XML Guide: Informatica Powercenter (Version 10.0)
XML Guide: Informatica Powercenter (Version 10.0)
0)
XML Guide
Informatica PowerCenter XML Guide
Version 10.0
November 2015
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4 Table of Contents
Code Pages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Table of Contents 5
Troubleshooting XML Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
6 Table of Contents
Importing an XML Target Definition from an XML File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Creating a Target from an XML Source Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Editing XML Target Definition Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Validating XML Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Hierarchy Relationship Validation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Type Relationship Validation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Inheritance Validation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Using an XML Target in a Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Active Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Selecting a Root Element. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Connecting Target Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Connecting Abstract Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Flushing XML Data to Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Naming XML Files Dynamically. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Troubleshooting XML Targets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Table of Contents 7
Appendix A: XML Datatype Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
XML and Transformation Datatypes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
XML Date Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
8 Table of Contents
Preface
The XML Guide is written for developers and software engineers responsible for working with XML in a data
warehouse environment. Before you use the XML Guide, ensure that you have a solid understanding of XML
concepts, your operating systems, flat files, or mainframe system in your environment. Also, ensure that you
are familiar with the interface requirements for your supporting applications.
Informatica Resources
Informatica Documentation
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9
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10 Preface
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Preface 11
CHAPTER 1
XML Concepts
This chapter includes the following topics:
You can import XML definitions into PowerCenter from the following file types:
• XML file. An XML file contains data and metadata. An XML file can reference a Document Type Definition
file (DTD) or an XML schema definition (XSD) for validation.
• DTD file. A DTD file defines the element types, attributes, and entities in an XML file. A DTD file provides
some constraints on the XML file structure but a DTD file does not contain any data.
• XML schema. An XML schema defines elements, attributes, and type definitions. Schemas contain simple
and complex types. A simple type is an XML element or attribute that contains text. A complex type is an
XML element that contains other elements and attributes.
Schemas support element, attribute, and substitution groups that you can reference throughout a schema.
Use substitution groups to substitute one element with another in an XML instance document. Schemas
also support inheritance for elements, complex types, and element and attribute groups.
12
XML Files
XML files contain tags that identify data in the XML file, but not the format of the data. The basic component
of an XML file is an element. An XML element includes an element start tag, element content, and element
end tag. All XML files must have a root element defined by a single tag at the top and bottom of the file. The
root element encloses all the other elements in the file.
An XML file models a hierarchical database. The position of an element in an XML hierarchy represents its
relationships to other elements. An element can contain child elements, and elements can inherit
characteristics from other elements.
Book is the root element and it contains the title and chapter elements. Book is the parent element of title and
chapter, and chapter is the parent of heading. Title and chapter are sibling elements because they have the
same parent.
An element can have attributes that provide additional information about the element. In the following
example, the attribute graphic_type describes the content of picture:
<picture graphic_type="gif">computer.gif</picture>
XML Files 13
The following figure shows the structure, elements, and attributes in an XML file:
1. Root element.
2. Element data.
3. Enclosure element.
4. Element tags.
5. Element data.
6. Attribute value.
7. Attribute tag.
An XML file has a hierarchical structure. An XML hierarchy includes the following elements:
To reference the location and name of a DTD file, use the DOCTYPE declaration in an XML file. The
DOCTYPE declaration also names the root element for the XML file.
For example, the following XML file references the location of the note.dtd file:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE note SYSTEM
"http://www.w3schools.com/dtd/note.dtd">
<note>
<body>XML Data</body>
</note>
XML Files 15
To reference a schema, use the schemaLocation declaration. The schemaLocation contains the location and
name of a schema.
The following XML file references the note.xsd schema in an external location:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<note xsi:SchemaLocation="http://www.w3schools.com note.xsd">
<body>XML Data</body>
</note>
Unicode Encoding
An XML file contains an encoding attribute that indicates the code page in the file. The most common
encodings are UTF-8 and UTF-16. UTF-8 represents a character with one to four bytes, depending on the
Unicode symbol. UTF-16 represents a character as a 16-bit word.
DTD Files
A Document Type Definition (DTD) file defines the element types and attributes in an XML file. A DTD file
also provides some constraints on the XML file structure. A DTD file does not contain any data or element
datatypes.
1. Element
2. Attribute
3. Element list
4. Element occurrence
5. Attribute value option
6. Attribute name
DTD Elements
In the DTD file, an element declaration defines an XML element. An element declaration has the following
syntax:
<!ELEMENT product (#PCDATA)>
The DTD description defines the XML tag <product>. The description (#PCDATA) specifies parsed character
data. Parsed data is the text between the start tag and the end tag of an XML element. Parsed character data
is text without child elements.
The following example shows a DTD description of an element with two child elements:
<!ELEMENT boat (brand, type) >
<!ELEMENT brand (#PCDATA) >
<!ELEMENT type (#PCDATA) >
Brand and type are child elements of boat. Each child element can contain characters. In this example, brand
and type can occur once inside the element boat. The following DTD description specifies that brand must
occur one or more times for a boat:
<!ELEMENT boat (brand+) >
DTD Attributes
Attributes provide additional information about elements. In a DTD file, an attribute occurs inside the starting
tag of an element.
DTD Files 17
The following syntax describes an attribute in a DTD file:
<!ATTLIST element_name attribute_name attribute_type “default_value”>
- #FIXED. The XML file must contain the default value from the DTD file. A valid XML file can contain the
same attribute value as the DTD, or the XML file can have no attribute value. You must specify a default
value with this option.
The following example shows an attribute with a fixed value:
<!ATTLIST product product_name CDATA #FIXED “vacuum”>
The element name is product. The attribute is product_name. The attribute has a default value, vacuum.
1. Element name.
2. Attribute
3. Attribute type and null construction
4. Element datatype
5. Element data
6. Element list and occurrence
7. Element list and datatype
Related Topics:
• “Simple and Complex XML Types” on page 23
• “Component Groups” on page 29
• Namespace. A collection of elements and attribute names identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier
(URI) reference in an XML file. Namespace differentiates between elements that come from different
sources.
• Name. A tag that contains the name of an element or attribute.
• Hierarchy. The position of an element in relationship to other elements in an XML file.
• Cardinality. The number of times an element occurs in an XML file.
• Datatype. A classification of a data element, such as numeric, string, Boolean, or time. XML supports
custom datatypes and inheritance.
Namespace
A namespace contains a URI to identify schema location. A URI is a string of characters that identifies an
internet resource. A URI is an abstraction of a URL. A URL locates a resource, but a URI identifies a
resource. A DTD or schema file does not have to exist at the URI location.
An XML namespace identifies groups of elements. A namespace can identify elements and attributes from
different XML files or distinguish meanings between elements. For example, you can distinguish meanings for
the element “table” by declaring different namespaces, such as math:table and furniture:table. XML is case
sensitive. The namespace Math:table is different from the namespace math:table.
You can declare a namespace at the root level of an XML file, or you can declare a namespace inside any
element in an XML structure. When you declare multiple namespaces in the same XML file, you use a
namespace prefix to associate an element with a namespace. A namespace declaration appears in the XML
file as an attribute that starts with xmlns. Declare the namespace prefix with the xmlns attribute. You can
create a prefix name of any length.
One namespace has math elements, and the other namespace has furniture elements. Each namespace has
an element called “table,” but the elements contain different types of data. The namespace prefix
distinguishes between the math table and the furniture table.
Name
In an XML file, each tag is the name of an element or attribute. In a DTD file, the tag <!ELEMENT> specifies
the name of an element, and the tag <!ATTLIST> indicates the set of attributes for an element. In a schema
file, <element name> specifies the name of an element and <attribute name> specifies the name of an
attribute.
When you import an XML definition, the element tags become column names in the PowerCenter definition,
by default.
Hierarchy
An XML file models a hierarchical database. The position of an element in an XML hierarchy represents its
relationship to other elements. For example, an element can contain child elements, and elements can inherit
characteristics from other elements.
Cardinality
Element cardinality in a DTD or schema file is the number of times an element occurs in an XML file. Element
cardinality affects how you structure groups in an XML definition. Absolute cardinality and relative cardinality
of elements affect the structure of an XML definition.
Absolute Cardinality
The absolute cardinality of an element is the number of times an element occurs within its parent element in
an XML hierarchy. DTD and XML schema files describe the absolute cardinality of elements within the
hierarchy. A DTD file uses symbols, and an XML schema file uses the <minOccurs> and <maxOccurs>
attributes to describe the absolute cardinality of an element.
For example, an element has an absolute cardinality of once (1) if the element occurs once within its parent
element. However, the element might occur many times within an XML hierarchy if the parent element has a
cardinality of one or more (+).
The absolute cardinality of an element determines its null constraint. An element that has an absolute
cardinality of one or more (+) cannot have null values, but an element with a cardinality of zero or more (*)
can have null values. An attribute marked as fixed or required in an XML schema or DTD file cannot have null
values, but an implied attribute can have null values.
Cardinality 21
The following table describes how DTD and XML schema files represent cardinality:
Note: You can declare a maximum number of occurrences or an unlimited occurrences in a schema.
The following figure shows the absolute cardinality of elements in a sample XML file:
1. Element Address occurs more than once within Store. Its absolute cardinality is one or more(+).
2. Element City occurs once within its parent element Address. Its absolute cardinality is once(1).
3. Element Sales occurs zero or more times within its parent element Product. Its absolute cardinality is zero or more(*).
Relative Cardinality
Relative cardinality is the relationship of an element to another element in the XML hierarchy. An element can
have a one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many relationship to another element in the hierarchy.
An element has a one-to-many relationship with another element if every occurrence of one element can
have multiple occurrences of another element. For example, an employee element can have multiple email
addresses. Employee and email address have a one-to-many relationship.
An element has a many-to-many relationship with another element if an XML file can have multiple
occurrences of both elements. For example, an employee might have multiple email addresses and multiple
street addresses. Email address and street address have a many-to-many relationship.
The following figure shows the relative cardinality between elements in a sample XML file:
1. One-to-many relationship. For every occurrence of SNAME, there can be many occurrences of ADDRESS and, therefore, many
occurrences of CITY.
2. Many-to-many relationship. For every occurrence of STATE, there can be multiple occurrences of YTDSALES. For every occurrence
of YTDSALES, there can be many occurrences of STATE.
3. One-to-one relationship. For every occurrence of PNAME, there is one occurrence of PPRICE.
For more information about XML datatypes, see the W3C specifications for XML datatypes at
http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-2.
Simple Types
A simple datatype is an XML element or attribute that contains text. A simple type is indivisible. Simple types
cannot have attributes, but attributes are simple types.
Atomic Types
An atomic datatype is a basic datatype such as a Boolean, string, integer, decimal, or date. To define custom
atomic datatypes, add restrictions to an atomic datatype to limit the content. Use a facet to define which
values to restrict or allow.
A facet is an expression that defines minimum or maximum values, specific values, or a data pattern of valid
values. For example, a pattern facet restricts an element to an expression of data values. An enumeration
facet lists the legal values for an element.
The following example contains a pattern facet that restricts an element to a lowercase letter between a and
z:
<xs:element name="letter">
<xs:simpleType>
<xs:restriction base="xs:string">
<xs:pattern value="[a-z]"/>
</xs:restriction>
</xs:simpleType></xs:element>
Lists
A list is an array collection of atomic types, such as a list of strings that represent names. The list itemType
defines the datatype of the list components.
An XML file might contain the following data in the names list:
<names>Joe Bob Harry Atlee Will</names>
The following figure shows a schema file containing a shoesize union that contains sizenames and sizenums
lists:
The union defines sizenames and sizenums as union member types. Sizenames defines a list of string
values. Sizenums defines a list of decimal values.
Complex Types
A complex type aggregates a collection of simple types into a logical unit. For example, a customer type
might include the customer number, name, street address, town, city, and zip code. A complex type can also
reference other complex types or element and attribute groups.
XML supports complex type inheritance. When you define a complex type, you can create other complex
types that inherit the components of the base type. In a type relationship, the base type is the complex type
from which you derive another type. A derived complex type inherits elements from the base type.
A restricted complex type is a derived type that restricts some elements from the base type. For example,
mail_list might inherit elements from customer, but restrict the phone_number element by setting the
minoccurs and maxoccurs boundaries to zero.
The following figure shows derived complex types that restrict and extend the base complex type:
In the above figure, the base type is PublicationType. BookType extends PublicationType and includes the
ISBN and Publisher elements. Publication_Minimum restricts PublicationType. Publication_Minimum requires
between 1 and 25 Authors and restricts the date to the year.
Abstract Elements
Sometimes a schema contains a base type that defines the basic structure of a complex element but does
not contain all the components. Derived complex types extend the base type with more components. Since
the base type is not a complete definition, you might not want to use the base type in an XML file. You can
declare the base type element to be abstract. An abstract element is not valid in an XML file. Only the derived
elements are valid.
To define an abstract element, add an abstract attribute with the value “true.” The default is false.
Use the following element and attributes that allow any type of data:
• anyType element. Allows an element to be any datatype in the associated XML file.
• anySimpleType element. Allows an element to be any simpleType in the associated XML file.
• ANY content element. Allows an element to be any element already defined in the schema.
• anyAttribute attribute. Allows an element to be any attribute already defined in the schema.
anyType Elements
An anyType element can be any datatype in an XML instance document. Declare an element to be anyType
when the element contains different types of data.
The following schema describes a person with a first name, last name, and an age element that is anyType:
<xs:element name="person">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="firstname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
<<xs:element name="age" type="xs:anyType"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
The following XML instance document includes a date type and a number in the age element:
<person>
<firstname>Danny</firstname>
<lastname>Russell</lastname>
<age>1959-03-03</age>
</person>
<person>
Both types are valid for the schema. If you do not declare a datatype for an element in a schema, the element
defaults to anyType when you import the schema in the Designer.
anySimpleType Elements
An anySimpleType element can contain any atomic type. An atomic type is a basic datatype such as a
Boolean, string, integer, decimal, or date.
The following schema describes a person with a first name, last name, and other element that is
anySimpleType:
<xs:element name="person">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="firstname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="other" type="xs:anySimpleType"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
The following XML instance document substitutes the anySimpleType element with a string datatype:
<person>
<firstname>Kathy</firstname>
<lastname>Russell</lastname>
<other>Cissy</other>
</person>
The following XML instance document substitutes the anySimpleType element with a numeric datatype:
<person>
<firstname>Kathy</firstname>
<lastname>Russell</lastname>
<other>34</other>
</person>
When you specify ANY content, you use the keyword ANY instead of an element name and element type.
The following schema describes a person with a first name, last name, and an element that is ANY content:
<xs:element name="person">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="firstname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:any minOccurs="0"/>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="son" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name=”daughter” type="xs:string"/>
AnyAttribute Attributes
The anyAttribute attribute accepts any attribute in an XML file. When you declare an attribute as anyAttribute
you can substitute the anyAttribute element for any attribute in the schema.
The following schema describes a person with a first name, last name, and an attribute that is anyAttribute:
<xs:element name="person">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="firstname" type="xs:string"/>
<xs:element name="lastname" type="xs:string"/>
</xs:sequence>
<xs:anyAttribute/>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
The following XML instance document substitutes anyAttribute with the gender attribute:
<person gender="female">
<firstname>Anita</firstname>
<lastname>Ficks</lastname>
</person>
<person gender="male">
<firstname>Jim</firstname>
<lastname>Geimer</lastname>
</person>
Component Groups
You can create the following groups of components in an XML schema:
• Element and attribute group. Group of elements or attributes that you can reference throughout a
schema.
• Substitution group. Group of elements that you can substitute with other elements from the same group.
Component Groups 29
Element and Attribute Groups
You can put elements and attributes in groups that you can reference in a schema. You must declare the
group of elements or attributes before you reference the group.
The following example shows the schema syntax for an element group:
<xs:group name="Songs">
<xs:element name="songTitle" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="artist" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="publisher" type="xs:string" />
</xs:group>
The following example shows the schema syntax for an attribute group:
<xs:attributeGroup name="Songs">
<xs:attribute name="songTitle" type="xs:string" />
<xs:attribute name="artist" type="xs:string" />
<xs:attribute name="publisher" type="xs:string" />
</xs:attributeGroup>
• Sequence group. All elements in an XML file must occur in the order that the schema lists them. For
example, OrderHeader requires the customerName first, then orderNumber, and then orderDate:
<xs:group name="OrderHeader">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="customerName" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="orderNumber" type="xs:number" />
<xs:element name="orderDate" type="xs:date" />
</xs:sequence>
</xs:group>
• Choice group. One element in the group can occur in an XML file. For example, the CustomerInfo group
lists a choice of elements for the XML file:
<xs:group name="CustomerInfo">
<xs:choice>
<xs:element name="customerName" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="customerID" type="xs:number" />
<xs:element name="customerNumber" type="xs:integer" />
</xs:choice>
</xs:group>
• All group. All elements must occur in the XML file or none at all. The elements can occur in any order.
For example, CustomerInfo requires all or none of the three elements:
<xs:group name="CustomerInfo">
<xs:all>
<xs:element name="customerName" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="customerAddress" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="customerPhone" type="xs:string" />
</xs:all>
</xs:group>
Substitution Groups
Use substitution groups to replace one element with another in an XML file. For example, if you have
addresses from Canada and the United States, you can create an address type for Canada and another type
for the United States. You can create a substitution group that accepts either type of address.
The following schema fragment shows an Address base type and the derived types CAN_Address and
USA_Address:
<xs:complexType name="Address">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="Name" type="xs:string" />
<xs:element name="Street" type="xs:string"
minOccurs="1" maxOccurs="3" />
CAN_Address includes Province and PostalCode, and USA_Address includes State and Zip. The
MailAddress substitution group includes both address types.
Related Topics:
• “Using Substitution Groups in an XML Definition” on page 49
XML Path
XMLPath (XPath) is a language that describes a way to locate items in an XML file. XPath uses an
addressing syntax based on the route through the hierarchy from the root to an element or attribute. An XML
path can contain long schema component names.
XPath uses a slash (/) to distinguish between elements in the hierarchy. XML attributes are preceded by “@”
in the XPath.
You can create a query on an element or attribute XPath to filter XML data.
Related Topics:
• “Using XPath Query Predicates” on page 52
Code Pages
XML files contain an encoding declaration that indicates the code page used in the file. The most common
code pages in XML are UTF-8 and UTF-16. All XML parsers support these code pages. For information on
the XML character encoding specification, see the W3C website at http://www.w3c.org.
XML Path 31
PowerCenter supports the same set of code pages for XML files that it supports for relational databases and
other flat files. PowerCenter does not support a user-defined code page.
When you create an XML source or target definition, the Designer assigns the PowerCenter Client code page
to the definition. If you import an XML schema that contains a code page assignment, the XML Wizard
displays the code page from the schema. However, the XML Wizard does not apply that code page to the
XML definition you create in the repository.
You can not configure the code page for an XML source definition. The Integration Service converts XML
source files to Unicode when it parses them.
You can configure the code page for a target XML definition in the Designer. You can also change the code
page for an XML target instance in session properties.
An XML definition can contain multiple groups. In an XML definition, groups are called views. The relationship
between elements in the XML hierarchy defines the relationship between the views.
When you create an XML definition, the Designer creates views for multiple-occurring elements and complex
types in a schema by default. The relative cardinality of elements in an XML hierarchy affects how
PowerCenter creates views in an XML definition. Relative cardinality determines if elements can be part of
the same view.
The Designer defines relationships between the views in an XML definition by keys. Source definitions do not
require keys, but target views must have them. Each view has a primary key that is an XML element or a
generated key.
When you create an XML definition, you can create a hierarchical model or an entity relationship model of the
XML data. When you create a hierarchical model, you create a normalized or denormalized hierarchy. A
normalized hierarchy contains separate views for multiple-occurring elements. A denormalized hierarchy has
one view with duplicate data for multiple-occurring elements.
If you create an entity model, the Designer creates views for complex types and multiple-occurring elements.
The Designer creates an XML definition that models the inheritance and circular relationships the schema
provides.
33
PowerCenter can work with XML schema that have less than 400 elements. The PowerCenter profile can
contain up to three hierarchy levels, and can contain the following complex type elements:
• Sequence
• Any
• Choice
Limitations
The following limitations apply to XML handling in PowerCenter:
• Concatenated columns. A column cannot be a concatenation of two elements. For example, you cannot
create a column FULLNAME that refers to a concatenation of two elements FIRSTNAME and LASTNAME.
• Composite keys. A key cannot be a concatenation of two elements. For example, you cannot create a
key CUSTOMERID that refers to a concatenation of two elements LASTNAME and PHONENUMBER.
• Parsed lists. PowerCenter stores a list type as one string that contains all array elements. PowerCenter
does not parse the respective simple types from the string.
To create a transformation with other element types, and to transform larger XML input files, use a Data
Processor transformation. For more information about how to create Data Processor transformations, see the
Informatica Data Transformation User Guide and the Informatica Data Transformation Getting Started Guide.
• XML files
• DTD files
• XML schema files
• Relational tables
• Flat files
The root element is Employees. Employee is a multiple occurring element. The Employee element contains
the LastName, FirstName, and Address. The Employee element also contains the multiple-occurring
elements: Phone and Email.
The following figure shows the default XML source definition with separate views for the root element and the
multiple-occurring elements:
When you import an XML file, you do not need all of the XML data to create an XML definition. You need
enough data to accurately show the hierarchy of the XML file.
When you import a DTD file, you can change the datatypes for the elements in the XML definition. You can
change the null constraint, but you cannot change element cardinality.
If you import an XML file with an associated DTD, the Designer creates a definition based on the DTD
structure.
The following figure shows an example of an XML file where StoreInfo.dtd contains the Store element and
Product is one of the child elements of Store:
In the associated DTD, ProductInfo.xml, uses the Product element from StoreInfo.dtd. Product includes the
multiple-occurring Sales element.
The ProductInfo definition contains the Product and Sales groups. The XML file determines what elements to
include in the definition. The DTD file determines the structure of the XML definition.
When you import metadata from an XML schema, the .xsd file can contain import or include statements that
reference other .xsd files. When you import a schema that includes other schemas, the other schemas must
not reference the same namespace.
Example:
<IMPORT
schemaLocation="../../../administration/process/bo/LocationTextBO.xsd"
namespace="http://EnterpriseLibrary/com/acs/enterprise/common/program/administration/
process/bo">
<IMPORT
schemaLocation="../../../administration/process/bo/LineOfBusinessBO.xsd"
namespace="http://EnterpriseLibrary/com/acs/enterprise/common/program/administration/
process/bo">
<IMPORT
schemaLocation="../../../administration/process/bo/ClaimExceptionBO.xsd"
namespace="http://EnterpriseLibrary/com/acs/enterprise/common/program/administration/
process/bo">
You can replace multiple "import schemalocation" statements with one statement:
The imported.xsd file includes the other XSD files using the following syntax:
<xsd:schema targetNamespace="http://EnterpriseLibrary/com/acs/enterprise/common/
program/administration/process/bo" elementFormDefault="qualified" >
<xsd:include schemaLocation=" LocationTextBO.xsd" />
<xsd:include schemaLocation=" LineOfBusinessBO.xsd" />
<xsd:include schemaLocation=" ClaimExceptionBO.xsd" />
</xsd:schema>
Each simple type definition in an XML schema is a restriction of another simple type definition in the schema
Atomic data types, such as Boolean, string, or integer, restrict the anySimpleType datatype. When you define
a simple data type in an XML schema, you derive a new datatype from an existing data type. For example,
you can derive a restricted integer type that holds only numbers from 1 to 20. The base type is integer.
The following image shows a schema with simple and complex derived types:
The MailAddress element is an Address type which is a complex type. A derived type, CAN_Address, inherits
the Name, City, and Street from the Address type, and extends Address by adding a Province and
PostalCode. PostalCode is a simple type called CAN_PostalCode.
When you import an XML schema, every simple type or attribute in a complex type can become a column in
an XML definition. Complex types become views.
The following figure shows an XML definition from the schema if you import the schema with the default
options:
The CAN_Address view contains the elements that are unique for its type. The root element is MailAddress.
The Address type contains Name, Street, and City. The CAN_Address has a foreign key to Address.
CAN_Address includes Province and PostalCode.
The view does not contain the Name, Street, and City that it inherits from MailAddress.
The following figure shows a sample XML target definition from the relational definitions, Orders and
Order_Items:
The root is XRoot. XRoot encloses Orders and Order Items. Order_Items has a foreign key that points to
Orders.
The following figure shows a sample XML source definition from flat files orders and products:
Products and Orders have a foreign key to the root view, and are highlighted.
Each view in a target definition must be related to at least one other group. Therefore, each view needs at
least one key to establish its relationship with another view. If you do not designate the keys, the Designer
generates primary and foreign keys in the target views. You can define primary and foreign keys for views if
you create the views and relationships in the XML Editor instead of allowing the Designer to create them for
you.
When the Designer creates a primary or foreign key column, it assigns a column name with a prefix. In an
XML definition, the prefixes are XPK_ for a generated primary key column and XFK_ for a generated foreign
key column. The Designer uses the prefix FK_ for a foreign key that points to a primary key.
For example, when the Designer creates a primary key column for the Sales group, the Designer names the
column XPK_Sales. When the Designer creates a foreign key column connecting a sales group to another
group, it names the column XFK_Sales. You can rename any column name that the Designer creates.
If a mapping contains an XML source, the Integration Service creates the values for the generated primary
key columns in the source definition when you run the session. You can configure start values for the
generated keys.
The elements in the views and the relationship between views are dependent on the schema the Designer
creates in the repository when you import the definition. The XML Editor validates XML definitions using the
rules for valid views.
- A target leaf view requires a foreign key, but the target leaf view does not require a primary key.
• An enclosure element cannot be a key.
• A foreign key always refers to a primary key in another group. You cannot use self-referencing keys.
• A generated foreign key column always refers to a generated primary key column.
- Elements that have a one-to-many relationship can be part of the same normalized or denormalized
view.
- Elements that have a many-to-many relationship cannot be part of the same view.
• Normalized views. An XML definition with normalized views reduces redundancy by separating multiple-
occurring data into separate views. The views are related by primary and foreign keys.
• Denormalized views. An XML definition with a denormalized view has all the elements of the hierarchy
that are not unique to derived complex types in the view. A source or target definition can contain one
denormalized view.
Normalized Views
When the Designer generates a normalized view, it establishes the root element and the multiple-occurring
elements that become views in an XML definition.
The following figure shows a DTD file and the elements that become views in a normalized XML definition:
Store is the root element. Address, product, employee, and sales are multiple-occurring elements.
The definition has normalized views. The root view is Store. The Address, Product, and Sales views have
foreign keys to Store. The Sales view has a foreign key to the Product view.
The following table shows the rows in a data preview for the Store view:
The following table shows the rows in a data preview for the Address view:
The following table shows the rows in a data preview for the Product view:
1 1 Chair 5690.00 a1
1 1 Table 1240.00 a2
1 1 Bed 1364.99 a3
1 a1 Northwest 4565.44
2 a2 South 8793.99
3 a3 East 23110.00
4 a4 South 5500.00
5 a5 Northwest 10095.34
6 a6 East 200.00
The following table shows the rows in a data preview for the Employee view:
1 1 James Bond
2 1 Austin Powers
3 1 Indiana Jones
4 1 Foxie Brown
5 1 Bonnie Bell
6 1 Laura Croft
Denormalized Views
When the Designer generates a denormalized view, it creates one view and puts all elements of the hierarchy
into the view. All the elements in a denormalized view belong to the same parent chain. Denormalized views,
like denormalized tables, generate duplicate data.
The Designer can generate denormalized views for XML definitions that contain more than one multiple-
occurring element if the multiple-occurring elements have a one-to-many relationship and are all part of the
same parent chain.
Product and Sales are multiple-occurring elements. Because the multiple-occurring elements have a one-to-
many relationship, the Designer can create a single denormalized view that includes all elements.
The following figure shows the denormalized view for ProdAndSales.dtd in a source definition:
The Designer creates a single view for all the elements in the ProdAndSales hierarchy. Because a DTD file
does not define datatypes, the Designer assigns a datatype of string to all columns. The denormalized view
does not need a primary or foreign key.
The following figure shows a data preview for the denormalized view:
When you work with XML schemas, you can reference parts of the schema rather than repeat the same
information in schema components. A component can inherit the elements and attributes of another
component and restrict or extend the elements from the component. For example, you might use a complex
If you create views manually or re-create entity relationships in the XML Editor, you choose how you want to
structure the metadata. When you create an XML definition based on an XML schema that uses inheritance,
you can generate separate views for the base type and derived type. You might create inheritance
relationships if you plan to map the XML data to normalized relational tables.
An XML Type I inheritance relationship is a relationship between two views. Each view root is a global
complex type. One view is derived from the other.
You can create an inheritance relationship between a column and a view. This is an XML Type II inheritance
relationship.
• An entity represents a portion of an XML, DTD, or XML schema hierarchy. This hierarchy does not need to
start at the root of the XML file.
• The Designer uses entities defined in a DTD file to create entity relationships.
• The Designer uses type structures defined in an XML schema to generate entity relationships.
• The Designer creates a new entity when it encounters a multiple-occurring element under a parent
element.
• The Designer generates a separate view for each member of a substitution group.
• The Designer generates primary keys and foreign keys to relate separate entities.
The following schema contains a PublicationType, BookType, and MagazineType. PublicationType is the
base type. A publication includes Title, Author, and Date. BookType and MagazineType are derived types
that extend the PublicationType. Book has ISBN and Publisher, and Magazine has Volume and Edition.
<xsd:complexType name="PublicationType">
<xsd:sequence>
<xsd:element name="Title" type="xsd:string"/>
<xsd:element name="Author" type="xsd:string" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
<xsd:element name="Date" type="xsd:string"/>
</xsd:sequence>
</xsd:complexType>
<xsd:element name="Publication" type="PublicationType"/>
<xsd:complexType name="BookType">
<xsd:complexContent>
<xsd:extension base="PublicationType">
<xsd:sequence>
<xsd:element name="ISBN" type="xsd:string"/>
<xsd:element name="Publisher" type="xsd:string
</xsd:sequence>
</xsd:extension>
</xsd:complexContent>
</xsd:complexType>
<xsd:complexType name="MagazineType">
<xsd:complexContent>
<xsd:extension base="PublicationType">
When you create XML views as entities in an XML definition, the Title and Date metadata from
PublicationType do not repeat in BookType or MagazineType. Instead, these views contain the metadata that
distinguishes them from the PublicationType: ISBN and Publisher for BookType, and Volume and Edition for
MagazineType. They have foreign keys that link them to PublicationType.
This example uses reduced metadata explosion because none of the elements in the base type repeat in the
derived types.
The following figure shows the default views the Designer generates from the schema:
If you process the sample XML file using the XML definition in the preceding figure, you create data in the
following views:
• PublicationType view. Contains the title and date for each publication.
The following figure shows the PublicationType view:
• BookType view. Contains the ISBN and publisher. BookType contains a foreign key to PublicationType.
The following figure shows the BookType view:
• MagazineType view. Contains volume and edition. MagazineType also contains a foreign key to the
PublicationType.
The following figure shows the MagazineType view:
• Author view. Contains authors for all the publications. The Designer generates a separate view for
Author because Author is a multiple-occurring element. Each publication can contain multiple authors.
The following figure shows the Author view:
For example, the following schema defines a complex type called EmployeeType. EmployeeType contains
EmployeeNumber and EmployeeName elements.
EmployeeStatusType includes an element called Employee that extends EmployeeType. Employee includes
an EmployeeStatus element.
<xs:element name="Employee_Payroll">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="EmployeeStatus" type="EmpStatusType"
maxOccurs="unbounded"></xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:complexType name="EmpStatusType">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="Employee" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="1">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:complexContent>
<xs:extension base="EmployeeType">
xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="EmployeeStatus" type="xs:string">
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:extension>
</xs:complexContent>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
<xs:complexType name="EmployeeType">
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="EmployeeName" type="xs:string"></xs:element>
<xs:element name="EmployeeNumber" type="xs:string"></xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:schema>
When you import the schema, the Designer creates a view for Employee_Payroll, EmployeeType, and
EmployeeStatus. The EmployeeStatus view contains the column called Employee. Employee derives from
EmployeeType.
The Employee_Payroll view contains the Employee_Payroll element and a primary key,
PK_Employee_Payroll. The Employee_Payroll view is connected to the EmployeeStatus view by a blue line
that indicates a one- to- many relationship between the views. Employee_Payroll contains multiple
occurrences of EmployeeStatus.
The EmployeeStatus view contains an Employee element of type EmployeeType. The Employee element
extends EmployeeType by including an EmployeeStatus element. The EmployeeStatus view also contains a
foreign key to Employee_Payroll. The EmployeeStatus view is connected to an EmployeeType view with a
gray arrow. The arrow indicates a type relationship between the views.
The EmployeeType view contains an EmployeeType that consists of EmployeeName and EmployeeNumber.
The following figure shows an XML definition with a view for each member of the substitution group, including
AddrCAN, AddrGBR, AddrUSA, ShortAddress, and Street:
The following figure shows a circular reference in the XML Editor workspace with a complex element called
Part:
You might use the Part XML definition to read the following XML file in a session:
<Part>
<ID>1</ID>
<Name>Big Part</Name>
<Type>L</Type>
<Part>
<ID>1.A</ID>
<Name>Middle Part</Name>
<Type>M</Type>
<Part>
<ID>1.A.B</ID>
<Name>Small Part</Name>
<Type>S</Type>
</Part>
</Part>
</Part>
In the XML file, Part 1 contains Part 1.A, and Part 1.A contains Part 1.A.B.
The following figure shows the data and the keys that a session might generate from the XML source:
Note: You cannot run a session that contains a circular XML reference if the session is enabled for
constraint-based loading. The session rejects all rows.
For example, the Employees view contains elements Employee, Name, Firstname, and Lastname. When you
set the view row to Employee, the Integration Service extracts data using the following algorithm:
For every (Employees/Employee)
extract ./Name/Firstname/Lastname
Employee, Address, and Email are multiple-occurring elements. You can create a view that contains the
following elements:
EMPLOYEE
ADDRESS
NAME
If you set the view row as Address, the Integration Service extracts a Name for every Employee/Address in
the XML data. You cannot add Email to this view because you would create a many-to-many relationship
between Address and Email.
You can add a pivoted multiple-occurring column to the view. A view row can contain the pivoted column.
For example, you can add one instance of Email as a pivoted column to the Employee view. The view would
contain the following elements:
EMPLOYEE
ADDRESS
NAME
EMAIL[1]
The view might have the view row, EMPLOYEE/ADDRESS/EMAIL[1]. The Integration Service extracts data for
the first instance of Employee/Address/Email.
To create a query in an XML view, you create an XPath query predicate in the XML Editor. XPath is a
language that describes a way to locate items in an XML document. XPath uses an addressing syntax based
on the path through the XML hierarchy from a root component. You can create an XPath query predicate for
elements in the view row or elements and attributes that have an XPath that includes the view row.
An XPath query predicate includes an element or attribute to extract, and the query predicate that determines
the criteria. You can verify the value of an element or attribute, or you can verify that an element or attribute
exists in the source XML data.
Pivoting Columns
Sometimes an element that occurs multiple times is a set of the same elements containing different values.
For example, an element called Sales that occurs 12 times might contain the sales figures for each month of
the year. Or, an element called Address that occurs twice might be a home address and an office address.
If you have this type of element in an XML source, use pivoting to treat occurrences of elements as separate
columns in a group. To pivot occurrences of an element in an XML view, create a column for each occurrence
you want to represent in the definition. In the monthly sales example, if you want to represent all 12
occurrences as columns, create 12 sales columns in the view. If you want to represent the sales of one
quarter, create three columns. When you run a session, the Integration Service ignores any XML data for the
occurrences that you do not include in the definition.
You can pivot columns when you add or edit a view in the XML source definition.
You can pivot simple types and complex types. You cannot pivot a primary key column. When you pivot
columns in a view, the resulting group structure must follow the rules for a valid normalized or denormalized
view. The Designer displays warnings and errors if the pivoted column invalidates a view.
Pivoting affects an element in the view where you pivot the element. When you pivot an element in a view,
you do not change same element in another view.
Pivoting Columns 53
The following figure shows two occurrences of the Address element in the StoreInfo XML file:
First occurrence of Address pivots to home address columns with prefix HOM_. The second occurrence of
Address pivots to office address columns with prefix OFC_. XPath shows the two sets of columns that come
from the same elements.
The following figure shows the ADDRESS element of the StoreInfo XML file pivoted into two sets of address
columns:
In the following figure, the first and second address occurrences (with HOM_ and OFC_ prefixes) appear as
columns in the group:
The XPath STORE/PRODUCT[2]/ORDER[1]/ORDERNAME refers to the ordername for the first order for the second
product in the store. The XPath STORE/PRODUCT[2]/ORDER/CUSTOMER[1]refers to the first customer for all
orders of the second product.
If you pivot a view row, any column in the XML view that occurs below the view row must have an XPath that
matches XPath of the view row.
The following columns have the same occurrence of Trade in the XPath:
Transaction/Trade[1]/Date
Transaction/Trade[1]/Price
Transaction/Trade[1]/Person[1]/Firstname
You cannot create a column with the following XPath in the view:
Transaction/Trade[2]/Date
Pivoting Columns 55
CHAPTER 3
• XML files
• XML schema files
• DTD files
• Relational definitions
• Flat file definitions
When you create XML definitions, you import files with the XML Wizard and organize metadata into XML
views. XML views are groups of columns containing the elements and attributes in the XML file. The wizard
can generate views for you, or you can create custom views.
You can create relationships between views in the XML Wizard. You can create hierarchy relationships or
entity relationships.
You can synchronize an XML definition against an XML schema file if the structure of the schema changes.
56
Importing an XML Source Definition
When you import a source definition from an XML schema or DTD file, the Designer can provide an accurate
definition of the data based on the description provided in the DTD or XML schema file. When you import a
source definition based on an XML file without an associated DTD or XML schema, the XML Wizard
determines the types and occurrences of the data based on data represented in the XML file. When you
create the XML definition, you can get unexpected results. For example, the Designer might define an
inaccurate scale attribute for string columns. If you export the XML source definition and import the definition
with the inaccurate scale attributes, errors occur.
After you create an XML source definition, you cannot change the source definition to any other source type.
Conversely, you cannot change other types of source definition to XML definitions.
The XML Wizard uses keys to relate the XML views and reconstruct the XML hierarchy. You can choose to
generate views and primary keys, or you can create views and specify keys. When you create custom views,
you can select roots and choose how to handle metadata expansion.
The XML Wizard saves the XML hierarchy and the view information as an XML schema in the repository.
When you import an XML definition, the ability to change the cardinality and datatype of the elements in the
hierarchy depends on the type of file you are importing. For example, DTD and XML files do not store
datatype information. When you import these files to create an XML definition, you can configure datatype,
precision, and scale in the Designer. If you import an XML schema, you can change the precision and scale.
You cannot create an XML source definition from an XML file of exported repository objects.When you import
a source definition, the Designer applies a default code page to the XML definition in the repository. The code
page is based on the PowerCenter Client code page. You cannot change the code page for an XML source
definition, but you can change the code page for an XML target definition after you create it.
Option Description
Override all infinite lengths You can specify a default length for components with undefined lengths,
such as strings. If you do not set a default length, the precision for these
components sets to infinite. Infinite precision can cause DTM buffer size
errors when you run a session with large files.
Analyze elements/attributes in Choose this option to create global declarations of standalone XML
standalone XML as global elements or attributes. You can reuse global elements by referencing
declarations them in other parts of the schema. When you clear this option, the
standalone XML is a local declaration.
Create an XML view for an You can create a separate view for an enclosure element if the element
enclosure element can occur more than once and the child elements can occur more than
once. An enclosure element is an element that has no text content or
attributes but has child elements.
Pivot elements into columns You can pivot leaf elements if they have an occurrence limit. You can
pivot elements in source definitions only.
Ignore fixed element and You can ignore fixed values in a schema and allow other element values
attribute values in the data.
Ignore prohibited attributes You can declare an attribute as prohibited in an XML schema. Prohibited
attributes restrict complex types. When you import the schema or file, you
can choose to ignore the prohibited attributes.
Generate names for XML You can choose to name XML columns with a sequence of numbers or
columns with the element or attribute name from the schema. If you use names,
choose from the following options:
- When the XMLColumn refers to an attribute, prefix it with the element
name. PowerCenter uses the following format for the name of the XML
column: NameOfElement_NameOfAttribute
- Prefix the XML view name for every XML column. PowerCenter uses the
following format for the name of the XML column:
NameOfView_NameOfElement
- Prefix the XML view name for every foreign-key column. PowerCenter uses
the following format for the name of a generated foreign key column:
FK_NameOfView_NameOfParentView_NameOfPKColumn
Maximum length for a column name is 80 characters. PowerCenter
truncates column names longer than 80 characters. If a column name is
not unique, PowerCenter adds a numeric suffix to keep the name unique.
The XML Wizard provides options for creating views in the definition or you can create the views manually in
the XML Editor.
You can choose from the following options to create XML views:
• Generate entity relationships. If you create entity relationships, the XML Wizard generates views for
multiple-occurring or referenced elements and complex types.
• Generate hierarchy relationships. When you create hierarchical relationships, each reference to a
component expands under its parent element. You can generate normalized or denormalized XML views
in a hierarchy relationship.
- Normalized XML views. When you generate a normalized XML view, elements and attributes appear
once. Multiple-occurring elements, or elements in one-to-many relationships appear in different views
related by keys.
- Denormalized XML views. When you generate a denormalized XML view, all elements and attributes
appear in one view. The Designer does not model many-to-many relationships between elements and
attributes in an XML definition..
• Create a custom XML views. You can specify any global element as a root when creating a custom XML
view. You can choose to reduce metadata explosion for elements, complex types, and inherited complex
types.
• Synchronize XML definitions. You can update one or more XML definitions when their underlying
schemas change.
• Skip Create XML views. When you choose to skip creating the XML views, you can define them later in
the XML Editor. When you define views in the XML Editor you can define the views to match targets and
simplify the mapping.
• Create XML views for the elements and attributes in the XML file. When you import an XML file with
an associated schema, you can create XML views for just the elements and attributes in the XML file,
instead of all the components in the schema.
If you choose to generate entity or hierarchy relationships, the Designer chooses a default root and creates
the XML views. If the XML definition requires more than 400 views, a message appears that the definition is
too large. You can manually create views in the XML Editor. Import the XML definition and choose to create
custom views or skip generating XML views.
When you import a definition from a XML schema that has no global elements, the Designer cannot create a
root view in the XML definition. The Designer displays a message that there is no global element.
After you create an XML view, you cannot change the configuration options you set for the view. For
example, if you create a normalized XML view, you cannot change the view to denormalized. You must
import a new XML source definition and select the denormalized option.
For information about XML sizing in PowerCenter, see “Using XML with PowerCenter Overview” on page 33.
For more information about the limitations that apply to XML handling in PowerCenter, see “Limitations” on
page 34.
To create a transformation with other element types, and to transform larger XML input files, use a Data
Processor transformation. For more information about how to create Data Processor transformations, see the
Informatica Data Transformation User Guide and the Informatica Data Transformation Getting Started Guide.
To import part of a schema, import an XML file that references the schema. Select the option to create XML
views only for the elements and attributes in the XML file.
• The Designer limits metadata to what is in the XML file. If you change the XML file and import the XML
schema again, the XML definition changes.
• If an element or attribute occurs once in the XML file hierarchy, but occurs in more than one part of the
schema hierarchy, the Designer includes all occurrences of the element or attribute in the XML definition.
For example, a schema might have two address elements, a Store/Address and an Employee/Address. If
you import an XML file with the schema, and the XML file has only Store/Address, the Designer creates all
Address elements, including the Store/Address and the Employee/Address elements.
• If the XML file contains a derived complex type, the Designer includes all the base types in the XML
definition as separate views. The Designer does not expand the derived type to include the base type in
the same view.
• The Designer does not expand circular references in the XML definition when the XML file has multiple
levels of circular references.
• Generates views for multiple-occurring and referenced elements and complex types.
• Creates relationships between the views.
When the Designer generates entity relationships, the Designer generates different entities for complex
types, global elements, and multiple-occurring elements based on the relationships in the schema.
If you want to create groups other than the default groups, or if you want to combine elements from different
complex types, you can create custom XML views.
When you view an XML source definition in the XML Editor, you can see the relationships between each
element in the XML hierarchy. For each relationship between views, the XML Editor generates links based on
the type of relationship between the views.
You can specify how you want to generate metadata associated with the view. You can reduce metadata
explosion for elements, complex types, and inherited complex types by generating entity relationships. If you
do not reduce the metadata references, the Designer generates hierarchy relationships and expands all child
elements under their parent elements.
In this example, Bookstore element is selected as the root and the Book123 element is cleared as the root
element.
If you use references within an XML schema, you might want to reduce the number of times the Designer
includes the metadata associated with a reference. The XML Wizard provides the following options to reduce
metadata references:
• Reduce element explosion. The Designer creates a view for any multiple-occurring element or any
element that is referenced by more than one other element. Each view can have multiple hierarchical
relationships with other views in the definition.
• Reduce complex type explosion. The Designer creates an XML view for each referenced complex type
or multiple-occurring element. The XML view can have multiple type relationships with other views. If the
schema uses inherited complex types, you can also reduce explosion of inherited complex types.
• Reduce complex type inheritance explosion. For any inherited type, the XML Wizard creates a type
relationship.
When you reduce metadata explosion, the Designer creates entity relationships between the XML views it
generates.
Note: Verify that you synchronize the XML definition with the source that you used to create the definition. If
you synchronize an XML definition with a source that you did not use to create the definition, the Designer
cannot synchronize the definitions and loses metadata. Click Edit > Revert to Saved to restore the XML
definition.
1. Right-click the top of the definition in the Source Analyzer workspace. Select Edit.
Business Name Descriptive name for the source definition. You can edit Business Name by clicking the
Rename button.
Description Description of the source. Character limit is 2,000 bytes/K, where K is the maximum
number of bytes for each character in the repository code page. Enter links to business
documentation.
Code Page Read Only. Not applicable for XML source files. The Integration Service converts all
XML source files to Unicode.
XPath Path of the element referenced by the current column in the XML hierarchy. XPath
does not display for generated primary or foreign keys.
Business Name User-defined descriptive name for the column. If Business Name is not visible in the
window, scroll to the right to view or modify the column.
4. If you configure the session to read a file list, and you want to write the source file name to each target
row, click the Properties tab and select Add Currently Processed Flat File Name Port.
The Designer adds the CurrentlyProcessedFileName port to the Columns tab. It is the last column in the
first group. The Integration Service uses this port to return the source file name. The
CurrentlyProcessedFileName port is a string port with default precision of 256 characters.
When you create an XML target definition, the XML Wizard generates keys to relate each group to the root.
Follow these steps to add two multiple-occurring elements to the same view:
How can I match the EMPNO and SALARY in the same view?
The DTD example is ambiguous. The definition is equivalent to the following:
<!ELEMENT EMPLOYEE (EMPNO+, SALARY+)>
In the DTD example, EMPLOYEE has multiple-occurring elements EMPNO and SALARY. You cannot have
two multiple-occurring elements in the same view.
When I import this XML file, the Designer drops the ISBN element. Why does this happen? How can I
get the Designer to include the ISBN element?
• Use the schema to import the XML definition. When you use an XML file to import an XML definition,
the Designer reads the first element as simple content because the element has no child elements. The
Designer discards the ISBN child element from the second Book instance. If you use a schema to import
the definition, the Designer uses the schema definition to determine how to read XML data.
• Verify the XML file accurately represents the associated schema. If you use an XML file to import a
source definition, verify the XML file is an accurate representation of the structure in the corresponding
XML schema.
To create a transformation with other element types, and to transform larger XML input files, use a Data
Processor transformation. For more information about how to create Data Processor transformations, see the
Informatica Data Transformation User Guide and the Informatica Data Transformation Getting Started Guide.
Use the XML Editor to create views, modify components, add columns, and maintain view relationships in the
workspace. When you update an XML definition, the Designer propagates the changes to any mapping that
includes the source. Some changes to XML definitions can invalidate mappings.
Note: If you make significant changes to the source you used to create an XML definition, you can
synchronize the definition to the new source rather than editing the definition manually.
• Navigator
• XML Workspace
• Columns Window
68
The following figure shows the XML Editor:
1. Navigator
2. Columns Window
3. XML Workspace
The XML Editor uses icons to represent XML component types. To view a legend that describes the icons in
the XML Editor, click View > Legend.
XML Navigator
The Navigator displays the schema in a hierarchical form and provides information about selected
components. You can sort components in the Navigator by type, hierarchy, or namespace. You can also
expand a component to see components below the component in the hierarchy.
The Navigator toolbar provides shortcuts to most of the Navigator functions. The toolbar also provides
navigation arrows you can click to find previously displayed components in the hierarchy quickly.
• Properties tab. Displays information about a selected component such as the component type, length,
and occurrence.
• Actions tab. Provides a list of options to view more information about the selected component.
Properties Tab
The Properties tab displays information about a component you select in the Navigator. If the component is a
complex element, you can view element properties in the schema, such as namespace, type, and content.
When you view a simple element or attribute, the Properties tab shows the type and length of the element.
The Properties tab also displays annotations.
If you import the definition from an XML file, you can edit the datatype and cardinality from the Properties tab.
If you create the definition from a DTD file, you can edit the component type.
Actions Tab
The Actions tab lists options you use to see more information about a selected component. You can also
reverse changes you make to components from the Actions tab.
The following options appear on the Actions tab, depending on the properties of the component you select:
• ComplexType references. Displays the schema components that are of this type.
• ComplexType hierarchy. Displays the complex types derived from the selected component.
• SimpleType reference. Displays all the components that are this type.
• Propagate SimpleType values. Propagates the length and scale values to all the components of this
SimpleType.
• Element references. Displays the components that reference the selected element.
• Child components. Displays the global schema components that the selected component uses.
• Revert simpleType. Changes the type, length, and precision values back to the original value if you have
changed them.
• XML view references. Displays all the XML views and columns that reference the selected component.
XML Workspace
The XML workspace displays the XML views and the relationships between the views. You can create XML
views in the workspace and define relationships between views.
The XML workspace toolbar provides shortcuts to most of the functions that you can do in the workspace.
You can modify the size of the XML workspace in the following ways:
Columns Window
The Columns window displays the columns for a view in the workspace. Use the Columns window to name
columns that you add. If you use pivoted columns, you use the Columns window to select and rename
occurrences of multiple-occurring elements. You can also specify options, such as Not Null, Force Row,
Hierarchy or Type Relationship Row, and Non-Recursive Row. These options affect how the Integration
Service writes data to XML targets.
You can add a column to an XML view when the following conditions are true:
• The component path starts from the element in the schema that is the view root for that view.
If you add a pivoted column to a view, a default occurrence number appears in the Columns window. This
number indicates which occurrence of the element to use in the column. You can change the occurrence
number or add more occurrences of the element as new columns. If you do not rename the columns, the XML
Editor adds a sequence number to each pivoted column name.
Note: You cannot change a pivot value if the pivot value is part of a view row.
The first Sales occurrence is in the column called First_Half_Sales. The second Sales occurrence is
Second_Half_Sales. Region is an attribute.
6. Click the XPath link to change an element occurrence number.
The Specify Query Predicate for XPath window appears.
7. Select the multiple-occurring element to edit.
8. Change the occurrence number in the Edit Pivot box and click OK.
When you view a complex type in the XPath Navigator, you can view the derived types.
When you import a schema with an anyType element, the anyType element appears in the Schema
Navigator as anyType. The Designer does not create a port for an element of the type anyType.
You must change the anyType element to a global complex type in the Designer to use the anyType element
in PowerCenter.
When you define an element as anySimpleType, the Designer creates an anySimpleType column for the
element when you import the schema. When you use the column in a mapping, the XML Source Qualifier
maps this type to a string.
Once you generate the pass-through port, you add another port to pass the data through the transformation.
This port is the reference port. In an XML Parser transformation, the pass-through port passes the data into
the transformation and the reference port passes the data out of the transformation. In an XML Generator,
the pass-through port passes the data out of the transformation and the reference port passes data into the
transformation.
If you have pass-through ports in an XML definition, you can determine the corresponding reference ports.
When you use the FileName column, you set up an Expression transformation or other transformation in the
mapping to generate the unique file names to pass to FileName column.
When you create an XPath query predicate in the XML Editor, the XML Editor provides elements, attributes,
operators, and functions to build the query. You can select the components, enter components, or copy
components into a query. The XML Editor validates each query that you create.
You can query the value of an element or attribute, or you can verify that an element or attribute exists.
The query expression is in brackets. The XPath of Dept is abbreviated by “./” to indicate that the path is
continuing from Employee.
The following XPath query predicate extracts employees if the last name is Smith:
EMPLOYEE[./NAME/LASTNAME='SMITH']
Use Boolean or numeric operators in an XPath query predicate. You can also use string, numeric, and
boolean functions in a query.
For example, an XML file might contain a NAME element with mixed content:
<NAME>
Kathy
<MIDDLE> Mary </MIDDLE>
Russell
</NAME>
Element NAME has the value “Kathy”, a child element “MIDDLE”, and a second value “Russell.” The NAME
column value is “KathyRussell.” However, the Integration Service evaluates the NAME “Kathy.”
Boolean Operators
Use the following Boolean operators in an XPath query predicate:
and or < <= > >= = !=
Numeric Operators
Use the following numeric operators in an XPath query predicate:
+ - * div mod
Use the following XPath query predicate to extract products when the price is greater than cost plus tax:
PRODUCT[./PRICE > ./COST + /.TAX]]
Functions
Use the following types of function in an XPath query predicate:
• String. Use string functions to test substring values, concatenate strings, or translate strings into other
strings. The following XPath query predicate determines if an employee’s full name is equal to the
concatenation of last name and first name:
EMPLOYEE[./FULLNAME=concat(./ENAME/LASTNAME,./ENAME/FIRSTNAME)]
• Numeric. Use numeric functions with element and attribute values. Numeric functions operate on
numbers and return integers. For example, the following XPath query predicate rounds discount and tests
if the result is greater than 15:
ORDER_ITEMS[round(./DISCOUNT > 15]
• Boolean. Boolean functions return either true or false. Use them to test elements, check the language
attribute, or force a true or false result. For example, a string is true if the string value is greater than zero:
boolean(string)
Deptname is an attribute. Attributes are preceded by “@” in an XML query predicate expression.
When you run a session, the Integration Service extracts employee data from the XML source if the
employee’s department has a department name. Otherwise, the Integration Service does not extract the
employee data.
• You can configure an XPath query predicate for any element in a view row.
For example, if a view row is Company/Dept, you can create the following XPath query predicate:
COMPANY[./DEPT=100]
• You can match content.
• You can add an XPath query predicate to a column if the column occurs below the view row in the view
XML hierarchy and the column XPath includes the view row.
For example, if the view row is Product/Toys[1], you can create the following XPath query predicate:
Product/Toys[1][./Sales > 100]
Operator Description
+ Add
- Subtract
* Multiply
div Divide
mod Modulus
or Boolean or
= Equal
!= Not equal
• Create a relationship between views. Define relationships between views in the workspace.
• Create a type relationship. Define a type relationship between a column in a view and a type view in the
workspace.
• Re-create entity relationships. Generate views and relationships using the same options as in the XML
Wizard.
• Update the namespace. Change the location of a schema or the default namespace in an XML target.
• Navigate to components. Find components by navigating from a component to another component or
area of the XML Editor window.
• Arrange views in the workspace. Arrange the views in the workspace hierarchically. You can organize
the views into a hierarchical arrangement in the workspace. To arrange views in the workspace, click
Layout > Arrange, or right-click the workspace and select Arrange.
• Search for components. Find components in the Navigator or in the workspace.
• Display the hierarchy of simple or complex types. View a hierarchy of the simple or complex types in
the XML schema.
• View XML metadata. View an XML file, schema, or DTD that the XML Editor creates from the XML
definition.
• Preview XML data. Display an XML view using sample data from an external XML file.
• Validate the XML definition. Validate the XML definition and view errors.
Updating a Namespace
When you create an XML definition, you can change the namespace prefix and schema location in the XML
Editor. You can also add a schema to the namespace.
If you create a target XML definition that has one or more namespaces, you can choose a default
namespace. When you run a session, the Integration Service writes the elements and attributes from the
default namespace without a namespace prefix.
Do not use “xml” or “xmlns” as a namespace prefix. An “xml” prefix points to the http://www.w3.org/XML
namespace by default. “Xmlns” links elements to namespaces in an XML schema.
To update a namespace:
To navigate to components:
To search using a partial key, enter the first few characters of the column or component name.
You can display a hierarchy of the complex types in the schema definition. To view a hierarchy of complex
types, click View > ComplexType Hierarchy. A window displays a hierarchy of the complex types in the
schema. Select a component from the ComplexType Hierarchy window to navigate to the component in the
schema.
1. To view the metadata as a sample XML document, choose a global component in the Navigator.
2. Click View > XML Metadata.
The View XML Metadata dialog box appears.
3. Choose to display the XML definition as an XML file, a DTD file, or an XML schema.
If you use multiple namespaces, choose the namespace to use.
A default application or text editor displays the metadata.
4. To save a copy of the XML, DTD, or XML schema file, click Save As.
5. Enter a new file name.
If the default display application is a text editor, you need to include the appropriate file suffix with the file
name. The suffix is .xml, .dtd, or .xsd, depending on what type of file you are working with.
Use the following methods to determine when the Integration Service generates rows from an XML source:
• Generate all the foreign keys in a view. By default, the Integration Service generates values for one
foreign key in a view. If a view has more than one foreign key, the other foreign keys have null values.
You can generate values for all the foreign keys.
• Stop recursive reads in a circular relationship. By default, the Integration Service generates rows for
all occurrences of data in a circular relationship. You can generate a row for just the first occurrence of
recursive data.
• Generate a row for a child view if a parent exists. By default, the Integration Service creates rows for
all views with data in the view row. You can generate a row for a child view only when a parent view has
data.
• Generate a row for a view without view row data. By default, the Integration Service generates data for
a view when the view row has data. You can generate a row for a view that has no data in the view row.
• Generate rows for specific complex types in a type relationship. By default, the Integration Service
generates rows for all views in the XML definition. You can generate rows for specific views in type
relationships.
If you select the All Hierarchy Foreign Keys option for the Pedigree_View, the Integration Service generates
key values for FK_Species and FK_Animal.
The following figure shows sample data for the Pedigree_View with the All Hierarchy Foreign Keys option:
If you clear the All Hierarchy Foreign Keys option, the Integration Service generates key values for one
foreign key column. In this example, the Integration Service generates values for FK_Species because
Species_View is the closest parent of Pedigree_View in the XML hierarchy. The FK_Animal foreign key has
null values.
The following figure shows sample data for the Pedigree_View if you clear the All Hierarchy Foreign Key
option:
The following XML file contains a Part element with a circular reference:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Vehicle xmlns="http://www.PartInvoice.org"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.PartInvoice.org part.xsd">
The following figure shows that the Part element is the view row for the X_par_Part view in the XML
definition:
The following figure shows that the Integration Services generates rows for Part 123 and all of the component
parts when you run a session:
The following figure shows that the Integration Service reads the first occurrence of the Part element and
generates one row of data for Part 123 when you select NonRecursive Row:
The following XML file has an Address within the Store element and an Address within the Employee
element:
<?xml version=”1.0” encoding=”UTF-8”?>
<!DOCTYPE STORE >
<STORE SID=”BE1752”>
<SNAME>Mud and Sawdust Furniture Store</SNAME>
<ADDRESS>
<STREETADDRESS>335 Westshore Road</STREETADDRESS>
<CITY>Fausta City</CITY>
<STATE>CA</STATE>
<ZIP>97584</ZIP>
</ADDRESS>
<EMPLOYEE DEPID=”34”>
<ENAME>
<LASTNAME>Bacon</LASTNAME>
<FIRSTNAME>Allyn</FIRSTNAME>
</ENAME>
<ADDRESS>
<STREETADDRESS>1000 Seaport Blvd</STREETADDRESS>
<CITY>Redwood City</CITY>
<STATE>CA</STATE>
<ZIP>94063</ZIP>
</ADDRESS>
<EPHONE>(408)226-7415</EPHONE>
<EPHONE>(650)687-6831</EPHONE>
</EMPLOYEE>
</STORE>
The following figure shows a hierarchical relationship between the Employee view and the Address view:
The Employee view is connected to the Address view with a blue line that defines a one-to-one relationship
between the parent and the child view. The Employee view has a primary key, XPK_Employee, and an
Employee element consisting of LastName and FirstName. The Address view has a foreign key,
FK_Employee, and an Address element that consists of StreetAddress, City, State, and Zip.
By default, the Integration Service generates a row for each occurrence of the Address element. The
Integration Service generates one row for the Store\Address and another for Employee\Address.
When you select the Hierarchy Relationship Row option, the Integration Service generates rows in a session
as follows:
• The Integration Service generates a row for the Address view when the Employee view has corresponding
data in a session.
• The Integration Service generates a row representing the Employee\Address hierarchy relationship.
• The Integration Service does not generate a row for Store\Address.
The following shows the Address data if you select the Hierarchy Relationship Row option:
The following figure shows the zip element as the view row:
The zip element is highlighted at the bottom of the list, with the street, city and state element rows listed
above it.
By default, the Integration Service generates a row for every occurrence of the zip element within the address
element.
For example, you might process the following XML file in a session:
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<company xmlns="http://www.example.org"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.example.org forcerow.xsd" >
<name>company1</name>
<address>
<street>stree1</street>
<city>city1</city>
<zip>1001</zip>
</address>
<employee>
<name>emp1</name>
<address>
<street>emp1_street</street>
<city>empl_city</city>
</address>
By default, the Integration Service generates the stree1 and emp2_street rows for the Address view.
The following figure shows the stree1 and emp2_street rows for the Address view:
The Integration Service does not generate a row for emp1, because the view row is zip, and emp1 has no
data for the zip element.
If you enable Force Row, you can output the street and city elements with or without the zip. The session
generates a row for emp1, even though emp1 does not have data for the zip element.
The following figure shows the rows that the Integration Service generates when you enable Force Row:
For example, a definition might have a hierarchy that includes BillToAddress and ShipToAddress. If you want
to generate rows for the BillToAddress, use the Type Relationship Row option.
The following figure shows a type relationship in the XML definition with the PartInvoice view showing the
BillToAddress element in the X_par_PartInvoice XML view and the related X-par_AddressType XML view
below:
The PartInvoice view contains invoice data. The view includes a BillToAddress. The type relationship in the
XML definition is between BillToAddress and AddressType.
To limit the AddressType data to BillToAddress, select the X_par_PartInvoice view in the XML Editor
workspace. Choose the Type Relationship Row option. When you run a session, the Integration Service
generates Address rows for BillToAddress but not ShipToAddress. ShipToAddress is not in the type
relationship.
Example
The following example shows how to limit data to specific types in a type relationship. The example uses the
PartInvoice view and the AddressType view.
The following XML file contains invoice data that includes the BillToAddress and ShipToAddress:
<xsd:complexType name="AddressType">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Invoices xmlns="http://www.PartInvoice.org"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.PartInvoice.org Part.xsd">
<PartInvoice InvoiceNum="185" DateShipped="2005-01-01">
<PartOrder>
<PartID>HLG100</PartID>
<PartName>Halogen Bulb</PartName>
<Quantity>2</Quantity>
<UnitPrice>35</UnitPrice>
</PartOrder>
<BillToAddress>
<Street>2100 Seaport Blvd</Street>
<City>Redwood City</City>
<State>CA</State>
<Zip>94063</Zip>
<Country>USA</Country>
</BillToAddress>
<ShipToAddress xsi:type="USAddressType">
<Street>3350 W Bayshore Rd</Street>
<City>Palo Alto</City>
<State>CA</State>
<Zip>97890</Zip>
<Country>USA</Country>
<PostalCode>97890</PostalCode>
</ShipToAddress>
</PartInvoice>
</Invoices>
The following figure shows the BillToAddress and ShipToAddress rows that the Integration Service generates
by default:
To generate AddressType rows related to the PartInvoice view, set the Type Relationship Row Option for the
PartInvoice view.
The following figure shows the BillToAddress row that the Type Relationship Row Option generates:
It does not generate a row for ShipToAddress because ShipToAddress is not in the type relationship.
I cannot find the DTD or XML schema file that I created when I viewed XML metadata.
The DTD or XML schema file that you can view is a temporary file that the Designer creates for viewing. If
you want to use the file for other purposes, save the file with another name and directory when you view it.
When I add columns to XML source views, the hierarchy in the source XML file remains the same.
When you add columns to XML source views, you do not add elements to the underlying hierarchy. The XML
hierarchy that you import remains the same no matter how you create the views or how you map the columns
in a view to the elements in the hierarchy. You can modify the datatypes and the cardinality of the elements,
but you cannot modify the structure of the hierarchy.
For information about XML sizing in PowerCenter, see “Using XML with PowerCenter Overview” on page 33.
For more information about the limitations that apply to XML handling in PowerCenter, see “Limitations” on
page 34.
To create a transformation with other element types, and to transform larger XML input files, use a Data
Processor transformation. For more information about how to create Data Processor transformations, see the
Informatica Data Transformation User Guide and the Informatica Data Transformation Getting Started Guide.
• Import the definition from an XML schema or file. You can create a target definition from an XML,
DTD, or XML schema file. You can import XML file definitions from a URL or a local node. If you import an
XML file with an associated DTD, the XML Wizard uses the DTD to generate the XML file.
• Create an XML target definition based on an XML source definition. You can drag an existing XML
source definition into the Target Designer. If you create an XML target definition, the Designer creates a
target definition based on the hierarchy of the XML definition.
• Create an XML target based on a relational file definition. You can import an XML target definition
from a relational or flat file repository definition.
In addition to creating XML target definitions, you can complete the following tasks with XML targets in the
Target Designer:
• Edit target properties. Edit an XML target definition to add comments documenting changes to target
XML, DTD, or XML schema files.
• Synchronize target definitions. You can synchronize the target XML definition to a schema if you need
to make changes. When you synchronize the definition, you update the XML definition instead of
importing the schema if the schema changes.
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Importing an XML Target Definition from an XML File
You can import XML definitions from an XML schema, DTD file, or XML file. You can import local files or files
that you reference with a URL. To ensure that the Designer can provide an accurate definition of the data,
import a target definition from an XML schema.
You can choose from the following options to create XML views:
• Create entity relationships. Use this option to create views for multiple-occurring or referenced elements
and complex types. You create relationships between views instead of creating one large hierarchy.
• Create hierarchical relationships. Use this option to create a root and expand the XML components
under the root. You can choose to create normalized or denormalized views. If you choose normalized,
every element or attribute appears once. One-to-many relationships become separate XML views with
keys to relate the views. If you create denormalized XML views, all elements and attributes display in one
hierarchical group.
• Create custom XML views. Use this option to select multiple global elements as roots for XML views and
select options for reducing metadata explosion.
• Skip creating XML views. Use this option to import the definition without creating any views. If you
choose this option, use the XML Editor to create XML views in the workspace at a later time.
• Synchronize XML definitions. Use this option to update one or more XML definitions when their
underlying schemas change.
Tip: Import DTD or XML schema files instead of XML files. If you import an XML file with an associated
DTD, the XML Wizard uses the DTD.
To import XML target definitions:
• When you create an XML target definition from an XML source definition, you create a duplicate of the
XML source definition.
• A valid XML source definition does not necessarily create a valid XML target definition. To ensure that you
create a valid target definition, validate the target definition.
• If you create a relational target definition, the Designer creates the relational target definitions based on
the groups in the XML source definition. Each group in the XML source definition becomes a target
definition.
1. Drag an XML source definition from the Navigator into the Target Designer workspace.
The XML Export dialog box appears.
2. Select to create a relational or XML target. Click OK.
The target definition appears in the Target Designer workspace. If you select relational targets, more
than one target definition might appear in the workspace, depending on the source.
Select Table Name of the target definition. To change the name, click the Rename button.
Business Name Descriptive name for the target table. Edit the Business Name using the Rename
button.
Description Description of target table. Character limit is 2,000 bytes/K, where K is the maximum
number of bytes for each character in the repository code page. Enter links to
business documentation.
Code Page Select the code page to use in the target definition.
Keywords Use keywords to organize and identify targets. Keywords might include developer
names, mappings, or XML schema names.
Use keywords to perform searches in the Repository Manager.
Select Table Displays the target definition you are editing. To choose a different definition to edit,
select one from the list of definitions you have available in the workspace.
Precision Size of column. You can change precision for some datatypes, such as string.
Scale Maximum number of digits after the decimal point for numeric values.
Key Type Type of key the XML Wizard generates to link the views.
XPath Path through the XML file hierarchy that locates an item.
5. On the Properties tab, you can modify the transformation attributes of the target definition.
If you use a source-based commit session or Transaction Control transformation with the XML target,
you can define how you want to flush data to the target.
The following table describes the attributes that you can edit:
Select Table Displays the source definition you are editing. To choose a different source
definition to edit, select the source definition from the list.
Duplicate Group Choose one of these options to handle processing duplicate rows in the target:
Row Handling - First Row. The Integration Service passes the first duplicate row to the target. Rows
following with the same primary key are rejected.
- Last Row. The Integration Service passes the last duplicate row to the target.
- Error. The Integration Service passes the first row to the target. Rows with duplicate
primary keys increment the error count. The session fails when the error count reaches
the error threshold.
DTD Reference DTD or XML schema file name for the target XML file. The Integration Service adds
the document type declaration to the XML file when you create the XML file.
On Commit The Integration Service can generate multiple XML files or append to one XML file
after a commit. Use one of the following options:
- Ignore Commit. The Integration Service creates an XML file and writes to the XML file
at end of file.
- Create New Document. Creates a new XML file at each commit.
- Append to Document. Writes to the same XML file after each commit.
Cache Directory Directory for the XML target cache files. Default is the $PMCacheDir service
process variable.
Cache Size Total size in bytes for the XML target cache. Default is auto.
6. On the Metadata Extensions tab, you can create, modify, delete, and promote non-reusable metadata
extensions, and update their values. You can also update the values of reusable metadata extensions.
7. Click OK.
8. Click Repository > Save.
PowerCenter validates target XML views when you perform the following tasks:
• The Designer does limited validation when you save or fetch an XML target from the repository.
• The XML Editor validates each step when you edit XML in the XML workspace.
• You can choose to validate a target definition that you are editing in the XML Editor.
• The Designer validates XML target connections when the Designer validates mappings.
The Designer uses rules to validate hierarchy relationships, type relationships, and inheritance relationships.
Note: The Integration Service does not validate the target XML instance against a schema in a session. You
can set the Validate Target session property to validate simple types in the data.
• A view that has a root at a type cannot be a standalone view. The view must be a child in an inheritance
relationship or the view must have a type relationship with another view. An XML target is invalid if the
XML target has no views that are rooted at an element.
• You must connect a view with a multiple-occurring view row to another view.
• Two views cannot have the same effective view row.
• An XML target is invalid if the XML target has no view root at an element.
• You can separate parent and child views by other elements, but if you have a choice of two parents for a
view, you must use the closest one. Determine the closest parent by the path of the effective view row.
One parent comes before the other in the path. Choose the view that comes second in the path.
• You must connect all views with the same view root in the same hierarchy. The definition cannot contain
multiple trees for the same view root.
• An XML view can have a hierarchical relationship to itself if the view row and the view root are identical for
the view.
• A column in a view, V1, can have a type relationship to a view, V2, if the view roots are the same type, or
the V2 view root type is derived from the V1 view root. Both view roots must be global complex types.
• If a column in a view has a type relationship to another view, you cannot expand the column.
Inheritance Validation
You can create two types of inheritance relationship with XML views:
• View-to-view inheritance. A view is a derived type of another view. Both views must have global complex
view roots.
A view can have an inheritance relationship to another view if its view root is a complex type derived from
the view root type of the other view.
A view can be a parent in multiple inheritance relationships, but a view can be a child in just one
inheritance relationship.
• Column-to-view inheritance. The column is an element of a local complex type, Type1, and the view is
rooted at a global complex type, Type2. Type1 is derived from Type2.
A column in a view can have an inheritance relationship to another view if the column is a local complex
type and the type is derived from the view root type of the other view.
If a column in a view, V1, has an inheritance relationship to a view, V2, you cannot put the content of V2
into view V1.
The following components affect how you map an XML target in a mapping:
• Active sources
• Root elements
• Target port connections
• Abstract elements
• Transaction control points
• FileName columns
Active Sources
An active source is a transformation that can return a different number of rows for each input row. The
Integration Service can load data from different active sources to an XML target. However, all ports within a
single group of the XML target must receive data from the same active source.
• Aggregator
1. Right-click the target definition in the Mapping Designer and select Edit.
2. Click the Properties tab.
3. Click the arrow in the Root Element value column.
The Select Root dialog box appears.
4. Select an element from the list.
• If you connect one port in a group, you must connect both the foreign key and primary key ports for the
group.
• If you connect a foreign key port in a group, you must connect the associated primary key port in the other
group. If you do not connect the primary key port of the root group, you do not need to connect the
associated foreign key ports in the other groups.
• If you use an XML schema with a default attribute value, you must connect the attribute port to create the
default attribute in the target. If you pass a null value through the connected port, the Integration Service
writes the default value to the target.
When you connect the XML target input groups to multiple transaction control points, the Integration Service
writes the data to the XML file target after it processes all source rows.
Note: If you are creating a new XML file on each commit, you need to dynamically name each XML file you
create. If you do not dynamically name each XML file, the Integration Service overwrites the XML file from the
previous commit.
The Integration Service generates a new XML file for each distinct primary key value in the root group of the
target. You add a FileName column to set different names for each file. Each name overrides the output file
name in the session properties.
Example
The Expression transformation generates a file name from the Country XML element and passes the value to
the FileName column. The mapping passes a country to the target root, which is called Client. Whenever the
Client value changes, the Integration Service creates a new XML file. The Integration Service creates a list
file that contains each XML target file name. The Integration Service lists the absolute path to each file in the
list.
The following figure shows a mapping containing an XML target with a FileName column:
The list file name is the output file name from the session properties:
revenue_file.xml.lst
For example, the ContactInfo element in the following DTD is an enclosure element. The enclosure element
has no text content, but has maxOccurs > 1. The child elements also have maxOccurs > 1.
<!ELEMENT HR (EMPLOYEE+)>
<!ELEMENT EMPLOYEE (LASTNAME,FIRSTNAME,ADDRESS+,CONTACTINFO+)>
<!ATTLIST EMPLOYEE EMPID CDATA #REQUIRED>
<!ELEMENT LASTNAME (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT FIRSTNAME (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT ADDRESS (STREETADDRESS,CITY,STATE,ZIP)>
<!ELEMENT STREETADDRESS (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT CITY (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT STATE (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT ZIP (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT CONTACTINFO (PHONE+,EMERGCONTACT+)>
<!ELEMENT PHONE (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT EMERGCONTACT (#PCDATA)>
If you do not create XML views for the enclosure elements in the source definition, you do not create the
ContactInfo element in the source.
The source definition does not include the ContactInfo element. The target definition includes the ContactInfo
element. The wizard does not include the ContactInfo element in the source definition because you chose not
to create views for enclosure elements when you created the source. However, the wizard includes the
ContactInfo element in the target definition.
The XML target definition I created from my relational sources contains all elements, but no attributes.
How can I modify the target hierarchy so that I can mark certain data as attributes?
You cannot modify the component types that the wizard creates from relational tables. However, you can
view a DTD or an XML schema file of the target XML hierarchy. Save the DTD or XML schema file with a new
file name. Open this new file and modify the hierarchy, setting the attributes and elements. Then, use the file
to import a target definition with a new hierarchy.
You can manually add a source qualifier transformation, or you can create a source qualifier transformation
by default when you add a source definition to a mapping.
You can edit some of the properties and add metadata extensions to an XML Source Qualifier transformation.
When you connect an XML Source Qualifier transformation in a mapping, you must follow rules to create a
valid mapping.
102
You can link ports of one XML Source Qualifier group to ports of different transformations to form separate
data flows. However, you cannot link ports from more than one group in an XML Source Qualifier
transformation to ports in the same target transformation.
If you drag columns from more than one group to a transformation, the Designer copies the columns of all the
groups to the transformation. However, the Designer links only the ports of the first group to the
corresponding ports of the new columns in the transformation.
You can add an XML Source Qualifier transformation to a mapping by dragging an XML source definition into
the Mapping Designer workspace or by manually creating the source qualifier.
Transformation Description
Setting
Select Transformation Displays the transformation you are editing. To choose a different
transformation to edit, select the transformation from the list.
3. Click the Ports tab to view the XML Source Qualifier transformation ports.
Use the Sequence column to set start values for generated keys in XML groups. You can enter a
different value for each generated key. Sequence keys are of bigint datatype. Whenever you change
these values, the sequence numbers restart the next time you run a session.
4. Click the Properties tab to configure properties that affect how the Integration Service runs the mapping
during a session.
The following table describes the XML Source Qualifier properties:
Select Transformation Displays the transformation you are editing. To choose a different transformation
to edit, select the transformation from the list.
Tracing Level Determines the amount of information about this transformation that the
Integration Service writes to the session log when it runs the workflow. You can
override this tracing level when you configure a session.
Reset At the end of a session, the Integration Service resets the start values to the start
values for the current session.
Restart At the beginning of a session, the Integration Service starts the generated key
sequence for all groups at one.
5. Click the Metadata Extensions tab to create, edit, and delete user-defined metadata extensions.
You can create, modify, delete, and promote non-reusable metadata extensions, and update their
values. You can also update the values of reusable metadata extensions.
6. Click OK.
At the end of the session, the Integration Service updates each sequence value in the repository to the
current value plus 1. These values become the start values the next time the Integration Service processes
the Sequence Generator transformation.
• Default value. The sequence value for a key that appears in the XML Source Qualifier when you first
create the source qualifier. The default is 1 for each key.
• Start value. A sequence number value for a key at the start of a session. You can view the start values in
the XML Source Qualifier transformation before you run a workflow.
• Current value. A sequence value for a key during a session.
The start values for the generated keys display in the Sequence column in the XML Source Qualifier.
Note: If you edit the sequence start values on the Ports tab, you must save the changes and exit the
Designer before you run a workflow.
• Reset. At the end of a session, the Integration Service resets the start values back to the start values for
the current session. For example, at the beginning of a session, the start value of a key is 2000. At the
end of a session, the current value is 2500. When the session completes, the start value in the repository
remains at 2000. You might use this option when you are testing and you want to generate the same key
numbers the next time you run a session.
• Restart. At the beginning of a session, the Integration Service restarts the start values using the default
value. For example, if the start value for a key is 1005, and you select Restart, the Integration Service
changes the start value to 1. You might use this option if the keys are getting large and you will have no
duplicate key conflicts if you restart numbering.
The Designer enforces concatenation rules when you connect objects in a mapping. Therefore, you need to
organize the groups in the XML source definition so that each group contains all the information you require
in one pipeline branch.
Consider the following rules when you connect an XML Source Qualifier transformation in a mapping:
• You can link ports from one group in an XML Source Qualifier transformation to ports in one input
group of another transformation. You can copy the columns of several groups to one transformation,
but you can link the ports of only one group to the corresponding ports in the transformation.
• You can link ports from one group in an XML Source Qualifier transformation to ports in more than
one transformation. Each group in an XML Source Qualifier transformation can be a source of data for
more than one pipeline branch. Data can pass from one group to several different transformations.
• You can link multiple groups from one XML Source Qualifier transformation to different input
groups in a transformation. You can link multiple groups from an XML Source Qualifier transformation to
different input groups in most multiple input group transformations, such as a Joiner or Custom
transformations. However, you can link multiple groups from one XML Source Qualifier transformation to
one Joiner transformation if the Joiner has sorted input. To connect two XML Source Qualifier
transformation groups to a Joiner transformation with unsorted input, you must create two instances of the
same XML source.
You might want to calculate the total YTD sales for each product in the XML file regardless of region. Besides
sales, you also want the names and prices of each product.
To do this, you need both product and sales information in the same transformation. However, when you
import the StoreInfo.xml file, the Designer creates separate groups for products and sales by default.
Since you cannot link both the Product and the Sales groups to the same single input group transformation,
you can create the mapping in one of the following ways:
The following figure shows a denormalized group Product_Sales containing a combination of columns from
both the Product and Sales groups:
To create the denormalized group, edit the source definition in the Source Analyzer. You can either create a
new group or modify an existing group. Add product and sales columns to the group in order to do the sales
calculation in the Aggregator transformation. Use the XML Editor to create the group and validate the group.
You can then send the data from the Joiner transformation to an Aggregator transformation to calculate the
YTDSales for each product.
The following figure shows how you can create two instances of the same XML source and join data from two
XML Source Qualifier transformations:
I cannot break the link between the XML source definition and its source qualifier.
The XML Source Qualifier transformation columns match the corresponding XML source definition columns.
You cannot remove or modify the links between an XML source definition and its XML Source Qualifier
transformation. When you remove an XML source definition, the Designer removes its XML Source Qualifier
transformation.
• XML Parser transformation. The XML Parser transformation reads XML from one input port and outputs
data to one or more groups.
• XML Generator transformation. The XML Generator transformation reads data from one or more
sources and generates XML. The XML Generator transformation has a single output port.
Use a midstream XML transformation to extract XML data from messaging systems, such as TIBCO,
WebSphere MQ, or from other sources, such as files or databases. The XML transformation functionality is
similar to the XML source and target functionality, except the midstream XML transformation parses the XML
or generates the document in the pipeline.
Midstream XML transformations support the same XML schema components that the XML Wizard and XML
Editor support. In addition, XML transformations support the following functionality:
• Pass-through ports. Use pass-through ports to pass non-XML data through the midstream
transformation. These fields are not part of the XML schema definition, but you use them to generate
denormalized XML groups. You use these fields in the same manner as top-level XML elements. You can
also use a pass-through field as a primary key for the top-level group in the XML definition.
109
• Real-time processing. Use a midstream XML transformation to process data as BLOBs from messaging
systems.
• Support for multiple partitions. You can generate different XML documents for each partition.
The XML Parser transformation has one input group and one or more output groups. The input group has one
input port, DataInput, which accepts an XML document in a string.
When you create an XML Parser transformation, use the XML Wizard to import an XML, DTD, or XML
schema file. For example, you can import the following Employee DTD file:
<!ELEMENT EMPLOYEES (EMPLOYEE+)>
<!ELEMENT EMPLOYEE (LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME, ADDRESS, PHONE+, EMAIL*, EMPLOYMENT)>
<!ATTLIST EMPLOYEE EMPID CDATA #REQUIRED
DEPTID CDATA #REQUIRED>
<!ELEMENT LASTNAME (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT FIRSTNAME (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT ADDRESS (STREETADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP)>
<!ELEMENT STREETADDRESS (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT CITY (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT STATE (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT ZIP (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT PHONE (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT EMAIL (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT EMPLOYMENT (DATEOFHIRE, SALARY+)>
<!ATTLIST EMPLOYMENT EMPLSTAT (PF|PP|TF|TP|O) "PF">
<!ELEMENT DATEOFHIRE (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT SALARY (#PCDATA)>
The XML Parser transformation shows the root view, X_Employees, with X_Employees shown as a parent of
X_Employee. X_Employee is a parent of X_Salary, X_Phone, and X_Email.
The Designer creates a root view, X_Employees. X_Employees is the parent of X_Employee. X_Employee is
a parent of X_Salary, X_Phone, and X_Email.
Each view in the XML Parser transformation has at least one key to establish its relationship with another
view. If you do not designate the keys in the XML Editor, the Designer creates the primary and foreign keys
for each view. The keys are of datatype bigint. The keys are called generated keys because the Integration
Service creates the key values each time it returns a row from the XML Parser transformation.
When the Designer creates a primary or foreign key column, it assigns a column name with a prefix. In an
XML definition, the prefix is XPK_ for a generated primary key column and XFK_ for a generated foreign key
column. A foreign key always refers to a primary key in another group. A generated foreign key column
always refers to a generated primary key column.
For example, the group X_Employee has the XPK_Employee primary key. The Designer creates foreign key
columns that connect the X_Phone, X_Email, and X_Salary to the X_Employee group. Each group has the
foreign key column XFK_Employee.
The repository stores the key values. You cannot change the values in the repository, but you can choose to
reset or restart the sequence numbers after a session.
For example, a real-time PowerCenter session reads XML messages from a WebSphere MQSeries source.
The session runs with a source-based commit. A message in the commit transaction has an invalid XML
payload. To prevent the commit from failing, you can configure the XML Parser transformation to return the
invalid XML to a separate output group from the valid data. The XML Parser transformation processes the
valid XML messages and completes the transaction.
To configure the XML Parser transformation to validate the XML, enable the Route Invalid Payload Through
Data Flow option on the Midstream XML Parser tab. The Designer adds the following ports to the XML Parser
transformation:
• Invalid_Payload. Returns invalid XML messages to the pipeline. If the XML payload is valid, the
Invalid_Payload port contains a null value. This port has the same precision as the DataInput port.
• Error_Status. Contains the error string or status returned from the XML validation. If the XML is valid for
the current row, Error_Status contains a null value. This port has the same precision as the DataInput
port.
The following figure shows an XML Parser transformation that routes invalid XML messages to an Errors
target table:
• MQSeries source definition. Contains employee XML data in the message data field.
• Source Qualifier transformation. Reads data from WebSphere MQ. Contains a set of ports that
represent the message header fields and the message data field.
• XML Parser transformation. Receives the XML message data in the DataInput port. When the XML is
valid, the XML Parser transformation returns the employee data and passes it to a target. When the XML
is not valid, the XML Parser transformation returns the XML in the Invalid_Payload port. It returns an error
message in the Error_Status port.
• Employees target definition. Receives rows of valid employee data.
• XML_Errors target definition. Receives invalid XML and error messages.
Configure the XML Schema Location attribute in the session properties for the transformation. Enter the
name and location of the schema to validate the XML against. You can configure workflow, session, or
mapping variables and parameters for the XML schema definition. You can configure multiple schemas for
validation if you separate them with semi-colons.
You can use a DTD for validation if you include it in the input XML payload. You cannot configure a DTD in
the XML Schema Location attribute or use it to route invalid XML data to the Invalid Payload port.
You can configure a smaller input port in the XML Parser transformation and reduce the amount of memory
that the XML Parser transformation requires to process large XML files. You can parse XML files that are
larger than 100 MB.
When you enable XML streaming, the XML Parser transformation receives data in segments that are less
than or equal to the port size. When the XML file is larger than the port size, the PowerCenter Integration
Service passes more than one row to the XML Parser transformation. Each XML row has a row type of
streaming. The last row has a row type of insert.
The input port precision must be equal to or greater than the output port precision of the object that passes
the XML to the XML Parser transformation. When most of the XML documents are small, but some messages
are large, set the XML Parser transformation port size to the size of the smaller messages for best
performance.
If you enable XML streaming, you must also enable XML streaming for the source or transformation that is
passing the XML data to the XML Parser transformation. If you do not enable streaming, the XML Parser
receives the XML in one row, which might slow performance.
To enable XML streaming in the XML Parser transformation, select Enable XML Input Streaming in the XML
Parser transformation session properties. If you enable XML streaming in the source or transformation, but
you do not enable it for the XML Parser transformation, the XML Parser transformation cannot process the
XML file.
When you enable XML streaming and an error occurs in the XML document, the PowerCenter Integration
Service writes the XML document to the session log by default. You can configure the session to write the
XML document to the error log file when an error occurs.
Enable Log Source Row Data in the session properties. When you enable logging, and an error occurs in the
XML document, the PowerCenter Integration Service generates a row error. The PowerCenter Integration
Service writes the XML document to the error log file and it increments the error count.
For information about XML sizing in PowerCenter, see “Using XML with PowerCenter Overview” on page 33.
For more information about the limitations that apply to XML handling in PowerCenter, see “Limitations” on
page 34.
To create a transformation with other element types, and to transform larger XML input files, use a Data
Processor transformation. For more information about how to create Data Processor transformations, see the
Informatica Data Transformation User Guide and the Informatica Data Transformation Getting Started Guide.
On HP-UX 32-bit, the Integration Service rounds the number after 34 digits.
The XML Generator transformation is similar to an XML target definition. When the Integration Service
processes an XML Generator transformation, it writes rows of XML data. The Integration Service can also
process pass-through fields containing non-XML data in the transformation.
The XML Generator transformation has one or more input groups and one output group. The output group
has one port, “DataOutput,” which generates a string data BLOB XML document. The output group contains
the pass-through port when you create pass-through fields.
To synchronize a midstream XML transformation, use the Transformation Developer or Mapping Designer.
You use the Source Analyzer and Target Designer to synchronize source and target XML definitions.
When you create a midstream XML transformation in the Mapping Designer, the following rules apply:
• If you make the transformation reusable, you can change some of the transformation properties from the
Mapping Designer. You cannot add pass-through ports or metadata extensions.
• If you create a non-reusable transformation, you can edit the transformation from the Mapping Designer.
When you configure a midstream XML transformation, you can configure components on the following tabs:
• Transformation tab. Rename the transformation and add a description on the Transformation tab.
• Ports tab. Display the transformation ports and attributes that you create on the XML Parser or XML
Generator tab.
• Properties tab. Update the tracing level.
• Initialization Properties tab. Create run-time properties that an external procedure uses during
initialization.
• Metadata Extensions tab. Extend the metadata stored in the repository by associating information with
repository objects, such as an XML transformation.
• Port Attribute Definitions tab. Define port attributes that apply to all ports in the transformation.
Properties Tab
Configure the midstream XML transformation properties on the Properties tab.
The following table describes the options you can change on the Properties tab:
Transformation Description
Runtime Location Location that contains the DLL or shared library. Default is $PMExtProcDir. Enter a path
relative to the Integration Service node that runs the XML session.
If this property is blank, the Integration Service uses the environment variable defined on
the Integration Service node to locate the DLL or shared library.
You must copy all DLLs or shared libraries to the runtime location or to the environment
variable defined on the Integration Service node. The Integration Service fails to load the
procedure when it cannot locate the DLL, shared library, or a referenced file.
Tracing Level Amount of detail displayed in the session log for this transformation. Default is Normal.
Transformation Indicates how the Integration Service applies the transformation logic to incoming data.
Scope You can choose one of the following transformation scope values for the XML Parser
transformation:
- Row. Applies the transformation logic to one row of data at a time. Flushes the rows
generated for all the output groups before processing the next row.
- Transaction. Applies the transformation logic to all rows in a transaction. Flushes generated
rows at transaction boundaries, when output blocks fill up, and at end of file.
- All Input. Applies the transformation logic to all incoming data. Flush generated rows only
when the output blocks fill up and at end of file.
For the XML Generator transformation, the Designer sets the transformation scope to all
input when you set the On Commit setting to Ignore Commit. The Designer sets the
transformation scope to the transaction level if you set On Commit to Create New Doc.
Output is Indicates if the order of the output data is consistent between session runs.
Repeatable - Never. The order of the output data is inconsistent between session runs.
- Based On Input Order. The output order is consistent between session runs when the input
data order is consistent between session runs.
- Always. The order of the output data is consistent between session runs even if the order of
the input data is inconsistent between session runs.
Default is Based on Input Order for the XML Parser transformation. Default is Always for
the XML Generator transformation.
Requires Single Indicates if the Integration Service must process each partition with one thread.
Thread per
Partition
Output is Indicates whether the transformation generates the same output data between session
Deterministic runs. You must enable this property to perform recovery on sessions that use this
transformation. Default is enabled.
Warning: If you configure a transformation as repeatable and deterministic, it is your responsibility to ensure
that the data is repeatable and deterministic. If you try to recover a session with transformations that do not
You can access the XML Editor from the Midstream XML Parser Tab. Click the XML Editor button.
Note: When you access the XML Editor, you cannot update Edit Transformations until you exit the XML
Editor.
The following table describes the options you can change on the Midstream XML Parser tab:
Transformation Description
Precision Length of the column. Default DataInput port precision is 64K. Default precision for
a pass-though port is 20. You can increase the precision.
Restart Always start the generated key sequence at 1. Each time you run a session, the key
sequence values in all groups of the XML definition start over at 1.
Reset At the end of a session, reset the value sequence for all generated keys in all
groups. Reset the sequence numbers back to where they were before the session.
Route Invalid Payload Validate the XML against a schema. If the XML is not valid for the schema, a row
Through Data Flow error occurs. The XML Parser transformation returns the XML and associated error
messages to a separate output group.
Note: If you do not select Reset or Restart, the sequence numbers in the generated keys increase from
session to session. If you select the Restart or Reset option, you update the Restart or Reset property that
appears on the Initialization Properties tab. You cannot change these options from the Initialization
Properties tab, however.
You can access the XML Editor from the Midstream XML Generator Tab. Click the XML Editor button. When
you access the XML Editor, you cannot edit transformation properties until you exit the XML Editor.
Transformation Description
Setting
Precision Length of the column. Default DataOutput port precision is 64K. Default precision for a
pass-though port is 20. You can increase the precision.
On Commit The Integration Service can generate multiple XML documents after a commit. Use one of
the following options:
- Ignore Commit. The Integration Service creates the XML document and writes data to the
document at end of file. Use this option if two different sources are connected to the XML
Generator transformation.
- Create New Document. Creates a new XML document at each commit. Use this option if you
are running a real-time session.
When a session uses multiple partitions, the Integration Service generates a separate
XML document for each partition, regardless of On Commit settings. If you select Create
New Document, the Integration Service creates new documents for each partition.
Note: The Designer sets the transformation scope to all input when you set the On Commit setting to Ignore
Commit. The Designer sets the transformation scope to the transaction level if you set On Commit to Create
New Doc.
When you define a pass-through port in the midstream transformation, you add the pass-through port to
either the DataInput group in the XML Parser transformation or the DataOutput group in the XML Generator
transformation.
Once you generate the port, you use the XML Editor to add a corresponding reference port to another view in
the XML definition. In the XML Parser transformation, the pass-through port is an input port, and the
corresponding reference port is an output port. In the XML Generator transformation, the pass-through port is
an output port and the associated reference port is an input port.
For information about XML sizing in PowerCenter, see “Using XML with PowerCenter Overview” on page 33.
For more information about the limitations that apply to XML handling in PowerCenter, see “Limitations” on
page 34.
To create a transformation with other element types, and to transform larger XML input files, use a Data
Processor transformation. For more information about how to create Data Processor transformations, see the
Informatica Data Transformation User Guide and the Informatica Data Transformation Getting Started Guide.
You can change the datatypes in XML definitions and in midstream XML transformations if you import an
XML file to create the definition. You cannot change XML datatypes when you import them from an XML
schema. You cannot change the transformation datatypes for XML sources within a mapping.
The following table describes the XML and corresponding transformation datatypes:
date Date/Time Jan 1, 0001 A.D. to Dec 31, 9999 A.D. (precision to the
nanosecond)
dateTime Date/Time Jan 1, 0001 A.D. to Dec 31, 9999 A.D. (precision to the
nanosecond)
120
Datatype Transformation Range
gMonthDay Date/Time Jan 1, 0001 A.D. to Dec 31, 9999 A.D. (precision to the
nanosecond)
gYearMonth Date/Time Jan 1, 0001 A.D. to Dec 31, 9999 A.D. (precision to the
nanosecond)
time Date/Time Jan 1, 0001 A.D. to Dec 31, 9999 A.D. (precision to the
nanosecond)
Use this format or any portion of this format in an XML file. PowerCenter does not support negative dates for
datetime format.
Use a date, time, or datetime element in either of the following formats within a session:
CCYY-MM
- or -
CCYY-MM-DD/Thh
The format of the first datetime element in an XML file determines the format of all subsequent values of the
element. If the Integration Service reads a value for the same date, time, or datetime element that has a
different format, the Integration Service rejects the row.
For example, if the first value of a datetime element is in the following format:
CCYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss
The XML parser converts the datetime value in the input XML to a value in the local time zone of the machine
that hosts the Integration Service. If you enable the option to adjust the clock for daylight saving changes on
Windows, the XML parser adds an hour to the datetime value. For consistent datetime value conversions, do
not enable the option on Windows to adjust the clock for daylight saving changes.
124
Use an XPath query predicate in an XML view to filter XML source data. In a session, the Integration Service
extracts data from a source XML file based on the query. If all queries return TRUE, the Integration Service
extracts data for the view.
An XPath query predicate includes an element or attribute to extract, and the query that determines the
criteria. You can verify the value of an element or attribute, or you can verify that an element or attribute
exists in the source XML data.
This appendix describes each function used in an XPath query predicate. Functions accept arguments and
return values. When you create a function, you can include components from the elements and attributes in
the XML view, and you can add literal values. When you specify a literal, you must enclose the literal in
single or double quotes.
• String. Use string functions to test substring values, concatenate strings, or translate strings into other
strings. For example, the following XPath query predicate determines if an employee’s full name is equal
to the concatenation of last name and first name:
EMPLOYEE[./FULLNAME=concat(./ENAME/LASTNAME,./ENAME/FIRSTNAME)]
• Numeric. Use numeric functions with element and attribute values. Numeric functions operate on
numbers and return integers. For example, the following XPath query predicate rounds discount and tests
if the result is greater than 15:
ORDER_ITEMS[round(./DISCOUNT) > 15]
• Boolean. Use Boolean functions to test elements, check the language attribute, or force a true or false
result. For example, the following XPath query predicate returns true if the value is greater than zero:
boolean(string)
The following table describes XPath query predicate string functions:
normalize-space normalize-space ( string ) Strips leading and trailing white space from a string.
substring substring ( string, start [ ,length ] ) Returns a portion of a string starting at a specified
position.
substring-before substring-before ( string, substring ) Returns the characters in a string that occur before a
substring.
translate translate ( string1, string2, string3 ) Converts the characters in a string to other
characters.
floor floor ( number ) Rounds a number to the largest integer that is less
than or equal to the passed number.
boolean
Converts a value to Boolean.
Syntax
boolean ( object )
Argument Description
Return Value
Boolean.
• A string returns TRUE if its length is not zero, otherwise it returns FALSE.
• A number returns FALSE if it is zero or not a number (NaN), otherwise it returns TRUE.
Examples
The following example verifies that a name has characters:
boolean ( NAME )
Lilah TRUE
- FALSE
94061 TRUE
94005 TRUE
9400g FALSE
ceiling
Rounds a number to the smallest integer that is greater than or equal to the passed number.
Syntax
ceiling ( number )
ceiling 127
The following table describes the argument for this function:
Argument Description
Return Value
Integer.
Example
The following expression returns the price rounded to the smallest integer:
ceiling ( PRICE )
39.79 40
125.12 126
74.24 75
NULL NULL
-100.99 -100
100 100
concat
Concatenates two strings.
Syntax
concat ( string1, string2 )
Argument Description
Return Value
String.
If one of the strings is NULL, concat ignores it and returns the other string.
Tip
The concat function does not add spaces to strings. To add a space between two strings, you can write an
expression that contains nested concat functions. For example, the following expression adds a space to the
end of the first name and concatenates first name to the last name:
concat ( concat ( FIRST_NAME, " " ), LAST_NAME )
contains
Determines if a string contains another string.
Syntax
contains( string, substring )
Argument Description
string String datatype. Passes the string to examine. The argument is case sensitive.
substring String datatype. Passes the string to search for in the string. The argument is case
sensitive.
Return Value
Boolean.
contains 129
Example
The following expressions returns TRUE if the NAME contains SHORTNAME:
contains( NAME, SHORTNAME )
false
Always returns FALSE. Use this function to set a Boolean to FALSE.
Syntax
false ()
Return Value
FALSE.
Example
Combine the false function with other functions to force a FALSE result.
floor
Rounds a number to the largest integer that is less than or equal to the passed number.
Syntax
floor( number )
Argument Description
Return Value
Integer.
Example
The following expression returns the largest integer less than or equal to the value in BANK_BALANCE:
floor( BANK_BALANCE )
39.79 39
NULL NULL
-100.99 -101
5 5
lang
Returns TRUE if the element has an xml:lang attribute that is the same language as the code argument. Use
the lang function to select XML by language. The xml:lang attribute is a code that identifies the language of
the element content. An element might include text in several languages.
Syntax
lang ( code )
Argument Description
Return Value
Boolean.
Example
The following expression examines the element content language code:
lang ( ‘en’ )
lang 131
The following table contains example arguments and return values:
normalize-space
Removes leading and trailing white space from a string. White space contains characters that do not display,
such as the space character and the tab character. This function replaces sequences of white space with a
single space.
Syntax
normalize-space ( string )
Argument Description
Return Value
String.
Example
The following expression removes excess white space from a name:
normalize-space ( NAME )
not
Returns the inverse of a Boolean condition. The function returns TRUE if a condition is false, and returns
FALSE if a condition is true.
Argument Description
Return Value
Boolean.
Example
The following expression returns the inverse of a Boolean condition:
not ( EMPLOYEE = concat ( FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME ))
number
Converts a string or Boolean value to a number.
Syntax
number ( value )
Argument Description
Return Value
The function returns a number for the following data:
• A string converts to a number if the string contains a numeric character. The string can contain white
space and include a minus sign followed by a number. White space can follow the number in the string.
Any other string is Not a Number (NaN).
• A Boolean TRUE converts to 1. A Boolean FALSE converts to 0.
If a value passed as an argument to the function is not a number, the function returns Not A Number (NaN).
number 133
Example
The following expression converts payment to a number:
number ( PAYMENT )
‘850.00’ 850.00
TRUE 1
FALSE 0
AB NaN
round
Rounds a number to the nearest integer. If the number is between two integers, round returns the higher
number.
Syntax
round ( number )
Argument Description
number Numeric value. Passes a numeric datatype or an expression that results in a number.
Return Value
Integer.
Example
The following expression rounds BANK_BALANCE:
round( BANK_BALANCE )
12.34 12
12.50 13
-18.99 -19
NULL NULL
Syntax
starts-with ( string, substring )
Argument Description
string String datatype. Passes the string to search. The string is case sensitive.
substring String datatype. Passes the substring to search for in the string. The substring is case
sensitive.
Return Value
Boolean.
Example
The following expression determines if NAME starts with FIRSTNAME:
starts-with ( NAME, FIRSTNAME )
string
Converts a number or Boolean to a string.
Syntax
string ( value )
Argument Description
Return Value
String.
Returns an empty string if no value is passed. Returns NULL if a null value is passed.
starts-with 135
The string function converts a number to a string as follows:
• If the number is an integer, the function returns a string in decimal form with no decimal point and no
leading zeros.
• If the number is not an integer, the function returns a string including a decimal point with at least one digit
before the decimal point, and at least one digit after the decimal point.
• If the number is negative, the function returns a string that contains a minus sign (-).
The string function converts a Boolean to a string as follows:
Example
The following expression returns a string from the numeric argument speed:
string( SPEED )
10.99 ‘10.99’
15.62567 ‘15.62567’
0 ‘0’
10 ‘10’
50 ‘50’
1.3 ‘1.3’
The following expression returns a string from the Boolean argument STATUS:
string( STATUS )
TRUE ‘true’
FALSE ‘false’
NULL NULL
string-length
Returns the number of characters in a string, including trailing blanks.
Syntax
string-length ( string )
Argument Description
Return Value
Integer.
Example
The following expression returns the length of the customer name:
string-length ( CUSTOMER_NAME )
Bernice Davis 13
NULL NULL
John Baer 9
substring
Returns a portion of a string starting at a specified position. Substring includes blanks as characters in the
string.
Syntax
substring ( string, start [ ,length ] )
Argument Description
start Integer datatype. Passes the position in the string to start counting. If the start position is a
positive number, substring locates the start position by counting from the beginning of the
string. The first character is one. If the start position is a negative number, substring locates
the start position by counting from the end of the string.
length Integer datatype. Must be greater than zero. Passes the number of characters to return in a
string. If you omit the length argument, substring returns all of the characters from the start
position to the end of the string.
Return Value
String.
When the string contains a numeric value, the function returns a character string.
substring 137
If you pass a negative integer or zero, the function returns an empty string.
Examples
The following expression returns the area code in PHONE:
substring( PHONE, 1, 3 )
809-555-3915 809
NULL NULL
The following expression returns the PHONE without the area code:
substring ( phone, 5, 8 )
The following table includes example arguments and return values without the area codes:
808-555-0269 555-0269
NULL NULL
You can pass a negative start value to start from the right side of the string. The expression reads the source
string from left to right for the length argument:
substring ( PHONE, -8, 3 )
The following table includes example arguments and return values when the expression reads the source
string from left to right:
808-555-0269 555
809-555-3915 555
357-687-6708 687
NULL NULL
When the length argument is longer than the string, substring returns all the characters from the start position
to the end of the string. For example:
substring ( 'abcd', 2, 8 )
returns ‘bcd.’
substring ( 'abcd', -2, 8 )
returns ‘cd.’
substring-after
Returns the characters in a string that occurs after a substring.
Argument Description
Return Value
String.
Example
The following expression returns the string of characters in PHONE that occurs after the area code (415):
substring-after ( PHONE, (415) )
(415)555-1212 555-1212
(408)368-4017 -
NULL NULL
(415)366-7621 366-7621
substring-before
Returns the part of a string that occurs before a substring.
Syntax
substring-before ( string, substring )
Argument Description
substring String datatype. Passes the substring to search for in the string.
Return Value
String.
substring-before 139
Empty string if the substring is not found.
Example
The following expression returns the number that occurs in a Third Street address:
substring-before ( ADDRESS, Third Street )
NULL NULL
translate
Converts the characters in a string to other characters. The function uses two other strings as translation
pairs.
Syntax
translate ( string1, string2, string3 )
Argument Description
string2 String datatype. Passes the string that defines which characters to translate. Translate
replaces each character in string1 with a number indicating its position in string2.
string3 String datatype. Passes the string that defines what the characters from encrypted string1
should translate to. Translate replaces each character in encrypted string1 with a character in
string3 at the position number from string2.
Return Value
String.
Example
The following expression translates a string using two other strings:
translate ( EXPRESSION, STRING2, STRING3 )
Translate does not change a character in EXPRESSION if the character does not occur in string2. If a
character occurs in EXPRESSION and string2, but does not occur in string3, the character does not occur in
the returned string.
true
Always returns TRUE. Use this function to set a Boolean to TRUE.
Syntax
true ()
Return Value
Boolean TRUE.
Example
The following table contains example expressions that return TRUE:
true 141
Index
142
denormalized views
generating 43 H
denormalized XML groups hierarchical views
description 43 types 41
deriving datatypes hierarchy
description 37 description 21
DTD file hierarchy relationships
description 16 element relationships 21
DTM buffer size errors generating 41
fixing 57 model description 33
using circular references 50
E
element query I
using XPath query predicates 76 #IMPLIED option
elements description 17
description 13 ignore fixed element
DTD syntax 16 setting option 57
Enable Input Streaming ignore prohibited attributes
XML Parser transformation property 113 setting options 57
enclosure element infinite precision
creating views for 57 overriding 57
XML hierarchy 13 Invalid_Payload port
encoding XML Parser transformation 111
declaration in XML 16
entity relationships
generating 44
generating XML views 60 J
in XML definitions 45 Joiner transformation
modeling 33 combining XML groups 106
rules and guidelines 45
enumeration
description 24
searching for values 82 K
Error_Status port keys
XML Parser transformation 111 generated key sequence numbers 103
using in XML views 40
XML Parser transformation 110
F
facets
description 24 L
false function lang function
syntax 130 description 125
FileName column syntax 131
adding to an XML view 75 leaf element
passing to XML target 99 overview 13
floor function legend
description 125 understanding XML Editor icons 68
syntax 130 limitations
flushing data using XML sources and targets 34
XML targets 99 lists
functions description 24
using in XPath queries 77 local element
overview 13
G
generate names for XML columns M
description 57 mappings
generated keys connecting abstract elements 98
description 40 using XML targets 97
sequence numbering 103 XML Source Qualifier transformation 105
global declarations XML target ports 98
option to create 57 message IDs
global element XML Generator transformations 118
overview 13
Index 143
metadata explosion pass-through ports
description 45 adding to XML views 117
reducing 62 description 75
metadata extensions generating 118
in XML source qualifiers 103 passive transformations
in XML sources 63 XML Source Qualifier 102
in XML targets 94 pattern facet
midstream XML transformation description 24
creating 114, 115 pivoting
general properties 115 adding pivoted columns 71
Generator properties 117 deleting pivoted columns 73
overview 109 in Advanced Options 57
Parser properties 117 setting multiple levels 55
reset generated key sequence 117 XML columns 53
mode button ports
using the XPath Navigator 71 XML Source Qualifier transformation 105
multiple-level pivots XML targets 98
description 55 precision
multiple-occurring element overriding infinite length 57
overview 13 prefix
updating namespace 81
properties
144 Index
sequence group
description 30 U
simple types unions
description 24 description 25
viewing in a hierarchy 83
single-occurring element
overview 13
Skip Create XML Views V
setting custom views 61 validating
start value target rules 96
generated keys 103 XML definitions 83
starts-with function XPath queries 78
description 125 view row
syntax 135 description 51
streaming XML guidelines for using 52
logging errors 113 views
XML Parser transformation 113 creating relationships 79
string function description 33
description 125 generating entity relationships 44
syntax 135 generating hierarchical relationships 41
string-length function setting options 57
description 125
syntax 136
strings
counting characters 136 X
returning part of 137 XML
substitution groups attributes 58
description 49 character encoding 31
in XML definitions 49 code pages 31, 57
in XML schema files 30 comparing datatypes to transformation 120
substring function datatypes 120
description 125 description 13
syntax 137 extracting large XML files from a CLOB 119
substring-after function path 31
description 125 synchronizing definitions with schemas 63
syntax 138 XML datatypes
substring-before function rounding doubles 113
description 125 XML definitions
syntax 139 creating from flat files 65
synchronizing creating from relational files 65
midstream XML transformations 115 creating from repository definitions 65
XML definitions 63 synchronizing with sources 63
XML Editor
adding a pass-through port 75
T adding columns to views 71
creating new views 71
targets creating type relationships 80
specifying a root element 98 creating view relationships 79
transaction control point creating XPath query predicates 76
XML targets 99 deleting columns 73
transformation datatypes expanding complex types 73
comparing to XML 120 pass-through fields 117
transformations understanding the icons legend 68
XML Source Qualifier 102 updating namespace 81
translate function using ANY content 74
description 125 using the Columns window 71
syntax 140 validating definitions 83
troubleshooting XML file
XML Source Qualifier transformation 108 importing an XML target definition from 93
XML sources 65 naming 75
XML targets 100 XML Generator transformation
true function DataOutput port 114
syntax 141 example 114
type relationships overview 109
creating in the workspace 80 pass-through ports 118
XML groups
all group 30
choice group 30
Index 145
XML groups (continued) XML Source Qualifier transformation (continued)
creating custom 40 creating by default 103
creating groups from relational tables 39 example 106
element and attribute groups 30 manually creating 103
generating denormalized groups 43 overview 102
generating normalized groups 41 port connections 105
modifying source groups 57 troubleshooting 108
substitution groups 30 using in a mapping 105
using substitution groups 49 XML sources
XML hierarchy creating a target from 93
child element 13 limitations 34
creating hierarchy relationships 61 overview 56, 68
enclosure element 13 troubleshooting 65
global element 13 XML targets
leaf element 13 active sources 97
local element 13 creating groups from relational tables 39
multiple-occurring element 13 editing target properties 94
parent chain 13 flushing data 99
parent element 13 limitations 34
single-occurring element 13 multi-line attributes 58
xml lang attribute On Commit session property 99
description 125 port connections 98
XML metadata setting default attributes 98
cardinality 21 troubleshooting 100
description of types 19 using in mapping 97
extracting from substitution groups 49 XML views
extracting from XML schemas 37 adding columns 71
from substitution groups 30 adding pass-through fields 117
hierarchy 21 combining data 106
name 21 creating 59
null constraint 21 creating hierarchy relationships 61
viewing 83 creating new views 71
XML Parser transformation creating relationships between 79
Datainput port 110 creating with XML Wizard 59
Enable Log Source Row Data 113 filtering data 76
Error_Status port 111 generating custom views 61
example 110 generating entity relationships 60
generated keys 110 pivoting columns 53
input validation 111 Skip Create XML View option 61
Invalid_Payload port 111 XML Wizard
overview 109 generating custom XML views 61
rounding Double datatypes 113 generating entity relationships 60
Route Invalid Payload Through Data Flow option 117 generating hierarchy relationships 61
streaming XML files 113 selecting root elements 62
XML Path synchronizing XML definitions 63
description 31 XPath
XML rules adding pivoted columns 71
pivoting groups 53 adding query operators 78
XML groups from relational tables 39 creating a query predicate 76
XML target port connections 98 description 31
XML schema expanding complex types 73
complex types 25 using query predicates 52
importing metadata from 37 validating queries 78
setting default attributes 98 XPath query predicate
XML schema definition (XSD) functions 124
described 18
XML Source Qualifier transformation
adding to mapping 102
146 Index