson 2

6.

Enter the necessary user name and password, and then click Connect.

7.

Select the Create Table, Drop Table, Foreign Key and Primary Key options.

8.

Click the Generate and Execute button.

To view the results, click the Generate tab in the Output window.
To edit the contents of the SQL file, click the Edit SQL File button.
The Designer runs the DDL code needed to create T_EMPLOYEES.

9.

Click Close to exit.

Creating Target Definitions and Target Tables

35

CHAPTER 5

Tutorial Lesson 3
This chapter includes the following topics:
Creating a Pass-Through Mapping, 36
Creating Sessions and Workflows, 39
Running and Monitoring Workflows, 45

Creating a Pass-Through Mapping

In the previous lesson, you added source and target definitions to the repository. You also generated and ran the
SQL code to create target tables.
The next step is to create a mapping to depict the flow of data between sources and targets. For this step, you
create a Pass-Through mapping. A Pass-Through mapping inserts all the source rows into the target.
To create and edit mappings, you use the Mapping Designer tool in the Designer. The mapping interface in the
Designer is component based. You add transformations to a mapping that depict how the Integration Service
extracts and transforms data before it loads a target.
The following figure shows a mapping between a source and a target with a Source Qualifier transformation:

1. Output port.
2. Input/Output port.
3. Input port.

36

The source qualifier represents the rows that the Integration Service reads from the source when it runs a session.
If you examine the mapping, you see that data flows from the source definition to the Source Qualifier
transformation to the target definition through a series of input and output ports.
The source provides information, so it contains only output ports, one for each column. Each output port is
connected to a corresponding input port in the Source Qualifier transformation. The Source Qualifier
transformation contains both input and output ports. The target contains input ports.
When you design mappings that contain different types of transformations, you can configure transformation ports
as inputs, outputs, or both. You can rename ports and change the datatypes.

Creating a Mapping
In the following steps, you create a mapping and link columns in the source EMPLOYEES table to a Source
Qualifier transformation.
To create a mapping:
1.

Click Tools > Mapping Designer to open the Mapping Designer.

2.

In the Navigator, expand the Sources node in the tutorial folder, and then expand the DBD node containing
the tutorial sources.

3.

Drag the EMPLOYEES source definition into the Mapping Designer workspace.
The Designer creates a new mapping and prompts you to provide a name.

4.

In the Mapping Name dialog box, enter m_PhoneList as the name of the new mapping and click OK.
The naming convention for mappings is m_MappingName.

Creating a Pass-Through Mapping

37

The source definition appears in the workspace. The Designer creates a Source Qualifier transformation and
connects it to the source definition.

5.

Expand the Targets node in the Navigator to open the list of all target definitions.

6.

Drag the T_EMPLOYEES target definition into the workspace.

The target definition appears. The final step is to connect the Source Qualifier transformation to the target
definition.

Connecting Transformations
The port names in the target definition are the same as some of the port names in the Source Qualifier
transformation. When you need to link ports between transformations that have the same name, the Designer can
link them based on name.
In the following steps, you use the autolink option to connect the Source Qualifier transformation to the target
definition.
To connect the Source Qualifier transformation to the target definition:
1.

Click Layout > Autolink.

The Auto Link dialog box appears.

2.

Select T_EMPLOYEES in the To Transformations field. Verify that SQ_EMPLOYEES is in the From
Transformation field.

3.

Autolink by name and click OK.

The Designer links ports from the Source Qualifier transformation to the target definition by name. A link
appears between the ports in the Source Qualifier transformation and the target definition.

38

Chapter 5: Tutorial Lesson 3

Note: When you need to link ports with different names, you can drag from the port of one transformation to a
port of another transformation or target. If you connect the wrong columns, select the link and press the
Delete key.
4.

Click Layout > Arrange.

5.

In the Select Targets dialog box, select the T_EMPLOYEES target, and click OK.
The Designer rearranges the source, Source Qualifier transformation, and target from left to right, making it
easy to see how one column maps to another.

6.

Drag the lower edge of the source and Source Qualifier transformation windows until all columns appear.

7.

Click Repository > Save to save the new mapping to the repository.

Creating Sessions and Workflows

A session is a set of instructions that tells the Integration Service how to move data from sources to targets. A
session is a task, similar to other tasks available in the Workflow Manager. You create a session for each mapping
that you want the Integration Service to run. The Integration Service uses the instructions configured in the
session and mapping to move data from sources to targets.
A workflow is a set of instructions that tells the Integration Service how to execute tasks, such as sessions, email
notifications, and shell commands. You create a workflow for sessions you want the Integration Service to run.
You can include multiple sessions in a workflow to run sessions in parallel or sequentially. The Integration Service
uses the instructions configured in the workflow to run sessions and other tasks.
The following figure shows a workflow with multiple branches and tasks:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Start task.
Session task.
Assignment task.
Command task.

You create and maintain tasks and workflows in the Workflow Manager.
In this lesson, you create a session and a workflow that runs the session. Before you create a session in the
Workflow Manager, you need to configure database connections in the Workflow Manager.

Configuring Database Connections in the Workflow Manager

Before you can create a session, you need to provide the Integration Service with the information it needs to
connect to the source and target databases. Configure database connections in the Workflow Manager. Database
connections are saved in the repository.
To define a database connection:
1.

Launch Workflow Manager.

2.

In the Workflow Manager, select the repository in the Navigator, and then click Repository > Connect.

Creating Sessions and Workflows

39

3.

Enter a user name and password to connect to the repository and click Connect.
The native security domain is selected by default.

4.

Click Connections > Relational.

The Relational Connection Browser dialog box appears.

5.

Click New in the Relational Connection Browser dialog box.

The Select Subtype dialog box appears.

6.

Select the appropriate database type and click OK.

The Connection Object Definition dialog box appears with options appropriate to the selected database
platform.

7.

In the Name field, enter TUTORIAL_SOURCE as the name of the database connection.
The Integration Service uses this name as a reference to this database connection.

8.

Enter the user name and password to connect to the database.

9.

Select a code page for the database connection.

The source code page must be a subset of the target code page.

10.

In the Attributes section, enter the database name.

11.

Enter additional information necessary to connect to this database, such as the connect string, and click OK.
Use the database connection information you created for the source database.
TUTORIAL_SOURCE now appears in the list of registered database connections in the Relational Connection
Browser dialog box.

12.

Repeat steps 5 to 10 to create another database connection called TUTORIAL_TARGET for the target
database.
The target code page must be a superset of the source code page.
Use the database connection information you created for the target database.
When you finish, TUTORIAL_SOURCE and TUTORIAL_TARGET appear in the list of registered database
connections in the Relational Connection Browser dialog box.

13.

Click Close.

You have finished configuring the connections to the source and target databases. The next step is to create a
session for the mapping m_PhoneList.

Creating a Reusable Session

You can create reusable or non-reusable sessions in the Workflow Manager. Create reusable sessions in the Task
Developer. When you create a reusable session, you can use it in multiple workflows. Create non-reusable
sessions in the Workflow Designer. When you create a non-reusable session, you can use it only in that workflow.
In the following steps, you create a reusable session that uses the mapping m_PhoneList. Then, you create a
workflow that uses the reusable session.
To create the session:

40

1.

In the Workflow Manager Navigator, double-click the tutorial folder to open it.

2.

Click Tools > Task Developer to open the Task Developer.

3.

Click Tasks > Create.

Chapter 5: Tutorial Lesson 3

The Create Task dialog box appears.

4.

Select Session as the task type to create.

5.

Enter s_PhoneList as the session name and click Create.

The Mappings dialog box appears.

6.

Select the mapping m_PhoneList and click OK.

The Workflow Manager creates a reusable Session task in the Task Developer workspace.

7.

Click Done in the Create Task dialog box.

8.

In the workspace, double-click s_PhoneList to open the session properties.

The Edit Tasks dialog box appears. You use the Edit Tasks dialog box to configure and edit session
properties, such as source and target database connections, performance properties, log options, and
partitioning information. In this lesson, you use most default settings. You select the source and target
database connections.

9.

Click the Mapping tab.

Creating Sessions and Workflows

41

10.

Select Sources in the Transformations pane on the left.

1. Browse connection button.

11.

In the Connections settings on the right, click the Browse Connections button in the Value column for the
SQ_EMPLOYEES - DB Connection.
The Relational Connection Browser appears.

12.

Select TUTORIAL_SOURCE and click OK.

13.

Select Targets in the Transformations pane.

14.

In the Connections settings, click the Edit button in the Value column for the T_EMPLOYEES - DB Connection.
The Relational Connection Browser appears.

42

15.

Select TUTORIAL_TARGET and click OK.

16.

Click the Properties tab.

17.

Select a session sort order associated with the Integration Service code page.

Chapter 5: Tutorial Lesson 3

For English data, use the Binary sort order.

These are the session properties you need to define for this session.
18.

Click OK to close the session properties with the changes you made.

19.

Click Repository > Save to save the new session to the repository.

You have created a reusable session. The next step is to create a workflow that runs the session.

Creating a Workflow
You create workflows in the Workflow Designer. When you create a workflow, you can include reusable tasks that
you create in the Task Developer. You can also include non-reusable tasks that you create in the Workflow
Designer.
In the following steps, you create a workflow that runs the session s_PhoneList.
To create a workflow:
1.

Click Tools > Workflow Designer.

2.

In the Navigator, expand the tutorial folder, and then expand the Sessions node.

3.

Drag the session s_PhoneList to the Workflow Designer workspace.

Creating Sessions and Workflows

43

The Create Workflow dialog box appears.

1. Browse Integration Services button.

4.

Enter wf_PhoneList as the name for the workflow.

The naming convention for workflows is wf_WorkflowName.

5.

Click the Browse Integration Services button to choose an Integration Service to run the workflow.
The Integration Service Browser dialog box appears.

44

6.

Select the appropriate Integration Service and click OK.

7.

Click the Properties tab to view the workflow properties.

8.

Enter wf_PhoneList.log for the workflow log file name.

Chapter 5: Tutorial Lesson 3

9.

Click the Scheduler tab.

1. Edit Scheduler button.

By default, the workflow is scheduled to run on demand. The Integration Service only runs the workflow when you manually start the
workflow. You can configure workflows to run on a schedule. For example, you can schedule a workflow to run once a day or run on
the last day of the month. Click the Edit Scheduler button to configure schedule options.

10.

Accept the default schedule for this workflow.

11.

Click OK to close the Create Workflow dialog box.

The Workflow Manager creates a new workflow in the workspace, including the reusable session you added.
All workflows begin with the Start task, but you need to instruct the Integration Service which task to run next.
To do this, you link tasks in the Workflow Manager.
Note: You can click Workflows > Edit to edit the workflow properties at any time.

12.

Click Tasks > Link Tasks.

13.

Drag from the Start task to the Session task.

14.

Click Repository > Save to save the workflow in the repository.

You can now run and monitor the workflow.

Running and Monitoring Workflows

When the PowerCenter Integration Service runs workflows, you can monitor workflow progress in the Workflow
Monitor. You can view details about a workflow or task in either a Gantt Chart view or a Task view. You can start,
stop, and abort workflows from the Workflow Monitor. The Workflow Monitor displays workflows that have run at
least once.
In the following steps, you run a workflow and monitor it.

Running and Monitoring Workflows

45

Opening the Workflow Monitor

You can configure the Workflow Manager to open the Workflow Monitor when you run a workflow from the
Workflow Manager.
You can also open the Workflow Monitor from the Workflow Manager Navigator or from the Windows Start menu.
To configure the Workflow Manager to open the Workflow Monitor:
1.

In the Workflow Manager, click Tools > Options.

2.

In the General tab, select Launch Workflow Monitor When Workflow Is Started.

3.

Click OK.

Next, you run the workflow and open the Workflow Monitor.

Previewing Data
You can preview the data that the PowerCenter Integration Service loaded in the target.
To preview relational target data:
1.

Open the Designer.

2.

Click on the Mapping Designer button.

3.

In the mapping m_PhoneList, right-click the target definition, T_EMPLOYEES and choose Preview Data.
The Preview Data dialog box appears.

4.

In the ODBC data source field, select the data source name that you used to create the target table.

5.

Enter the database username, owner name and password.

6.

Enter the number of rows you want to preview.

7.

Click Connect.
The Preview Data dialog box displays the data as that you loaded to T_EMPLOYEES.

8.

Click Close.
You can preview relational tables, fixed-width and delimited flat files, and XML files with the Preview Data
option.

46

Chapter 5: Tutorial Lesson 3

CHAPTER 6

Tutorial Lesson 4
This chapter includes the following topics:
Using Transformations, 47
Creating a New Target Definition and Target, 49
Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values, 51
Designer Tips, 58
Creating a Session and Workflow, 59

Using Transformations
In this lesson, you create a mapping that contains a source, multiple transformations, and a target.
A transformation is a part of a mapping that generates or modifies data. Every mapping includes a Source
Qualifier transformation, representing all data read from a source and temporarily stored by the Integration
Service. In addition, you can add transformations that calculate a sum, look up a value, or generate a unique ID
before the source data reaches the target.
The following table lists the transformations displayed in the Transformation toolbar in the Designer:
Transformation

Description

Aggregator

Performs aggregate calculations.

Application Source Qualifier

Represents the rows that the Integration Service reads from an application, such as an
ERP source, when it runs a workflow.

Application Multi-Group Source

Qualifier

Represents the rows that the Integration Service reads from an application, such as a
TIBCO source, when it runs a workflow. Sources that require an Application Multi-Group
Source Qualifier can contain multiple groups.

Custom

Calls a procedure in a shared library or DLL.

Expression

Calculates a value.

External Procedure

Calls a procedure in a shared library or in the COM layer of Windows.

Filter

Filters data.

Input

Defines mapplet input rows. Available in the Mapplet Designer.

47

Transformation

Description

Joiner

Joins data from different databases or flat file systems.

Lookup

Looks up and returns values from a relational table or a file.

MQ Source Qualifier

Represents the rows that the Integration Service reads from an WebSphere MQ source
when it runs a workflow.

Normalizer

Source qualifier for COBOL sources. Can also use in the pipeline to normalize data from
relational or flat file sources.

Output

Defines mapplet output rows. Available in the Mapplet Designer.

Rank

Limits records to a top or bottom range.

Router

Routes data into multiple transformations based on group conditions.

Sequence Generator

Generates primary keys.

Sorter

Sorts data based on a sort key.

Source Qualifier

Represents the rows that the Integration Service reads from a relational or flat file source
when it runs a workflow.

SQL

Runs SQL queries to insert, modify, or delete data in a relational database.

Stored Procedure

Calls a stored procedure.

Transaction Control

Defines commit and rollback transactions.

Union

Merges data from multiple databases or flat file systems.

Update Strategy

Determines whether to insert, delete, update, or reject records.

XML Source Qualifier

Represents the rows that the Integration Service reads from an XML source when it runs
a workflow.

Note: The Advanced Transformation toolbar contains transformations such as Java, SQL, and XML Parser
transformations.
In this lesson, you complete the following tasks:
1.

Create a new target definition to use in a mapping, and create a target table based on the new target
definition.

2.

Create a mapping using the new target definition. Add the following transformations to the mapping:
Lookup transformation. Finds the name of a manufacturer.
Aggregator transformation. Calculates the maximum, minimum, and average price of items from each

manufacturer.
Expression transformation. Calculates the average profit of items, based on the average price.

48

3.

Learn some tips for using the Designer.

4.

Create a session and workflow to run the mapping, and monitor the workflow in the Workflow Monitor.

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

Creating a New Target Definition and Target

Before you create the mapping in this lesson, you need to design a target that holds summary data about products
from various manufacturers. This table includes the maximum and minimum price for products from a given
manufacturer, an average price, and an average profit.
After you create the target definition, you create the table in the target database.

Creating a Target Definition

To create the target definition in this lesson, you copy the MANUFACTURERS source definition into the Target
Designer. Then, you modify the target definition by adding columns to create the definition you want.
Note: You can also manually create a target definition, import the definition for an existing target from a database,
or create a relational target from a transformation in the Designer.
To create the new target definition:
1.

Open the Designer, connect to the repository, and open the tutorial folder.

2.

Click Tools > Target Designer.

3.

Drag the MANUFACTURERS source definition from the Navigator to the Target Designer workspace.
The Designer creates a target definition, MANUFACTURERS, with the same column definitions as the
MANUFACTURERS source definition and the same database type.
Next, you add target column definitions.

4.

Double-click the MANUFACTURERS target definition to open it.

The Edit Tables dialog box appears.

5.

Click Rename and name the target definition T_ITEM_SUMMARY.

6.

Optionally, change the database type for the target definition. You can select the correct database type when
you edit the target definition.

7.

Click the Columns tab.

The target column definitions are the same as the MANUFACTURERS source definition.

8.

For the MANUFACTURER_NAME column, change precision to 72, and clear the Not Null column.

9.

Add the following columns with the Money datatype, and select Not Null:
MAX_PRICE
MIN_PRICE
AVG_PRICE
AVG_PROFIT

Use the default precision and scale with the Money datatype. If the Money datatype does not exist in the
database, use Number (p,s) or Decimal. Change the precision to 15 and the scale to 2.

Creating a New Target Definition and Target

49

10.

Click Apply.

11.

Click the Indexes tab to add an index to the target table.

If the target database is Oracle, skip to the final step. You cannot add an index to a column that already has
the PRIMARY KEY constraint added to it.

12.

In the Indexes section, click the Add button.

13.

Enter IDX_MANUFACTURER_ID as the name of the new index, and then press Enter.

14.

Select the Unique index option.

15.

In the Columns section, click Add.

The Add Column To Index dialog box appears. It lists the columns you added to the target definition.

50

16.

Select MANUFACTURER_ID and click OK.

17.

Click OK to save the changes to the target definition, and then click Repository > Save.

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

Creating a Target Table

In the following steps, you use the Designer to generate and execute the SQL script to create a target table based
on the target definition you created.
To create the table in the database:
1.

Select the table T_ITEM_SUMMARY, and then click Targets > Generate/Execute SQL.

2.

In the Database Object Generation dialog box, connect to the target database.

3.

Click Generate from Selected tables, and select the Create Table, Primary Key, and Create Index options.
Leave the other options unchanged.

4.

Click Generate and Execute.

The Designer notifies you that the file MKT_EMP.SQL already exists.

5.

Click OK to override the contents of the file and create the target table.
The Designer runs the SQL script to create the T_ITEM_SUMMARY table.

6.

Click Close.

Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values

In the next step, you create a mapping with the following mapping logic:
Finds the most expensive and least expensive item in the inventory for each manufacturer. Use an Aggregator

transformation to perform these calculations.

Calculates the average price and profitability of all items from a given manufacturer. Use an Aggregator and an

Expression transformation to perform these calculations.

You need to configure the mapping to perform both simple and aggregate calculations. For example, use the MIN
and MAX functions to find the most and least expensive items from each manufacturer.

Creating a Mapping with T_ITEM_SUMMARY

First, create a mapping with the target definition you just created.
To create the new mapping:
1.

Switch from the Target Designer to the Mapping Designer.

2.

Click Mappings > Create.

3.

When prompted to close the current mapping, click Yes.

4.

In the Mapping Name dialog box, enter m_ItemSummary as the name of the mapping.

5.

From the list of sources in the tutorial folder, drag the ITEMS source definition into the mapping.

6.

From the list of targets in the tutorial folder, drag the T_ITEM_SUMMARY target definition into the mapping.

Creating an Aggregator Transformation

Next, add an Aggregator transformation to calculate the average, maximum, and minimum prices of items from
each manufacturer.

Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values

51

To add the Aggregator transformation:

1.

Click Transformation > Create to create an Aggregator transformation.

2.

Click Aggregator and name the transformation AGG_PriceCalculations. Click Create, and then click Done.
The naming convention for Aggregator transformations is AGG_TransformationName.
The Mapping Designer adds an Aggregator transformation to the mapping.

3.

Click Layout > Link Columns.

When you drag ports from one transformation to another, the Designer copies the port description and links
the original port to its copy.
If you click Layout > Copy Columns, every port you drag is copied, but not linked.

4.

From the Source Qualifier transformation, drag the PRICE column into the Aggregator transformation.
A copy of the PRICE port now appears in the new Aggregator transformation. The new port has the same
name and datatype as the port in the Source Qualifier transformation.
The Aggregator transformation receives data from the PRICE port in the Source Qualifier transformation. You
need this information to calculate the maximum, minimum, and average product price for each manufacturer.

5.

Drag the MANUFACTURER_ID port into the Aggregator transformation.

You need another input port, MANUFACTURER_ID, to provide the information for the equivalent of a GROUP
BY statement. By adding this second input port, you can define the groups (in this case, manufacturers) for
the aggregate calculation. This organizes the data by manufacturer.

6.

Double-click the Aggregator transformation, and then click the Ports tab.

7.

Clear the Output (O) column for PRICE.

You want to use this port as an input (I) only, not as an output (O). Later, you use data from PRICE to
calculate the average, maximum, and minimum prices.

8.

Select the Group By option for the MANUFACTURER_ID column.

9.

Click the Add button three times to add three new ports.
When you select the Group By option for MANUFACTURER_ID, the Integration Service groups all incoming
rows by manufacturer ID when it runs the session.

52

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

10.

Configure the following ports:

Name

Datatype

Precision

Scale

OUT_MIN_PRICE

Decimal

19

No

Yes

No

OUT_MAX_PRICE

Decimal

19

No

Yes

No

OUT_AVG_PRICE

Decimal

19

No

Yes

No

Tip: You can select each port and click the Up and Down buttons to position the output ports after the input
ports in the list.
11.

Click Apply to save the changes.

Entering an Aggregate Calculation

Now, you need to enter the expressions for all three output ports, using the functions MAX, MIN, and AVG to
perform aggregate calculations.
To enter the first aggregate calculation:
1.

Click the open button in the Expression column of the OUT_MAX_PRICE port to open the Expression Editor.

2.

Delete the text OUT_MAX_PRICE.

The Formula section of the Expression Editor displays the expression as you develop it. Use other sections of
this dialog box to select the input ports to provide values for an expression, enter literals and operators, and
select functions to use in the expression.
3.

Double-click the Aggregate heading in the Functions section of the dialog box.
A list of all aggregate functions now appears.

4.

Double-click the MAX function on the list.

The MAX function appears in the window where you enter the expression. To perform the calculation, you
need to add a reference to an input port that provides data for the expression.

5.

Move the cursor between the parentheses next to MAX.

6.

Click the Ports tab.

This section of the Expression Editor displays all the ports from all transformations appearing in the mapping.

Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values

53

7.

Double-click the PRICE port appearing beneath AGG_PriceCalculations.

A reference to this port now appears within the expression. The final step is to validate the expression.

8.

Click Validate.
The Designer displays a message that the expression parsed successfully. The syntax you entered has no
errors.

9.

Click OK to close the message box from the parser, and then click OK again to close the Expression Editor.

Entering Remaining Aggregate Calculations

Next, enter the remaining aggregate calculations.
To enter the remaining aggregate calculations:
1.

Enter and validate the following expressions for the other two output ports:
Port

Expression

OUT_MIN_PRICE

MIN(PRICE)

OUT_AVG_PRICE

AVG(PRICE)

Both MIN and AVG appear in the list of Aggregate functions, along with MAX.

54

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

2.

Click OK to close the Edit Transformations dialog box.

3.

Click Repository > Save and view the messages in the Output window.
When you save changes to the repository, the Designer validates the mapping. You can notice an error
message indicating that you have not connected the targets. You connect the targets later in this lesson.

Creating an Expression Transformation

Now that you have calculated the highest, lowest, and average prices for items, the next step is to calculate the
average profitability of items from each manufacturer. While such calculations are normally more complex, you
simply multiply the average price by 0.2 (20%).
To add this information to the target, you need to create an Expression transformation that takes the average price
of items from a manufacturer, performs the calculation, and then passes the result along to the target. As you
develop transformations, you connect transformations using the output of one transformation as an input for others.
To add an Expression transformation:
1.

Click Transformation > Create.

2.

Select Expression and name the transformation EXP_AvgProfit. Click Create, and then click Done.
The naming convention for Expression transformations is EXP_TransformationName.
The Mapping Designer adds an Expression transformation to the mapping.

3.

Open the Expression transformation.

4.

Add a new input port, IN_AVG_PRICE, using the Decimal datatype with precision of 19 and scale of 2.

Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values

55

5.

Add a new output port, OUT_AVG_PROFIT, using the Decimal datatype with precision of 19 and scale of 2.
Note: Verify OUT_AVG_PROFIT is an output port, not an input/output port. You cannot enter expressions in
input/output ports.

6.

Enter the following expression for OUT_AVG_PROFIT:

IN_AVG_PRICE * 0.2

7.

Validate the expression.

8.

Close the Expression Editor and then close the EXP_AvgProfit transformation.

9.

Connect OUT_AVG_PRICE from the Aggregator to the new input port.

10.

Click Repository > Save.

Creating a Lookup Transformation

The source table in this mapping includes information about the manufacturer ID. However, you want the
manufacturer name in the target table to make the summary data easier to read. In the following steps, you use a
Lookup transformation to find each manufacturer name in the MANUFACTURERS table based on the
manufacturer ID in the source table.
To add the Lookup transformation:
1.

Create a Lookup transformation and name it LKP_Manufacturers.

The naming convention for Lookup transformations is LKP_TransformationName.
A dialog box prompts you to identify the source or target database to provide data for the lookup. When you
run a session, the Integration Service must access the lookup table.

2.

Click Source.

3.

Select the MANUFACTURERS table from the list and click OK.

4.

Click Done to close the Create Transformation dialog box.

The Designer now adds the transformation.
Use source and target definitions in the repository to identify a lookup source for the Lookup transformation.
Alternatively, you can import a lookup source.

5.

Open the Lookup transformation.

6.

Add a new input port, IN_MANUFACTURER_ID, with the same datatype as MANUFACTURER_ID.
In a later step, you connect the MANUFACTURER_ID port from the Aggregator transformation to this input
port. IN_MANUFACTURER_ID receives MANUFACTURER_ID values from the Aggregator transformation.
When the Lookup transformation receives a new value through this input port, it looks up the matching value
from MANUFACTURERS.
Note: By default, the Lookup transformation queries and stores the contents of the lookup table before the
rest of the transformation runs, so it performs the join through a local copy of the table that it has cached.

56

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

7.

Click the Condition tab, and click the Add button.

An entry for the first condition in the lookup appears. Each row represents one condition in the WHERE
clause that the Integration Service generates when querying records.

8.

Verify the following settings for the condition:

Lookup Table Column

Operator

Transformation Port

MANUFACTURER_ID

IN_MANUFACTURER_ID

Note: If the datatypes, including precision and scale, of these two columns do not match, the Designer
displays a message and marks the mapping invalid.
9.

View the Properties tab.

Do not change settings in this section of the dialog box.

10.

Click OK.
You now have a Lookup transformation that reads values from the MANUFACTURERS table and performs
lookups using values passed through the IN_MANUFACTURER_ID input port. The final step is to connect this
Lookup transformation to the rest of the mapping.

11.

Click Layout > Link Columns.

12.

Connect the MANUFACTURER_ID output port from the Aggregator transformation to the
IN_MANUFACTURER_ID input port in the Lookup transformation.

13.

Click Repository > Save.

Connecting the Target

You have set up all the transformations needed to modify data before writing to the target. So far, you have
performed the following tasks:
Created a target definition and target table.
Created a mapping.
Added transformations.

The final step is to connect to the target.

To connect to the target:
1.

Drag the following output ports to the corresponding input ports in the target:
Transformation

Output Port

Target Input Port

Lookup

MANUFACTURER_ID

MANUFACTURER_ID

Lookup

MANUFACTURER_NAME

MANUFACTURER_NAME

Aggregator

OUT_MIN_PRICE

MIN_PRICE

Aggregator

OUT_MAX_PRICE

MAX_PRICE

Creating a Mapping with Aggregate Values

57

2.

Transformation

Output Port

Target Input Port

Aggregator

OUT_AVG_PRICE

AVG_PRICE

Expression

OUT_AVG_PROFIT

AVG_PROFIT

Click Repository > Save.

Verify mapping validation in the Output window.

Designer Tips
This section includes tips for using the Designer. You learn how to complete the following tasks:
Use the Overview window to navigate the workspace.
Arrange the transformations in the workspace.

Using the Overview Window

When you create a mapping with many transformations, you might not be able to see the entire mapping in the
workspace. In the following steps, you use the Overview window to navigate around the workspace containing the
mapping you just created.
To use the Overview window:
1.

Click View > Overview Window.

You can also use the Toggle Overview Window icon.

An overview window appears, displaying a smaller version of the mapping.

2.

Drag the viewing rectangle (the dotted square) within this window.
As you move the viewing rectangle, the perspective on the mapping changes.

Arranging Transformations
The Designer can arrange the transformations in a mapping. When you use this option to arrange the mapping,
you can arrange the transformations in normal view, or as icons.

58

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

To arrange a mapping:
1.

Click Layout > Arrange.

The Select Targets dialog box appears showing all target definitions in the mapping.

2.

Select Iconic to arrange the transformations as icons in the workspace.

3.

Select T_ITEM_SUMMARY and click OK.

The following mapping shows how the Designer arranges all transformations in the pipeline connected to the
T_ITEM_SUMMARY target definition.

Creating a Session and Workflow

You have two mappings:
m_PhoneList. A pass-through mapping that reads employee names and phone numbers.
m_ItemSummary. A more complex mapping that performs simple and aggregate calculations and lookups.

You have a reusable session based on m_PhoneList. Next, you create a session for m_ItemSummary in the
Workflow Manager. You create a workflow that runs both sessions.

Creating the Session

Open the Workflow Manager and connect to the repository if it is not open already.
To create the session:
1.

Open the Task Developer and click Tasks > Create.

2.

Create a Session task and name it s_ItemSummary. Click Create.

In the Mappings dialog box, select the mapping m_ItemSummary and click OK.

3.

Click Done.

4.

Open the session properties for s_ItemSummary.

Creating a Session and Workflow

59

5.

Click the Connections setting on the Mapping tab. Select the source database connection
TUTORIAL_SOURCE for SQ_ITEMS.
Use the database connection you created in Configuring Database Connections in the Workflow Manager on
page 39.

6.

Click the Connections setting on the Mapping tab. Select the target database connection
TUTORIAL_TARGET for T_ITEM_SUMMARY.
Use the database connection you created in Configuring Database Connections in the Workflow Manager on
page 39.

7.

Close the session properties and click Repository > Save.

Now that you have two sessions, you can create a workflow and include both sessions in the workflow. When you
run the workflow, the Integration Service runs all sessions in the workflow, either simultaneously or in sequence,
depending on how you arrange the sessions in the workflow.

Creating the Workflow

You can group sessions in a workflow to improve performance or ensure that targets load in a set order. In the
following steps, you create a workflow that runs the sessions s_PhoneList and s_ItemSummary concurrently.
To create a workflow:
1.

Click Tools > Workflow Designer.

2.

Click Workflows > Create to create a new workflow.

If a workflow is already open, the Workflow Manager prompts you to close the current workflow. Click Yes to
close any current workflow.
The workflow properties appear.

3.

Name the workflow wf_ItemSummary_PhoneList.

4.

Click the Browse Integration Service button to select an Integration Service to run the workflow.
The Integration Service Browser dialog box appears.

5.

Select an Integration Service and click OK.

6.

Click the Properties tab and select Write Backward Compatible Workflow Log File.
The default name of the workflow log file is wf_ItemSummary_PhoneList.log.

7.

Click the Scheduler tab.

By default, the workflow is scheduled to run on demand. Keep this default.

8.

Click OK to close the Create Workflow dialog box.

The Workflow Manager creates a new workflow in the workspace including the Start task.

9.

60

From the Navigator, drag the s_ItemSummary session to the workspace. Then, drag the s_PhoneList session
to the workspace.

10.

Click the link tasks button on the toolbar.

11.

Drag from the Start task to the s_ItemSummary Session task.

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

12.

Drag from the Start task to the s_PhoneList Session task.

By default, when you link both sessions directly to the Start task, the Integration Service runs both sessions at
the same time when you run the workflow. If you want the Integration Service to run the sessions one after the
other, connect the Start task to one session, and connect that session to the other session.
13.

Click Repository > Save to save the workflow in the repository.

You can now run and monitor the workflow.

Running the Workflow

After you create the workflow containing the sessions, you can run it and use the Workflow Monitor to monitor the
workflow progress.
To run a workflow:
1.

Right-click the Start task in the workspace and select Start Workflow from Task.
Tip: You can also right-click the workflow in the Navigator and select Start Workflow.
The Workflow Monitor opens and connects to the repository and opens the tutorial folder.
If the Workflow Monitor does not show the current workflow tasks, right-click the tutorial folder and select Get
Previous Runs.

2.

Click the Gantt Chart tab at the bottom of the Time window to verify the Workflow Monitor is in Gantt Chart
view.
Note: You can also click the Task View tab at the bottom of the Time window to view the Workflow Monitor in
Task view. You can switch back and forth between views at any time.

3.

In the Navigator, expand the node for the workflow.

All tasks in the workflow appear in the Navigator.
The following results occur from running the s_ItemSummary session:
MANUFACTURER_ID

MANUFACTURER_NA
ME

MAX_PRIC
E

MIN_PRIC
E

AVG_PRIC
E

AVG_PRO
FIT

100

Nike

365.00

169.95

261.24

52.25

101

OBrien

188.00

44.95

134.32

26.86

102

Mistral

390.00

70.00

200.00

40.00

103

Spinnaker

70.00

29.00

52.98

10.60

104

Head

179.00

52.00

98.67

19.73

Creating a Session and Workflow

61

MANUFACTURER_ID

MANUFACTURER_NA
ME

MAX_PRIC
E

MIN_PRIC
E

AVG_PRIC
E

AVG_PRO
FIT

105

Jesper

325.00

34.95

133.65

26.73

106

Acme

195.00

56.95

143.65

28.73

107

Medallion

235.00

19.95

98.65

19.73

108

Sportstar

280.00

18.00

149.00

29.80

109

WindJammer

430.00

395.00

412.50

82.50

110

Monsoon

280.00

280.00

280.00

56.00

(11 rows affected)

Viewing the Logs

You can view workflow and session logs in the Log Events window or the log files. The Log Events window
provides detailed information about each event performed during the workflow run.
To view a log:
1.

Right-click the workflow and select Get Workflow Log to view the Log Events window for the workflow.
-orRight-click a session and select Get Session Log to view the Log Events window for the session.

2.

Select a row in the log.

The full text of the message appears in the section at the bottom of the window.

3.

Sort the log file by column by clicking on the column heading.

4.

Optionally, click Find to search for keywords in the log.

5.

Optionally, click Save As to save the log as an XML document.

Log Files
When you created the workflow, the Workflow Manager assigned default workflow and session log names and
locations on the Properties tab. The Integration Service writes the log files to the locations specified in the session
properties.

62

Chapter 6: Tutorial Lesson 4

CHAPTER 7

Tutorial Lesson 5
This chapter includes the following topics:
Creating a Mapping with Fact and Dimension Tables, 63
Creating a Workflow, 71

Creating a Mapping with Fact and Dimension Tables

In previous lessons, you used the Source Qualifier, Expression, Aggregator, and Lookup transformations in
mappings. In this lesson, you learn how to use the following transformations:
Stored Procedure. Call a stored procedure and capture its return values.
Filter. Filter data that you do not need, such as discontinued items in the ITEMS table.
Sequence Generator. Generate unique IDs before inserting rows into the target.

You create a mapping that outputs data to a fact table and its dimension tables.
The following figure shows the mapping you create in this lesson:

63

Creating Targets
Before you create the mapping, create the following target tables:
F_PROMO_ITEMS. A fact table of promotional items.
D_ITEMS, D_PROMOTIONS, and D_MANUFACTURERS. Dimensional tables.

To create the new targets:

1.

Open the Designer, connect to the repository, and open the tutorial folder.

2.

Click Tools > Target Designer.

To clear the workspace, right-click the workspace, and select Clear All.

3.

Click Targets > Create.

4.

In the Create Target Table dialog box, enter F_PROMO_ITEMS as the name of the new target table, select
the database type, and click Create.

5.

Repeat step 4 to create the other tables needed for this schema: D_ITEMS, D_PROMOTIONS, and
D_MANUFACTURERS. When you have created all these tables, click Done.

6.

Open each new target definition, and add the following columns to the appropriate table:
D_ITEMS
Column

Datatype

Precision

Not Null

Key

ITEM_ID

Integer

NA

Not Null

Primary Key

ITEM_NAME

Varchar

72

PRICE

Money

default

Column

Datatype

Precision

Not Null

Key

PROMOTION_ID

Integer

NA

Not Null

Primary Key

PROMOTION_NAME

Varchar

72

DESCRIPTION

Varchar

default

START_DATE

Datetime

default

END_DATE

Datetime

default

Column

Datatype

Precision

Not Null

Key

MANUFACTURER_ID

Integer

NA

Not Null

Primary Key

MANUFACTURER_NAME

Varchar

72

D_PROMOTIONS

D_MANUFACTURERS

64

Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5

F_PROMO_ITEMS
Column

Datatype

Precision

Not Null

Key

PROMO_ITEM_ID

Integer

NA

Not Null

Primary Key

FK_ITEM_ID

Integer

NA

Foreign Key

FK_PROMOTION_ID

Integer

NA

Foreign Key

FK_MANUFACTURER_ID

Integer

NA

Foreign Key

NUMBER_ORDERED

Integer

NA

DISCOUNT

Money

default

COMMENTS

Varchar

default

The datatypes may vary, depending on the database you choose.

Note: For F_PROMO_ITEMS, you include foreign key columns that correspond to the primary keys in each of
the dimension tables.
7.

Click Repository > Save.

Creating Target Tables

The next step is to generate and execute the SQL script to create each of these new target tables.
To create the tables:
1.

Select all the target definitions.

2.

Click Targets > Generate/Execute SQL.

3.

In the Database Object Generation dialog box, connect to the target database.

4.

Select Generate from Selected Tables, and select the options for creating the tables and generating keys.

5.

Click Generate and Execute.

6.

Click Close.

Creating the Mapping

Create a mapping to filter out discontinued items, call a stored procedure to find how many of each item customers
have ordered, and generate a unique ID for each row in the fact table.
To create the new mapping:
1.

In the Designer, switch to the Mapping Designer, and create a new mapping.

2.

Name the mapping m_PromoItems.

3.

From the list of target definitions, select the tables you just created and drag them into the mapping.

4.

From the list of source definitions, add the following source definitions to the mapping:
PROMOTIONS
ITEMS_IN_PROMOTIONS

Creating a Mapping with Fact and Dimension Tables

65

 ITEMS
MANUFACTURERS
ORDER_ITEMS

5.

Delete all Source Qualifier transformations that the Designer creates when you add these source definitions.

6.

Add a Source Qualifier transformation named SQ_AllData to the mapping, and connect all the source
definitions to it.

7.

Click View > Navigator to close the Navigator window to allow extra space in the workspace.

8.

Click Repository > Save.

Creating a Filter Transformation

The Filter transformation filters rows from a source. If you connect a Filter transformation to a Source Qualifier
transformation, you can filter rows passed through the Source Qualifier transformation using any condition you
want to apply. In this exercise, you remove discontinued items from the mapping.
The mapping contains a Filter transformation that limits rows queried from the ITEMS table to those items that
have not been discontinued.
To create the Filter transformation:
1.

Create a Filter transformation and name it FIL_CurrentItems.

2.

Drag the following ports from the Source Qualifier transformation into the Filter transformation:
ITEM_ID
ITEM_NAME
PRICE
DISCONTINUED_FLAG

3.

Open the Filter transformation.

4.

Click the Properties tab to specify the filter condition.

5.

Click the Open button in the Filter Condition field.

The Expression Editor dialog box appears.

66

6.

Select the word TRUE in the Formula field and press Delete.

7.

Click the Ports tab.

8.

Enter DISCONTINUED_FLAG = 0.

Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5

The following example shows the complete condition:

DISCONTINUED_FLAG = 0

9.

Click Validate, and then click OK.

The new filter condition now appears in the Value field.

10.

Click OK to return to the workspace.

Connecting the Filter Transformation

Now, you need to connect the Filter transformation to the D_ITEMS target table. Currently sold items are written to
this target.
To connect the Filter transformation:
1.

Connect the ports ITEM_ID, ITEM_NAME, and PRICE to the corresponding columns in D_ITEMS.

2.

Click Repository > Save.

Creating a Sequence Generator Transformation

A Sequence Generator transformation generates unique values, such as primary keys, for a target in a mapping.
You can also use it to cycle through a closed set of values. Many relational databases include sequences, which
are special database objects that generate values. The Sequence Generator transformation functions like a
sequence object in a database. However, in PowerCenter, you do not need to write SQL code to create and use
the sequence in a mapping.
The Sequence Generator transformation has the following properties:
The starting number (normally 1).
The current value stored in the repository.
The number that the Sequence Generator transformation adds to its current value for every request for a new

ID.
The maximum value in the sequence.
A flag indicating whether the Sequence Generator transformation counter resets to the minimum value once it

has reached its maximum value.

Creating a Mapping with Fact and Dimension Tables

67

The Sequence Generator transformation has two output ports, NEXTVAL and CURRVAL, which correspond to the
two pseudo-columns in a sequence. When you query a value from the NEXTVAL port, the transformation
generates a new value.
In the new mapping, you add a Sequence Generator transformation to generate IDs for the fact table
F_PROMO_ITEMS. Every time the Integration Service inserts a new row into the target table, it generates a
unique ID for PROMO_ITEM_ID.
To create the Sequence Generator transformation:
1.

Create a Sequence Generator transformation and name it SEQ_PromoItemID.

2.

Open the Sequence Generator transformation.

3.

Click the Ports tab.

The two output ports, NEXTVAL and CURRVAL, appear in the list.
Note: You cannot add any new ports to this transformation or reconfigure NEXTVAL and CURRVAL.

4.

Click the Properties tab.

The properties for the Sequence Generator transformation appear. You do not have to change any of these
settings.

5.

Click OK.

6.

Connect the NEXTVAL column from the Sequence Generator transformation to the PROMO_ITEM_ID column
in the target table F_PROMO_ITEMS.

7.

Click Repository > Save.

Creating a Stored Procedure Transformation

When you installed the sample database objects to create the source tables, you also created a stored procedure,
SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT. This procedure takes one argument, an ITEM_ID value, and returns the number of times
that item has been ordered.
The following table describes the syntax for the stored procedure:

68

Database

Syntax

Oracle

CREATE FUNCTION SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT

(ARG_ITEM_ID IN NUMBER) RETURN NUMBER
IS SP_RESULT NUMBER;
BEGIN
SELECT COUNT(*)
INTO SP_RESULT
FROM ORDER_ITEMS
WHERE ITEM_ID = ARG_ITEM_ID;
RETURN (SP_RESULT);
END;

Microsoft SQL Server

CREATE PROCEDURE SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT (@ITEM_ID INT)

AS SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ORDER_ITEMS
WHERE ITEM_ID = @ITEM_ID

Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5

Database

Syntax

Sybase ASE

CREATE PROCEDURE SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT (@ITEM_ID INT)

AS SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ORDER_ITEMS WHERE ITEM_ID = @ITEM_ID

Informix

CREATE PROCEDURE SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT (ITEM_ID_INPUT INT)

RETURNING INT;
DEFINE CNT INT;
SELECT COUNT(*) INTO CNT FROM ORDER_ITEMS WHERE ITEM_ID = ITEM_ID_INPUT;
RETURN CNT;

DB2

CREATE PROCEDURE

SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT (IN ARG_ITEM_ID INT,

OUT SP_RESULT INT,
OUT SQLCODE_OUT INT )

LANGUAGE SQL
P1: BEGIN
-- Declare variables
DECLARE SQLCODE INT DEFAULT 0;

-- Declare handler
DECLARE EXIT HANDLER FOR SQLEXCEPTION
SET SQLCODE_OUT = SQLCODE;
SELECT COUNT(*) INTO SP_RESULT
FROM ORDER_ITEMS
WHERE ITEM_ID=ARG_ITEM_ID;
SET SQLCODE_OUT = SQLCODE;
END P1

Teradata

CREATE PROCEDURE SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT

(IN ARG_ITEM_ID integer, OUT SP_RESULT integer)
BEGIN
SELECT COUNT(*)
INTO: SP_RESULT
FROM ORDER_ITEMS
WHERE ITEM_ID =: ARG_ITEM_ID;
END;

In the mapping, add a Stored Procedure transformation to call this procedure. The Stored Procedure
transformation returns the number of orders containing an item to an output port.
To create the Stored Procedure transformation:
1.

Create a Stored Procedure transformation and name it SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT.

The Import Stored Procedure dialog box appears.

2.

Select the ODBC connection for the source database. Enter a user name, owner name, and password. Click
Connect.

3.

Select the stored procedure named SP_GET_ITEM_COUNT from the list and click OK.

4.

In the Create Transformation dialog box, click Done.

The Stored Procedure transformation appears in the mapping.

5.

Open the Stored Procedure transformation, and click the Properties tab.

6.

Click the Open button in the Connection Information section.

Creating a Mapping with Fact and Dimension Tables

69

The Select Database dialog box appears.

7.

Select the source database and click OK.

You can call stored procedures in both source and target databases.
Note: You can also select the built-in database connection variable, $Source. When you use $Source or
$Target, the Integration Service determines which source database connection to use when it runs the
session. If it cannot determine which connection to use, it fails the session.

8.

Click OK.

9.

Connect the ITEM_ID column from the Source Qualifier transformation to the ITEM_ID column in the Stored
Procedure transformation.

10.

Connect the RETURN_VALUE column from the Stored Procedure transformation to the NUMBER_ORDERED
column in the target table F_PROMO_ITEMS.

11.

Click Repository > Save.

Completing the Mapping

The final step is to map data to the remaining columns in targets.

70

Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5

To complete the mapping:

1.

2.

Connect the following columns from the Source Qualifier transformation to the targets:
Source Qualifier

Target Table

Column

PROMOTION_ID

D_PROMOTIONS

PROMOTION_ID

PROMOTION_NAME

D_PROMOTIONS

PROMOTION_NAME

DESCRIPTION

D_PROMOTIONS

DESCRIPTION

START_DATE

D_PROMOTIONS

START_DATE

END_DATE

D_PROMOTIONS

END_DATE

MANUFACTURER_ID

D_MANUFACTURERS

MANUFACTURER_ID

MANUFACTURER_NAME

D_MANUFACTURERS

MANUFACTURER_NAME

Click Repository > Save.

The mapping is now complete. You can create and run a workflow with this mapping.

Creating a Workflow
In this part of the lesson, you complete the following steps:
1.

Create a workflow.

2.

Add a non-reusable session to the workflow.

3.

Define a link condition before the Session task.

Creating a Workflow

71

Creating the Workflow

Open the Workflow Manager and connect to the repository.
To create a workflow:
1.

Click Tools > Workflow Designer.

2.

Click Workflows > Create to create a new workflow.

The workflow properties appear.

3.

Name the workflow wf_PromoItems.

4.

Click the Browse Integration Service button to select the Integration Service to run the workflow.
The Integration Service Browser dialog box appears.

5.

Select the Integration Service you use and click OK.

6.

Click the Scheduler tab.

By default, the workflow is scheduled to run on demand. Keep this default.

7.

Click OK to close the Create Workflow dialog box.

The Workflow Manager creates a new workflow in the workspace including the Start task.

Next, you add a non-reusable session in the workflow.

Adding a Non-Reusable Session

In the following steps, you add a non-reusable session.
To add a non-reusable session:
1.

Click Tasks > Create.

The Create Task dialog box appears. The Workflow Designer provides more task types than the Task
Developer. These tasks include the Email and Decision tasks.

2.

Create a Session task and name it s_PromoItems. Click Create.

3.

In the Mappings dialog box, select the mapping m_PromoItems and click OK.

4.

Click Done.

5.

Open the session properties for s_PromoItems.

6.

Click the Mapping tab.

7.

Select the source database connection for the sources connected to the SQ_AllData Source Qualifier
transformation.

8.

Select the target database for each target definition.

9.

Click OK to save the changes.

10.

Click the Link Tasks button on the toolbar.

11.

Drag from the Start task to s_PromoItems.

12.

Click Repository > Save to save the workflow in the repository.

You can now define a link condition in the workflow.

Defining a Link Condition

After you create links between tasks, you can specify conditions for each link to determine the order of execution
in the workflow. If you do not specify conditions for each link, the Integration Service executes the next task in the
workflow by default.

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Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5

If the link condition evaluates to True, the Integration Service runs the next task in the workflow. The Integration
Service does not run the next task in the workflow if the link condition evaluates to False. You can also use predefined or user-defined workflow variables in the link condition.
You can use the -- or // comment indicators with the Expression Editor to add comments. Use comments to
describe the expression.
You can view results of link evaluation during workflow runs in the workflow log.
In the following steps, you create a link condition before the Session task and use the built-in workflow variable
WORKFLOWSTARTTIME. You define the link condition so the Integration Service runs the session if the workflow
start time is before the date you specify.
To define a link condition:
1.

Double-click the link from the Start task to the Session task.
The Expression Editor appears.

2.

Expand the Built-in node on the PreDefined tab.

The Workflow Manager displays the two built-in workflow variables, SYSDATE and WORKFLOWSTARTTIME.

3.

Enter the following expression in the expression window. Be sure to enter a date later than todays date:
WORKFLOWSTARTTIME < TO_DATE('8/30/2007','MM/DD/YYYY')

Tip: You can double-click the built-in workflow variable on the PreDefined tab and double-click the TO_DATE
function on the Functions tab to enter the expression.
4.

Press Enter to create a new line in the Expression.

Creating a Workflow

73

Add a comment by typing the following text:

// Only run the session if the workflow starts before the date specified above.

5.

Click Validate to validate the expression.

The Workflow Manager displays a message in the Output window.

6.

Click OK.
After you specify the link condition in the Expression Editor, the Workflow Manager validates the link condition
and displays it next to the link in the workflow.

7.

Click Repository > Save to save the workflow in the repository.

Next, you run and monitor the workflow.

Running the Workflow

After you create the workflow, you can run it and use the Workflow Monitor to monitor the workflow progress.
To run the workflow:
1.

Right-click the workflow in the workspace and select Start Workflow.

Tip: You can also right-click the workflow in the Navigator and select Start Workflow.
The Workflow Monitor opens and connects to the repository and opens the tutorial folder.

74

2.

Click the Gantt Chart tab at the bottom of the Time window to verify the Workflow Monitor is in Gantt Chart
view.

3.

In the Navigator, expand the node for the workflow.

Chapter 7: Tutorial Lesson 5

All tasks in the workflow appear in the Navigator.

4.

In the Properties window, click Session Statistics to view the workflow results.
If the Properties window is not open, click View > Properties View.
The results from running the s_PromoItems session are as follows:
F_PROMO_ITEMS 40 rows inserted
D_ITEMS 13 rows inserted
D_MANUFACTURERS 11 rows inserted
D_PROMOTIONS 3 rows inserted

Creating a Workflow

75

CHAPTER 8

Tutorial Lesson 6
This chapter includes the following topics:
Using XML Files, 76
Creating the XML Source, 77
Creating the Target Definition, 82
Creating a Mapping with XML Sources and Targets, 84
Creating a Workflow, 89

Using XML Files

XML is a common means of exchanging data on the web. Use XML files as a source of data and as a target for
transformed data.
In this lesson, you have an XML schema file that contains data on the salary of employees in different
departments, and you have relational data that contains information about the different departments. You want to
find out the total salary for employees in two departments, and you want to write the data to a separate XML target
for each department.
In the XML schema file, employees can have three types of wages, which appear in the XML schema file as three
occurrences of salary. You pivot the occurrences of employee salaries into three columns: BASESALARY,
COMMISSION, and BONUS. Then you calculate the total salary in an Expression transformation.
You use a Router transformation to test for the department ID. You use another Router transformation to get the
department name from the relational source. You send the salary data for the employees in the Engineering
department to one XML target and the salary data for the employees in the Sales department to another XML
target.
The following figure shows the mapping you create in this lesson:

76

Creating the XML Source

You use the XML Wizard to import an XML source definition. You then use the XML Editor to edit the definition.

Importing the XML Source

Import the Employees.xsd file to create the XML source definition.
To import the XML source definition:
1.

Open the Designer, connect to the repository, and open the tutorial folder.

2.

Click Tools > Source Analyzer.

3.

Click Sources > Import XML Definition.

4.

Click Advanced Options.

The Change XML Views Creation and Naming Options dialog box opens.

5.

Select Override All Infinite Lengths and enter 50.

6.

Configure all other options as shown and click OK to save the changes.

7.

In the Import XML Definition dialog box, navigate to the client\bin directory under the PowerCenter installation
directory and select the Employees.xsd file. Click Open.

Creating the XML Source

77

The XML Definition Wizard opens.

8.

Verify that the name for the XML definition is Employees and click Next.

9.

Select Skip Create XML Views.

10.

Click Finish to create the XML definition.

When you skip creating XML views, the Designer imports metadata into the repository, but it does not create the
XML view. In the next step, you use the XML Editor to add groups and columns to the XML view.

Editing the XML Definition

The Designer represents an XML hierarchy in an XML definition as a set of views. Each view represents a subset
of the XML hierarchy. A view consists of columns and rows. Columns represent elements and attributes, and rows
represent occurrences of elements. You use the XML Editor to edit the XML views.

78

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

In this lesson, you use the XML Editor to pivot the three occurrences of SALARY into three columns in an XML
group. You do this because the multiple-occurring element SALARY represents three types of salary: a base
salary, a commission, and a bonus that appear in the XML file as three instances of the SALARY element.

1. Bonus
2. Commission.
3. Base salary.

To work with these three instances separately, you pivot them to create three separate columns in the XML
definition.
You create a custom XML view with columns from several groups. You then pivot the occurrence of SALARY to
create the columns, BASESALARY, COMMISSION, and BONUS.

Creating the XML Source

79

The following figure shows the XML Editor:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Navigator
XPath Navigator
XML View
XML Workspace

To edit the XML definition:

1.

Double-click the XML definition or right-click the XML definition and select Edit XML Definition to open the
XML Editor.

2.

Click XMLViews > Create XML View to create a new XML view.

3.

From the EMPLOYEE group, select DEPTID and right-click it.

4.

Choose Show XPath Navigator.

5.

Expand the EMPLOYMENT group so that the SALARY column appears.

6.

From the XPath Navigator, select the following elements and attributes and drag them into the new view:
DEPTID
EMPID
LASTNAME
FIRSTNAME

80

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

The XML Editor names the view X_EMPLOYEE.

Note: The XML Wizard can transpose the order of the DEPTID and EMPID attributes when it imports them. If
this occurs, you can add the columns in the order they appear in the Schema Navigator or XPath Navigator.
Transposing the order of attributes does not affect data consistency.
7.

Click the Mode icon on the XPath Navigator and choose Advanced Mode.

8.

Select the SALARY column and drag it into the XML view.
Note: The XPath Navigator must include the EMPLOYEE column at the top when you drag SALARY to the
XML view.
The resulting view includes the elements and attributes shown in the following view:

9.

Drag the SALARY column into the new XML view two more times to create three pivoted columns.
Note: Although the new columns appear in the column window, the view shows one instance of SALARY.
The wizard adds three new columns in the column view and names them SALARY, SALARY0, and SALARY1.

10.

Rename the new columns.

Use information on the following table to modify the name and pivot properties:
Column Name

New Column Name

Not Null

Pivot Occurrence

SALARY

BASESALARY

Yes

SALARY0

COMMISSION

SALARY1

BONUS

Note: To update the pivot occurrence, click the Xpath of the column you want to edit. The Specify Query
Predicate for Xpath window appears. Select the column name and change the pivot occurrence.
11.

Click File > Apply Changes to save the changes to the view.

12.

Click File > Exit to close the XML Editor.

Creating the XML Source

81

The following source definition appears in the Source Analyzer.

Note: The pivoted SALARY columns do not display the names you entered in the Columns window. However,
when you drag the ports to another transformation, the edited column names appear in the transformation.
13.

Click Repository > Save to save the changes to the XML definition.

Creating the Target Definition

In this lesson, you import an XML schema and create a custom view based on the schema. The custom XML
target definition you create meets the following criteria:
Each department has a separate target and the structure for each target is the same.
Each target contains salary and department information for employees in the Sales or Engineering department.

Because the structure for the target data is the same for the Engineering and Sales groups, use two instances of
the target definition in the mapping. In the following steps, you import the Sales_Salary schema file and create a
custom view based on the schema.
To import and edit the XML target definition:
1.

In the Designer, switch to the Target Designer.

If the workspace contains targets from other lessons, right-click the workspace and choose Clear All.

2.

Click Targets > Import XML Definition.

3.

Navigate to the Tutorial directory in the PowerCenter installation directory, and select the Sales_Salary.xsd
file. Click Open.
The XML Definition Wizard appears.

4.

Name the XML definition SALES_SALARY and click Next.

5.

Select Skip Create XML Views and click Finish.

The XML Wizard creates the SALES_SALARY target with no columns or groups.

82

6.

Double-click the XML definition to open the XML Editor.

7.

Click XMLViews > Create XML View.

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

The XML Editor creates an empty view.

1. Empty XML View

8.

Right-click DEPARTMENT group in the Schema Navigator and select Show XPath Navigator.

9.

From the XPath Navigator, drag DEPTNAME and DEPTID into the empty XML view.
The XML Editor names the view X_DEPARTMENT.
Note: The XML Editor may transpose the order of the attributes DEPTNAME and DEPTID. If this occurs, add
the columns in the order they appear in the Schema Navigator. Transposing the order of attributes does not
affect data consistency.

10.

In the X_DEPARTMENT view, right-click the DEPTID column, and choose Set as Primary Key.

11.

Click XMLViews > Create XML View.

The XML Editor creates an empty view.

12.

From the EMPLOYEE group in the Schema Navigator, open the XPath Navigator.

13.

From the XPath Navigator, drag EMPID, FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME, and TOTALSALARY into the empty XML
view.
The XML Editor names the view X_EMPLOYEE.

14.

Right-click the X_EMPLOYEE view and choose Create Relationship.

Drag the pointer from the X_EMPLOYEE view to the X_DEPARTMENT view to create a link.

15.

The XML Editor creates a DEPARTMENT foreign key in the X_EMPLOYEE view that corresponds to the
DEPTID primary key.

16.

Click File > Apply Changes and close the XML Editor.

Creating the Target Definition

83

The XML definition now contains the groups DEPARTMENT and EMPLOYEE.

17.

Click Repository > Save to save the XML target definition.

Creating a Mapping with XML Sources and Targets

In the following steps, you create a mapping to transform the employee data. You add the following objects to the
mapping:
The Employees XML source definition you created.
The DEPARTMENT relational source definition you created in Creating Source Definitions on page 29.
Two instances of the SALES_SALARY target definition you created.
An Expression transformation to calculate the total salary for each employee.
Two Router transformations to route salary and department.

You pass the data from the Employees source through the Expression and Router transformations before sending
it to two target instances. You also pass data from the relational table through another Router transformation to
add the department names to the targets. You need data for the sales and engineering departments.
To create the mapping:
1.

In the Designer, switch to the Mapping Designer and create a new mapping.

2.

Name the mapping m_EmployeeSalary.

3.

Drag the Employees XML source definition into the mapping.

4.

Drag the DEPARTMENT relational source definition into the mapping.

By default, the Designer creates a source qualifier for each source.

5.

Drag the SALES_SALARY target definition into the mapping two times.

6.

Rename the second instance of SALES_SALARY as ENG_SALARY.

7.

Click Repository > Save.

Because you have not completed the mapping, the Designer displays a warning that the mapping
m_EmployeeSalary is invalid.

Next, you add an Expression transformation and two Router transformations. Then, you connect the source
definitions to the Expression transformation. You connect the pipeline to the Router transformations and then to
the two target definitions.

84

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

Creating an Expression Transformation

In the following steps, you use an Expression transformation to calculate the total salary for each employee. You
use BASESALARY, COMMISSION, and BONUS as input columns to the Expression transformation and create a
TotalSalary column as output.
To calculate the total salary:
1.

Create an Expression transformation and name it EXP_TotalSalary.

The new transformation appears.

2.

Click Done.

3.

Drag all the ports from the XML Source Qualifier transformation to the EXP_TotalSalary Expression
transformation.
The input/output ports in the XML Source Qualifier transformation are linked to the input/output ports in the
Expression transformation.

4.

Open the Expression transformation.

5.

On the Ports tab, add an output port named TotalSalary. Use the Decimal datatype with precision of 10 and
scale of 2.

6.

Enter the following expression for TotalSalary:

7.

Validate the expression and click OK.

8.

Click OK to close the transformation.

9.

Click Repository > Save.

BASESALARY + COMMISSION + BONUS

Creating Router Transformations

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.
In the following steps, you add two Router transformations to the mapping, one for each department. In each
Router transformation you create two groups. One group returns True for rows where the DeptID column contains
SLS. The other group returns True where the DeptID column contains ENG. All rows that do not meet either
condition go into the default group.

Routing Employee Salary Data

To route the employee salary data:
1.

Create a Router transformation and name it RTR_Salary. Then click Done.

2.

In the Expression transformation, select the following columns and drag them to RTR_Salary:
EmpID
DeptID
LastName
FirstName
TotalSalary

The Designer creates an input group and adds the columns you drag from the Expression transformation.
3.

Open the RTR_Salary Router transformation.

Creating a Mapping with XML Sources and Targets

85

The Edit Transformations dialog box appears.

4.

On the Groups tab, add two new groups.

Change the group names and set the filter conditions. Use the following table as a guide:
Group Name

Filter Condition

Sales

DEPTID = SLS

Engineering

DEPTID = ENG

The Designer adds a default group to the list of groups. All rows that do not meet the condition you specify in
the group filter condition are routed to the default group. If you do not connect the default group, the
Integration Service drops the rows.
5.

Click OK to close the transformation.

6.

In the workspace, expand the RTR_Salary Router transformation to see all groups and ports.

7.

Click Repository > Save.

Next, you create another Router transformation to filter the Sales and Engineering department data from the
DEPARTMENT relational source.

Routing Department Data

To route the department data:

86

1.

Create a Router transformation and name it RTR_DeptName. Then click Done.

2.

Drag the DeptID and DeptName ports from the DEPARTMENT Source Qualifier transformation to the
RTR_DeptName Router transformation.

3.

Open RTR_DeptName.

4.

On the Groups tab, add two new groups.

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

Change the group names and set the filter conditions using the following table as a guide:
Group Name

Filter Condition

Sales

DEPTID = SLS

Engineering

DEPTID = ENG

5.

On the Ports tab, change the precision for DEPTNAME to 15.

6.

Click OK to close the transformation.

7.

In the workspace, expand the RTR_DeptName Router transformation to see all groups and columns.

8.

Click Repository > Save.

Completing the Mapping

Connect the Router transformations to the targets to complete the mapping.
To complete the mapping:
1.

Connect the following ports from RTR_Salary groups to the ports in the XML target definitions:
Router Group

Router Port

Target

Target Group

Target Port

Sales

EMPID1

SALES_SALARY

EMPLOYEE

EMPID

Engineering

DEPTID1

DEPTID (FK)

LASTNAME1

LASTNAME

FIRSTNAME1

FIRSTNAME

TotalSalary1

TOTALSALARY

EMPID3

ENG_SALARY

EMPLOYEE

EMPID

DEPTID3

DEPTID (FK)

LASTNAME3

LASTNAME

FIRSTNAME3

FIRSTNAME

TotalSalary3

TOTALSALARY

Creating a Mapping with XML Sources and Targets

87

The following picture shows the Router transformation connected to the target definitions:

2.

Connect the following ports from RTR_DeptName groups to the ports in the XML target definitions:
Router Group

Router Port

Target

Target Group

Target Port

Sales

DEPTID1

SALES_SALARY

DEPARTMENT

DEPTID

DEPTNAME1
Engineering

DEPTID3
DEPTNAME3

3.

DEPTNAME
ENG_SALARY

DEPARTMENT

DEPTID
DEPTNAME

Click Repository > Save.

The mapping is now complete. When you save the mapping, the Designer displays a message that the
mapping m_EmployeeSalary is valid.

88

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

Creating a Workflow
In the following steps, you create a workflow with a non-reusable session to run the mapping you just created.
Note: Before you run the workflow based on the XML mapping, verify that the Integration Service that runs the
workflow can access the source XML file. Copy the Employees.xml file from the Tutorial folder to the
$PMSourceFileDir directory for the Integration Service. Usually, this is the SrcFiles directory in the Integration
Service installation directory.
To create the workflow:
1.

Open the Workflow Manager.

2.

Connect to the repository and open the tutorial folder.

3.

Go to the Workflow Designer.

4.

Click Workflows > Wizard.

The Workflow Wizard opens.

5.

Name the workflow wf_EmployeeSalary and select a service on which to run the workflow. Then click Next.

6.

Select the m_EmployeeSalary mapping to create a session.

Note: The Workflow Wizard creates a session called s_m_EmployeeSalary.

7.

Click Next.

8.

Click Run on demand and click Next.

The Workflow Wizard displays the settings you chose.

9.

Click Finish to create the workflow.

The Workflow Wizard creates a Start task and session. You can add other tasks to the workflow later.

10.

Click Repository > Save to save the new workflow.

11.

Double-click the s_m_EmployeeSalary session to open it for editing.

12.

Click the Mapping tab.

13.

Select the connection for the SQ_DEPARTMENT Source Qualifier transformation.

14.

Select the XMLDSQ_Employees source on the Mapping tab.

15.

Verify that the Employees.xml file is in the specified source file directory.

Creating a Workflow

89

16.

Click the ENG_SALARY target instance on the Mapping tab and verify that the output file name is
eng_salary.xml.

1. Edit the output file name.

17.

Click the SALES_SALARY target instance on the Mapping tab and verify that the output file name is
sales_salary.xml.

18.

Click OK to close the session.

19.

Click Repository > Save.

20.

Run and monitor the workflow.

The Integration Service creates the eng_salary.xml and sales_salary.xml files.

90

Chapter 8: Tutorial Lesson 6

APPENDIX A

Naming Conventions
This appendix includes the following topic:
Suggested Naming Conventions, 91

Suggested Naming Conventions

The following naming conventions appear throughout the PowerCenter documentation and client tools. Use the
following naming conventions when you design mappings and create sessions.

Transformations
The following table lists the recommended naming convention for transformations:
Transformation

Naming Convention

Aggregator

AGG_TransformationName

Application Source Qualifier

ASQ_TransformationName

Custom

CT_TransformationName

Expression

EXP_TransformationName

External Procedure

EXT_TransformationName

Filter

FIL_TransformationName

HTTP

HTTP_TransformationName

Java

JTX_TransformationName

Joiner

JNR_TransformationName

Lookup

LKP_TransformationName

MQ Source Qualifier

SQ_MQ_TransformationName

Normalizer

NRM_TransformationName

91

Transformation

Naming Convention

Rank

RNK_TransformationName

Router

RTR_TransformationName

Sequence Generator

SEQ_TransformationName

Sorter

SRT_TransformationName

Stored Procedure

SP_TransformationName

Source Qualifier

SQ_TransformationName

SQL

SQL_TransformationName

Transaction Control

TC_TransformationName

Union

UN_TransformationName

Unstructured Data Transformation

UD_TransformationName

Update Strategy

UPD_TransformationName

XML Generator

XG_TransformationName

XML Parser

XP_TransformationName

XML Source Qualifier

XSQ_TransformationName

Targets
The naming convention for targets is: T_TargetName.

Mappings
The naming convention for mappings is: m_MappingName.

Mapplets
The naming convention for mapplets is: mplt_MappletName.

Sessions
The naming convention for sessions is: s_MappingName.

Worklets
The naming convention for worklets is: wl_WorkletName.

92

Appendix A: Naming Conventions

Workflows
The naming convention for workflows is: wf_WorkflowName.

Suggested Naming Conventions

93

APPENDIX B

Glossary
A
active database
The database to which transformation logic is pushed during pushdown optimization.

active source
An active source is an active transformation the Integration Service uses to generate rows.

adaptive dispatch mode

A dispatch mode in which the Load Balancer dispatches tasks to the node with the most available CPUs.

application service
A service that runs on one or more nodes in the Informatica domain. You create and manage application services
in Informatica Administrator or through the infacmd command program. Configure each application service based
on your environment requirements.

associated service
An application service that you associate with another application service. For example, you associate a
Repository Service with an Integration Service.

attachment view
View created in a web service source or target definition for a WSDL that contains a mime attachment. The
attachment view has an n:1 relationship with the envelope view.

available resource
Any PowerCenter resource that is configured to be available to a node.

B
backup node
Any node that is configured to run a service process, but is not configured as a primary node.

blocking
The suspension of the data flow into an input group of a multiple input group transformation.

blurring
A masking rule that limits the range of numeric output values to a fixed or percent variance from the value of the
source data. The Data Masking transformation returns numeric data that is close to the value of the source data.

bounds
A masking rule that limits the range of numeric output to a range of values. The Data Masking transformation
returns numeric data between the minimum and maximum bounds.

buffer block
A block of memory that the Integration Services uses to move rows of data from the source to the target. The
number of rows in a block depends on the size of the row data, the configured buffer block size, and the
configured buffer memory size.

buffer block size

The size of the blocks of data used to move rows of data from the source to the target. You specify the buffer
block size in bytes or as percentage of total memory. Configure this setting in the session properties.

buffer memory
Buffer memory allocated to a session. The Integration Service uses buffer memory to move data from sources to
targets. The Integration Service divides buffer memory into buffer blocks.

buffer memory size

Total buffer memory allocated to a session specified in bytes or as a percentage of total memory.

built-in parameters and variables

Predefined parameters and variables that do not vary according to task type. They return system or run-time
information such as session start time or workflow name. Built-in variables appear under the Built-in node in the
Designer or Workflow Manager Expression Editor.

C
cache partitioning
A caching process that the Integration Service uses to create a separate cache for each partition. Each partition
works with only the rows needed by that partition. The Integration Service can partition caches for the Aggregator,
Joiner, Lookup, and Rank transformations.

child dependency
A dependent relationship between two objects in which the child object is used by the parent object.

child object
A dependent object used by another object, the parent object.

cold start
A start mode that restarts a task or workflow without recovery.

Appendix B: Glossary

95

commit number
A number in a target recovery table that indicates the amount of messages that the Integration Service loaded to
the target. During recovery, the Integration Service uses the commit number to determine if it wrote messages to
all targets.

commit source
An active source that generates commits for a target in a source-based commit session.

compatible version
An earlier version of a client application or a local repository that you can use to access the latest version
repository.

composite object
An object that contains a parent object and its child objects. For example, a mapping parent object contains child
objects including sources, targets, and transformations.

concurrent workflow
A workflow configured to run multiple instances at the same time. When the Integration Service runs a concurrent
workflow, you can view the instance in the Workflow Monitor by the workflow name, instance name, or run ID.

Configuration Support Manager

A web-based application that you can use to diagnose issues in your Informatica environment and identify
Informatica updates. It helps you discover comprehensive information about your technical environment and
diagnose issues before they become critical.

coupled group
An input group and output group that share ports in a transformation.

CPU profile
An index that ranks the computing throughput of each CPU and bus architecture in a grid. In adaptive dispatch
mode, nodes with higher CPU profiles get precedence for dispatch.

custom role
A role that you can create, edit, and delete.

Custom transformation
A transformation that you bind to a procedure developed outside of the Designer interface to extend PowerCenter
functionality. You can create Custom transformations with multiple input and output groups.

Custom transformation procedure

A C procedure you create using the functions provided with PowerCenter that defines the transformation logic of a
Custom transformation.

Custom XML view

An XML view that you define instead of allowing the XML Wizard to choose the default root and columns in the
view. You can create custom views using the XML Editor and the XML Wizard in the Designer.

96

Glossary

D
data masking
A process that creates realistic test data from production source data. The format of the original columns and
relationships between the rows are preserved in the masked data.

Data Masking transformation

A passive transformation that replaces sensitive columns in source data with realistic test data. Each masked
column retains the datatype and the format of the original data.

default permissions
The permissions that each user and group receives when added to the user list of a folder or global object. Default
permissions are controlled by the permissions of the default group, Other.

denormalized view
An XML view that contains more than one multiple-occurring element.

dependent object
An object used by another object. A dependent object is a child object.

dependent services
A service that depends on another service to run processes. For example, the Integration Service cannot run
workflows if the Repository Service is not running.

deployment group
A global object that contains references to other objects from multiple folders across the repository. You can copy
the objects referenced in a deployment group to multiple target folders in another repository. When you copy
objects in a deployment group, the target repository creates new versions of the objects. You can create a static or
dynamic deployment group.

Design Objects privilege group

A group of privileges that define user actions on the following repository objects: business components, mapping
parameters and variables, mappings, mapplets, transformations, and user-defined functions.

deterministic output
Source or transformation output that does not change between session runs when the input data is consistent
between runs.

digested password
Password security option for protected web services. The password is the value generated from hashing the
password concatenated with a nonce value and a timestamp. The password must be hashed with the SHA-1 hash
function and encoded to Base64.

dispatch mode
A mode used by the Load Balancer to dispatch tasks to nodes in a grid.

Appendix B: Glossary

97

domain
A domain is the fundamental administrative unit for Informatica nodes and services.

DTM
The Data Transformation Manager process that reads, writes, and transforms data.

dynamic deployment group

A deployment group that is associated with an object query. When you copy a dynamic deployment group, the
source repository runs the query and then copies the results to the target repository.

dynamic partitioning
The ability to scale the number of partitions without manually adding partitions in the session properties. Based on
the session configuration, the Integration Service determines the number of partitions when it runs the session.

E
effective Transaction Control transformation
A Transaction Control transformation that does not have a downstream transformation that drops transaction
boundaries.

effective transaction generator

A transaction generator that does not have a downstream transformation that drops transaction boundaries.

element view
A view created in a web service source or target definition for a multiple occurring element in the input or output
message. The element view has an n:1 relationship with the envelope view.

envelope view
A main view in a web service source or target definition that contains a primary key and the columns for the input
or output message.

exclusive mode
An operating mode for the Repository Service. When you run the Repository Service in exclusive mode, you allow
only one user to access the repository to perform administrative tasks that require a single user to access the
repository and update the configuration.

F
failover
The migration of a service or task to another node when the node running or service process become unavailable.

fault view
A view created in a web service target definition if a fault message is defined for the operation. The fault view has
an n:1 relationship with the envelope view.

98

Glossary

flush latency
A session condition that determines how often the Integration Service flushes data from the source.

G
gateway node
Receives service requests from clients and routes them to the appropriate service and node. A gateway node can
run application services. In the Administrator tool, you can configure any node to serve as a gateway for a
PowerCenter domain. A domain can have multiple gateway nodes.

global object
An object that exists at repository level and contains properties you can apply to multiple objects in the repository.
Object queries, deployment groups, labels, and connection objects are global objects.

grid object
An alias assigned to a group of nodes to run sessions and workflows.

group
A set of ports that defines a row of incoming or outgoing data. A group is analogous to a table in a relational
source or target definition.

H
hashed password
Password security option for protected web services. The password must be hashed with the MD5 or SHA-1 hash
function and encoded to Base64.

high availability
A PowerCenter option that eliminates a single point of failure in a domain and provides minimal service
interruption in the event of failure.

High Group History List

A file that the United States Social Security Administration provides that lists the Social Security Numbers it issues
each month. The Data Masking transformation accesses this file when you mask Social Security Numbers.

I
idle database
The database that does not process transformation logic during pushdown optimization.

impacted object
An object that has been marked as impacted by the PowerCenter Client. The PowerCenter Client marks objects as
impacted when a child object changes in such a way that the parent object may not be able to run.

incompatible object
An object that a compatible client application cannot access in the latest version repository.

Appendix B: Glossary

99

ineffective Transaction Control transformation

A Transaction Control transformation that has a downstream transformation that drops transaction boundaries,
such as an Aggregator transformation with Transaction transformation scope.

ineffective transaction generator

A transaction generator that has a downstream transformation that drops transaction boundaries, such as an
Aggregator transformation with Transaction transformation scope.

Informatica domain
A collection of nodes and services that define the Informatica platform. You group nodes and services in a domain
based on administration ownership.

Informatica Services
The name of the service or daemon that runs on each node. When you start Informatica Services on a node, you
start the Service Manager on that node.

input group
A set of ports that defines a row of incoming data.

Integration Service
An application service that runs data integration workflows and loads metadata into the Metadata Manager
warehouse.

Integration Service process

A process that accepts requests from the PowerCenter Client and from pmcmd. The Integration Service process
manages workflow scheduling, locks and reads workflows, and starts DTM processes.

invalid object
An object that has been marked as invalid by the PowerCenter Client. When you validate or save a repository
object, the PowerCenter Client verifies that the data can flow from all sources in a target load order group to the
targets without the Integration Service blocking all sources.

K
key masking
A type of data masking that produces repeatable results for the same source data and masking rules. The Data
Masking transformation requires a seed value for the port when you configure it for key masking.

L
label
A user-defined object that you can associate with any versioned object or group of versioned objects in the
repository.

latency
A period of time from when source data changes on a source to when a session writes the data to a target.

100

Glossary

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) authentication

One of the authentication methods used to authenticate users logging in to PowerCenter applications. In LDAP
authentication, the Service Manager imports groups and user accounts from the LDAP directory service into an
LDAP security domain in the domain configuration database. The Service Manager stores the group and user
account information in the domain configuration database but passes authentication to the LDAP server.

limit on resilience timeout

An amount of time a service waits for a client to connect or reconnect to the service. The limit can override the
client resilience timeout configured for a client.

linked domain
A domain that you link to when you need to access the repository metadata in that domain.

Load Balancer
A component of the Integration Service that dispatches Session, Command, and predefined Event-Wait tasks
across nodes in a grid.

local domain
A PowerCenter domain that you create when you install PowerCenter. This is the domain you access when you
log in to the Administrator tool.

Log Agent
A Service Manager function that provides accumulated log events from session and workflows. You can view
session and workflow logs in the Workflow Monitor. The Log Agent runs on the nodes where the Integration
Service process runs.

Log Manager
A Service Manager function that provides accumulated log events from each service in the domain. You can view
logs in the Administrator tool. The Log Manager runs on the master gateway node.

M
mapping
A set of source and target definitions linked by transformation objects that define the rules for data transformation.

Mapping Architect for Visio

A PowerCenter Client feature that you use to create mapping templates in Visio and import them into the
PowerCenter Designer.

mapplet
A mapplet is a set of transformations that you build in the Mapplet Designer. Create a mapplet when you want to
reuse the logic in multiple mappings.

masking algorithm
Sets of characters and rotors of numbers that provide the logic to mask data. A masking algorithm provides
random results that ensure that the original data cannot be disclosed from the masked data.

Appendix B: Glossary

101

master gateway node

The entry point to a PowerCenter domain. When you configure multiple gateway nodes, one node acts as the
master gateway node. If the master gateway node becomes unavailable, the Service Manager on other gateway
nodes elect another master gateway node.

master service process

An Integration Service process that runs the workflow and workflow tasks. When you run workflows and sessions
on a grid, the Integration Service designates one Integration Service process as the master service process. The
master service process can distribute the Session, Command, and predefined Event-Wait tasks to worker service
processes. The master service process monitors all Integration Service processes.

metadata explosion
The expansion of referenced or multiple-occurring elements in an XML definition. The relationship model you
choose for an XML definition determines if metadata is limited or exploded to multiple areas within the definition.
Limited data explosion reduces data redundancy.

Metadata Manager Service

An application service that runs the Metadata Manager application in a PowerCenter domain. It manages access
to metadata in the Metadata Manager warehouse.

metric-based dispatch mode

A dispatch mode in which the Load Balancer checks current computing load against the resource provision
thresholds and then dispatches tasks in a round-robin fashion to nodes where the thresholds are not exceeded.

mixed-version domain
A PowerCenter domain that supports multiple versions of application services.

N
native authentication
One of the authentication methods used to authenticate users logging in to PowerCenter applications. In native
authentication, you create and manage users and groups in the Administrator tool. The Service Manager stores
group and user account information and performs authentication in the domain configuration database.

node
A logical representation of a machine or a blade. Each node runs a Service Manager that performs domain
operations on that node.

node diagnostics
Diagnostic information for a node that you generate in the Administrator tool and upload to Configuration Support
Manager. You can use this information to identify issues within your Informatica environment.

nonce
A random value that can be used only once. In PowerCenter web services, a nonce value is used to generate a
digested password. If the protected web service uses a digested password, the nonce value must be included in
the security header of the SOAP message request.

102

Glossary

normal mode
An operating mode for an Integration Service or Repository Service. Run the Integration Service in normal mode
during daily Integration Service operations. Run the Repository Service in normal mode to allow multiple users to
access the repository and update content.

normalized view
An XML view that contains no more than one multiple-occurring element. Normalized XML views reduce data
redundancy.

O
object query
A user-defined object you use to search for versioned objects that meet specific conditions.

one-way mapping
A mapping that uses a web service client for the source. The Integration Service loads data to a target, often
triggered by a real-time event through a web service request.

open transaction
A set of rows that are not bound by commit or rollback rows.

operating mode
The mode for an Integration Service or Repository Service. An Integration Service runs in normal or safe mode. A
Repository Service runs in normal or exclusive mode.

operating system flush

A process that the Integration Service uses to flush messages that are in the operating system buffer to the
recovery file. The operating system flush ensures that all messages are stored in the recovery file even if the
Integration Service is not able to write the recovery information to the recovery file during message processing.

operating system profile

A level of security that the Integration Services uses to run workflows. The operating system profile contains the
operating system user name, service process variables, and environment variables. The Integration Service runs
the workflow with the system permissions of the operating system user and settings defined in the operating
system profile.

output group
A set of ports that defines a row of outgoing data.

P
parent dependency
A dependent relationship between two objects in which the parent object uses the child object.

parent object
An object that uses a dependent object, the child object.

Appendix B: Glossary

103

permission
The level of access a user has to an object. Even if a user has the privilege to perform certain actions, the user
may also require permission to perform the action on a particular object.

pipeline branch
A segment of a pipeline between any two mapping objects.

pipeline stage
The section of a pipeline executed between any two partition points.

pmdtm process
The Data Transformation Manager process.

pmserver process
The Integration Service process.

port dependency
The relationship between an output or input/output port and one or more input or input/output ports.

predefined parameters and variables

Parameters and variables whose values are set by the Integration Service. You cannot define values for
predefined parameter and variable values in a parameter file. Predefined parameters and variables include built-in
parameters and variables, email variables, and task-specific workflow variables.

predefined resource
An available built-in resource. This can include the operating system or any resource installed by the PowerCenter
installation, such as a plug-in or a connection object.

primary node
A node that is configured as the default node to run a service process. By default, the Service Manager starts the
service process on the primary node and uses a backup node if the primary node fails.

privilege
An action that a user can perform in PowerCenter applications. You assign privileges to users and groups for the
PowerCenter domain, the Repository Service, the Metadata Manager Service, and the Reporting Service.

privilege group
An organization of privileges that defines common user actions.

pushdown compatible connections

Connections with identical property values that allow the Integration Service to identify tables within the same
database management system. The required properties depend on the database management system associated
with the connection object.

104

Glossary

pushdown group
A group of transformations containing transformation logic that is pushed to the database during a session
configured for pushdown optimization. The Integration Service creates one or more SQL statements based on the
number of partitions in the pipeline.

pushdown optimization
A session option that allows you to push transformation logic to the source or target database.

R
random masking
A type of masking that produces random, non-repeatable results.

real-time data
Data that originates from a real-time source. Real-time data includes messages and messages queues, web
services messages, and change data from a PowerExchange change data capture source.

real-time processing
On-demand processing of data from operational data sources, databases, and data warehouses. Real-time
processing reads, processes, and writes data to targets continuously.

real-time session
A session in which the Integration Service generates a real-time flush based on the flush latency configuration and
all transformations propagate the flush to the targets.

real-time source
The origin of real-time data. Real-time sources include JMS, WebSphere MQ, TIBCO, webMethods, MSMQ, SAP,
and web services.

recovery
The automatic or manual completion of tasks after a service is interrupted. Automatic recovery is available for
Integration Service and Repository Service tasks. You can also manually recover Integration Service workflows.

recovery ignore list

A list of message IDs that the Integration Service uses to prevent data duplication for JMS and WebSphere MQ
sessions. The Integration Service writes recovery information to the list if there is a chance that the source did not
receive an acknowledgement.

reference file
A Microsoft Excel or flat file that contains reference data. Use the Reference Table Manager to import data from
reference files into reference tables.

reference table
A table that contains reference data such as default, valid, and cross-reference values. You can create, edit,
import, and export reference data with the Reference Table Manager.

Appendix B: Glossary

105

reference table staging area

A relational database that stores the reference tables. All reference tables that you create or import using the
Reference Table Manager are stored within the staging area. You can create and manage multiple staging areas
to restrict access to the reference tables.

repeatable data
A source or transformation output that is in the same order between session runs when the order of the input data
is consistent.

Reporting Service
An application service that runs the Data Analyzer application in a PowerCenter domain. When you log in to Data
Analyzer, you can create and run reports on data in a relational database or run the following PowerCenter
reports: PowerCenter Repository Reports, Data Analyzer Data Profiling Reports, or Metadata Manager Reports.

repository client
Any PowerCenter component that connects to the repository. This includes the PowerCenter Client, Integration
Service, pmcmd, pmrep, and MX SDK.

repository domain
A group of linked repositories consisting of one global repository and one or more local repositories.

Repository Service
An application service that manages the repository. It retrieves, inserts, and updates metadata in the repository
database tables.

request-response mapping
A mapping that uses a web service source and target. When you create a request-response mapping, you use
source and target definitions imported from the same WSDL file.

required resource
A PowerCenter resource that is required to run a task. A task fails if it cannot find any node where the required
resource is available.

reserved words file

A file named reswords.txt that you create and maintain in the Integration Service installation directory. The
Integration Service searches this file and places quotes around reserved words when it executes SQL against
source, target, and lookup databases.

resilience
The ability for PowerCenter services to tolerate transient network failures until either the resilience timeout expires
or the external system failure is fixed.

resilience timeout
The amount of time a client attempts to connect or reconnect to a service. A limit on resilience timeout can
override the resilience timeout.

106

Glossary

resource provision thresholds

Computing thresholds defined for a node that determine whether the Load Balancer can dispatch tasks to the
node. The Load Balancer checks different thresholds depending on the dispatch mode.

role
A collection of privileges that you assign to a user or group. You assign roles to users and groups for the
PowerCenter domain, the Repository Service, the Metadata Manager Service, and the Reporting Service.

round-robin dispatch mode

A dispatch mode in which the Load Balancer dispatches tasks to available nodes in a round-robin fashion up to the
Maximum Processes resource provision threshold.

Run-time Objects privilege group

A group of privileges that define user actions on the following repository objects: session configuration objects,
tasks, workflows, and worklets.

S
safe mode
An operating mode for the Integration Service. When you run the Integration Service in safe mode, only users with
privilege to administer the Integration Service can run and get information about sessions and workflows. A subset
of the high availability features are available in safe mode.

SAP BW Service
An application service that listens for RFC requests from SAP NetWeaver BI and initiates workflows to extract
from or load to SAP NetWeaver BI.

security domain
A collection of user accounts and groups in a PowerCenter domain. Native authentication uses the Native security
domain which contains the users and groups created and managed in the Administrator tool. LDAP authentication
uses LDAP security domains which contain users and groups imported from the LDAP directory service. You can
define multiple security domains for LDAP authentication.

seed
A random number required by key masking to generate non-colliding repeatable masked output.

service level
A domain property that establishes priority among tasks that are waiting to be dispatched. When multiple tasks are
waiting in the dispatch queue, the Load Balancer checks the service level of the associated workflow so that it
dispatches high priority tasks before low priority tasks.

Service Manager
A service that manages all domain operations. It runs on all nodes in the domain to support the application
services and the domain. When you start Informatica Services, you start the Service Manager. If the Service
Manager is not running, the node is not available.

Appendix B: Glossary

107

service mapping
A mapping that processes web service requests. A service mapping can contain source or target definitions
imported from a Web Services Description Language (WSDL) file containing a web service operation. It can also
contain flat file or XML source or target definitions.

service process
A run-time representation of a service running on a node.

service version
The version of an application service running in the PowerCenter domain. In a mixed-version domain you can
create application services of multiple service versions.

service workflow
A workflow that contains exactly one web service input message source and at most one type of web service
output message target. Configure service properties in the service workflow.

session
A task in a workflow that tells the Integration Service how to move data from sources to targets. A session
corresponds to one mapping.

session recovery
The process that the Integration Service uses to complete failed sessions. When the Integration Service runs a
recovery session that writes to a relational target in normal mode, it resumes writing to the target database table at
the point at which the previous session failed. For other target types, the Integration Service performs the entire
writer run again.

single-version domains
A PowerCenter domain that supports one version of application services.

source pipeline
A source qualifier and all of the transformations and target instances that receive data from that source qualifier.

Sources and Targets privilege group

A group of privileges that define user actions on the following repository objects: cubes, dimensions, source
definitions, and target definitions.

state of operation
Workflow and session information the Integration Service stores in a shared location for recovery. The state of
operation includes task status, workflow variable values, and processing checkpoints.

static deployment group

A deployment group that you must manually add objects to.

system-defined role
A role that you cannot edit or delete. The Administrator role is a system-defined role.

108

Glossary

T
target connection group
A group of targets that the Integration Service uses to determine commits and loading. When the Integration
Service performs a database transaction such as a commit, it performs the transaction for all targets in a target
connection group.

target load order groups

A collection of source qualifiers, transformations, and targets linked together in a mapping.

task release
A process that the Workflow Monitor uses to remove older tasks from memory so you can monitor an Integration
Service in online mode without exceeding memory limits.

task-specific workflow variables

Predefined workflow variables that vary according to task type. They appear under the task name in the Workflow
Manager Expression Editor. $Dec_TaskStatus.PrevTaskStatus and $s_MySession.ErrorMsg are examples of taskspecific workflow variables.

terminating condition
A condition that determines when the Integration Service stops reading messages from a real-time source and
ends the session.

transaction
A set of rows bound by commit or rollback rows.

transaction boundary
A row, such as a commit or rollback row, that defines the rows in a transaction. Transaction boundaries originate
from transaction control points.

transaction control
The ability to define commit and rollback points through an expression in the Transaction Control transformation
and session properties.

transaction control point

A transformation that defines or redefines the transaction boundary by dropping any incoming transaction
boundary and generating new transaction boundaries.

Transaction Control transformation

A transformation used to define conditions to commit and rollback transactions from relational, XML, and dynamic
WebSphere MQ targets.

transaction control unit

A group of targets connected to an active source that generates commits or an effective transaction generator. A
transaction control unit may contain multiple target connection groups.

Appendix B: Glossary

109

transaction generator
A transformation that generates both commit and rollback rows. Transaction generators drop incoming transaction
boundaries and generate new transaction boundaries downstream. Transaction generators are Transaction
Control transformations and Custom transformation configured to generate commits.

transformation
A repository object that generates, modifies, or passes data. The Designer provides a set of transformations that
perform specific functions.

type view
A view created in a web service source or target definition for a complex type element in the input or output
message. The type view has an n:1 relationship with the envelope view.

U
user credential
Web service security option that requires a client application to log in to the PowerCenter repository and get a
session ID. The Web Services Hub authenticates the client requests based on the session ID. This is the security
option used for batch web services.

user name token

Web service security option that requires a client application to provide a user name and password. The Web
Services Hub authenticates the client requests based on the user name and password. The password can be a
plain text password, hashed password, or digested password. This is the default security option for protected web
services.

user-defined commit
A commit strategy that the Integration Service uses to commit and roll back transactions defined in a Transaction
Control transformation or a Custom transformation configured to generate commits.

user-defined parameters and variables

Parameters and variables whose values can be set by the user. You normally define user-defined parameters and
variables in a parameter file. However, some user-defined variables, such as user-defined workflow variables, can
have initial values that you specify or are determined by their datatypes. You must specify values for user-defined
session parameters.

user-defined property
A user-defined property is metadata that you define, such as PowerCenter metadata extensions. You can create
user-defined properties in business intelligence, data modeling, or OLAP tools, such as IBM DB2 Cube Views or
PowerCenter, and exchange the metadata between tools using the Metadata Export Wizard and Metadata Import
Wizard.

user-defined resource
A PowerCenter resource that you define, such as a file directory or a shared library you want to make available to
services.

110

Glossary

V
version
An incremental change of an object saved in the repository. The repository uses version numbers to differentiate
versions.

versioned object
An object for which you can create multiple versions in a repository. The repository must be enabled for version
control.

view root
The element in an XML view that is a parent to all the other elements in the view.

view row
The column in an XML view that triggers the Integration Service to generate a row of data for the view in a session.

W
Web Services Hub
An application service in the PowerCenter domain that uses the SOAP standard to receive requests and send
responses to web service clients. It acts as a web service gateway to provide client applications access to
PowerCenter functionality using web service standards and protocols.

Web Services Provider

The provider entity of the PowerCenter web service framework that makes PowerCenter workflows and data
integration functionality accessible to external clients through web services.

worker node
Any node not configured to serve as a gateway. A worker node can run application services but cannot serve as a
master gateway node.

workflow
A set of instructions that tells the Integration Service how to run tasks such as sessions, email notifications, and
shell commands.

workflow instance
The representation of a workflow. You can choose to run one or more workflow instances associated with a
concurrent workflow. When you run a concurrent workflow, you can run one instance multiple times concurrently,
or you can run multiple instances concurrently.

workflow instance name

The name of a workflow instance for a concurrent workflow. You can create workflow instance names, or you can
use the default instance name.

workflow run ID
A number that identifies a workflow instance that has run.

Appendix B: Glossary

111

Workflow Wizard
A wizard that creates a workflow with a Start task and sequential Session tasks based on the mappings you
choose.

worklet
A worklet is an object representing a set of tasks created to reuse a set of workflow logic in multiple workflows.

X
XML group
A set of ports in an XML definition that defines a row of incoming or outgoing data. An XML view becomes a group
in a PowerCenter definition.

XML view
A portion of any arbitrary hierarchy in an XML definition. An XML view contains columns that are references to the
elements and attributes in the hierarchy. In a web service definition, the XML view represents the elements and
attributes defined in the input and output messages.

112

Glossary

INDEX

PowerCenter repository
overview 5

Administration Console
overview 5
Administrator tool
Domain page 5
Security page 6

D
Data Analyzer
overview 14
Domain page
overview 5

I
Informatica domains
overview 3
Informix
database platform 26
Integration Service
overview 13
Introduction
overview 1

M
Metadata Manager
overview 14

Security tab
overview 6
sessions
creating 40, 59
source
viewing definitions 31
sources
supported 3

T
targets
supported 3
transformations
definition 47

W
Web Services Hub
overview 13
Workflow Manager
overview 10
Workflow Monitor
overview 10, 11
workflows
running 74

P
PowerCenter Client
overview 7

113