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170 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Name the 5 top level tabs in Administrator
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- Domain
- Logs - Monitorinig - Reports - Security |
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Name the 2 tabs below Domain in Administrator
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- Services and Nodes
- Connections |
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Name the 5 tabs below Services and Nodes in Administrator
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- Overview
- Properties - Resources - Permissions - Diagnostics |
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Describe the difference between Gantt Chart and Task View in Monitor
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Gantt Chart allows you to find what happened at a specific time
Task View allows you to drill down to a specific wf/session and see its details |
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What is shown in the Output Window in Monitor?
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Messages from the Integration Service
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Name 5 PowerCenter client tools
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- Repository Manager
- Workflow Manager - Designer - Workflow Monitor - Administrator |
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Name the left pane in Administrator
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Navigator
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Name the right pane in Administrator
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Content panel
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What's the purpose of the Monitoring tab?
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to monitor objects run on the Data Integration Service
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What's the URL of Administrator?
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http://host:port/administrator
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Name all tasks usable in workflow manager (11)
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Start, Command, Email. worklet, event wait, event raise, control, decision, assignment, time, Session
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What are the sections of a sessions properties (2)
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General and Performance
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What are the sections on the config object (5)
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Advanced, Log options, Error handling, Partitioning Options, Session on Grid
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What does a control task do?
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Stop, abort or fail the parent workflow on an input link condition
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Two types of events
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User defined and predefined (filewatch)
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Describe the use of link conditions
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The integration service runs a tasks if the incoming link conditions evaluate to true (either all in AND modus, or at least one in OR modus)
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What can you do with the decision task?
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Implement if-then-else logic, mostly based on run status of previous tasks
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How is the repository database accessed?
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The clients connect through the repository service
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What is a repository domain?
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A group of repositories sharing data through a global repository
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How does a client connect to the repservice? (4 steps)
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1. client sends request to master gateway
2. service manager send hostname and port of node running RS 3. client establishes link with RS 4. RS performs repository metadata transactions for the client |
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What are the objects create in Designer? (8 kinds)
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1. Sources
2. Targets 3. Transformations 4. Reusable transformation 5. Mappings 6. Mapplets 7. UDFs 8. Multidimensional metadata (dimensions and cubes) |
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What are the objects create in WF Manager? (5)
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1. Database connections
2. Sessions 3. Workflows 4. Workflow tasks 5. Worklets |
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What are global objects?
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Objects not bound to a particular folder
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What are the different global objects
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- Labels
- Deployment groups - Object queries - Connection object |
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What are dependent objects? Give an example.
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Objects used by another object. A source is a dependent object of a mapping
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What are the 3 types of locks?
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- In-use lock. Objects you want to view
- Write-intent. Objects you want to modify - Execute lock. Objects you want to run |
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Can multiple users hold a write-intent lock?
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No. This is to avoid inconsistencies.
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Can multiple users hold an execute intent lock?
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No. This is to avoid loading duplicate or incoherent data.
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What the symbol of an impacted object?
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A yellow warning sign.
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Where are users,groups,privileges and roles stored?
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In the domain db and periodically synced to the repository by the Service Manager
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How are session and workflow logs stored?
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In files. In the repository there's a pointer to these files.
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What permissions can a user have on objects?
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rwx
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If an object changes, what happens to the shortcut pointing to it?
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It sees all those changes. A shortcut is like a symlink in Unix.
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What's the difference between a local and a global shortcut?
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A global shortcut points to a different (global) repository, a local one to the same repository
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Can you create a shortcut to a global repository folder that is not shared?
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No, but you can copy it.
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Difference static and dynamic deployment group?
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You manually add objects to static. For dynamic, a query is run the moment you deploy.
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How can you copy from one repository to the other?
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- Copy a folder
- Replace a folder - Copy a deployment group |
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Give an example of a possible usage for a metadata extension
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A contact for each object
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What's in the last 50 pages or so of the Repository Guide?
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Detailed descriptions of the MX views.
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Which products are part of the Informatica platform?
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Data Quality
Data Explorer Data Services PowerCenter |
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What are the application services for PowerCenter? (6)
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PowerCenter Repository Service
PowerCenter Interation Service Metadata Manager Service Reporting Service Web Services Hub SAP BW Service |
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How much temp space is required during installation? How can you set it to a particular directory?
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1GB. By setting the environment variable IATEMPDIR
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LIst the ports used by an Informatica domain (6 items)
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- Node port
- Service Manager port - Service Manager shutdown port - Administrator port - Administrator shutdown port - Application services ports (from port range |
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How are keys for SSL managed?
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Using the keytool utility from java/bin or jre/bin
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Can the communication between domain nodes/services be encrypted?
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Yes, by using TLS
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Is there a silent install option for the server?
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Yes. Configure SilentInput.properties.
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Is there a silent installer option for the clients?
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Yes. Configure SilentInput.properties.
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Where is connectivity information for gateway nodes stored?
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In domains.infa. There's an environment variable that specifies where to find this file.
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How can you get more informations about a failing installation?
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Installation or upgrade logs from the installation directory.
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What is a privilege?
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A privilege determines whether a particular action can or cannot be performed
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What is a role?
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A collection of privileges.
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What is a privilege group?
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A way to organize privileges. Examples: domain privileges, DIS privilege...
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Where can you look up privilege definitions?
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Informatica Administrator Guide
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What are the 2 types of roles?
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System defined and custom
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Where does a shortcut point to in a versioned repository?
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Always to the latest version of the referenced object
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Where must the referenced object of a shortcut be?
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In a shared folder
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2 types of shortcuts:
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* Global - in a global repository
* Local - in a shared folder in the same repository |
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If you change a shortcut, you may invalidate potentially many mappings using it. How can you find out which?
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Using the Analyze Dependencies feature in Repository Manager
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What's the alternative to shortcuts?
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Copying objects.
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3 types of copy operations
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- Copy folder
- Replace folder - Copy deployment group |
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What happens if you copy a folder and a folder with the same name already exists in the target repository?
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The new folder will get a different name including a timestamp
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What happens to shortcuts when copying? What if the object pointed to is not available in the target repository?
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The copy wizards can perform some logic to try to re-establish shortcuts. If not possible, the mapping will become invalid.
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Where do you define Metadata Extensions?
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Repository Manager -> Edit -> Metadata
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2 types of Metadata Extension
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reusable and non-reusable
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What's the code page of the domain database?
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UTF-8
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What's the relationship between source and target code page?
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Target codepage must be a superset of source codepage. Otherwise inconsistencies will occurr.
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How do database server and client codepage interact?
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The database client layer converts to the client codepage. PowerCenter interacts with the DB client codepage.
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Does the Integration Service validate code pages?
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Only when running in Unicode more
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What code page do you choose for a relational connection?
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The code page of the database client
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How do you set the Oracle client code page?
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By setting the environment variable NLS_LANG
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Which code page does PowerCenter use internally when running in Unicode mode?
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UCS-2
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What privileges are needed in order to develop workflows?
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Access Workflow Manager
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How can you delete an Integration Service from Workflow Manager?
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Right click IS in navigator pane
->Delete |
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How can you configure how times and dates are displayed in Workflow Manager?
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In the WIndows Control Panel, Regional Settings
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Where can you set Workflow Manager options?
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Edit->Options.
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What are the default permissions on a connection for all users if you disable enhanced security?
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rwx
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How do link conditions work?
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If the link condition evaluates to true, the next task is executed
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What happens if no link condition is specified for a link?
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The Integration Service simply executes the next task
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Can you run multiple instances of the same workflow in parallel?
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Yes. You have to configure the workflow for concurrent execution in the workflow settings, tab General.
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What happens if you select Save Workflow Logs by Timestamp?
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_All_ workflow logs will be saved, with a timestamp appended to the file name.
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Which are the tabs in the Workflow properties dialog?
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General, Properties, Scheduler, Variables, Events
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Is it possible to configure instances of one workflow to run at different times?
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No.
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How can you permanently unschedule a workflow?
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Configure it to run on demand.
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Are scheduler objects global?
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No, schedulers are per folder.
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What's a reusable scheduler?
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A scheduler stored in a folder that can be referenced by several workflows.
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What happens if you set a scheduler to "run continuosly"?
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It runs as soon as the IS initializes, and then as soon as the previous run is terminated.
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How can you select a different OS profile when starting a workflow?
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Right click -> Start Workflow -> Advanced
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Can you run only part of a workflow?
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Yes - you can select "start workflow from task"
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How can you run a specific task from the command line?
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pmcmd starttask
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Where does the Log Manager store information about workflow and session logs?
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In the domain configuration database
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What happens when you tell Workflow Manager to display a session or workflow log?
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1. WF Manager asks Log Manager to retrieve the log.
2. Log Manager looks up the location in the domain configuration DB. 3. Log Manager dispatches a Log Agent on each node to retrieve the log |
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What's the default code page of session/workflow logs?
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The code page of the Integration Service
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What's the default log format for sessions/workflows? How can you change it?
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Default is binary. It can be change to txt by selecting "Write backward compatible log file"
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Can you configure the maximum session log size?
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Yes. In the COnfig Object, tab "Advanced", Session Log File Max Size
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What happens if you stop or abort a specific task in a workflow?
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The Integration Service does not execute the other tasks in its path. The other branches of the workflow are still executed.
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What happens if you stop a Command Task?
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The current command is still executed, but the following one(s) are not.
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Two types of session errors
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Threshold (reader, writer, transformation errors)
Fatal (IS cannot access source, target or repository) |
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What happens when you abort a session?
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It stops reading, but continues processing/writing/committing for 60 seconds. Then it kills the pmdtm.
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What happens when you stop a session?
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It stops reading, but continues processing/writing/committing.
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What's the difference between native and transformation datatypes?
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Native is the database datatype. Transformation datatypes are based on SQL92 and are used internally by PowerCenter
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What's the "binary" dataype?
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Basically a blob. You can pass it through a mapping but not perform any logic on it.
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Precision and scale for the 3 integer datatypes
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Bigint: 19,0
Integer: 10,0 Small Integer: 5,0 |
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Maximum precision of the decimal datatype
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28. You can assign higher values in Designer, but the IS does not support them
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Where can you look up details on which native types are converted to which transformation types?
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Designer Guide, Appendix A
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Does updating a source definition affect the mappings using it?
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It depends. Some things (like adding another column) can be changed without invalidating the mapping.
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How can you update a source definition?
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Reimport or edit manually.
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Can you use 3rd party ODBC drivers to import metadata?
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Yes, but Designer will complain that the drivers is not listed in powrmart.ini
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Where is powrmart.ini located?
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In client\bin
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How can you change a flat file definition?
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Tab "Table", Advanced
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How can you add comments in an expression?
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By either prefixing them with // or --
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How are strings specified in an expression?
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Contained in single quotes
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Which character cannot appear in a string in an expression?
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The single quote. Use ||chr(39)|| if you need it.
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Is the transformation language case sensitive?
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No, except for string literals ('like tHiS')
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How many functions are there in the expression language?
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Over 100
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4 condition that must be satisfied for port connections to be valid
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1. At least 1 source and target must be connected
2. SQs must be mapped to a target 3. Mapplets must be connected 4. Port datatypes must be compatible |
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What is object validation?
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Designer verifies that the definitions of the independent objects, such as sources or mapplets, match the instance in the mapping. If any object changes while you configure the mapping, the mapping might contain errors.
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What is data flow validation?
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Designer verifies that the data can flow from all sources in a target load
order group to the targets without the Integration Service blocking all sources. |
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What's the purpose of built-in variables?
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To provide access to runtime and system information
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Can you nest aggregate functions?
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Only one level deep, i.e one within another, like sum(avg(...))
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What are encoding functions?
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Functions that compress, calculate hashes, and similar
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What's the purpose of the special functions?
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These are functions that make sense only in a PowerCenter context, like ABORT to abort a session
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What's the purpose of variable functions?
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To manipulate mapping variables.
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What does the Source Qualifier represent?
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The rows that are read from the source.
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What can you do with the SQ?
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Join tables in same DB, sort, filter, select distinct
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Which ports are selected in the default query for a relational source?
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Only the ports connected downstream of the SQ
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WHat's the condition for joining in the SQ?
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The connected tables must reside in the same database.
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How can you specify primary key relationships in Designer?
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By linking ports in Source Analyzer
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How can you view the default SQL query generated for an SQ?
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Properties -> SQL Query ->Generate (and then cancel)
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What's Informatica join syntax?
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A proprietary way to specify join conditions that gets translated to database join syntax. Docs say to not use it.
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Can aggregate functions be used in an Expression Transformation?
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No. Only in Aggregator.
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When does it not help to select "sorted input" in an Aggregator?
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* When using incremental aggregation
* When using nested aggregate functions * When the source is data driven |
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What is incremental aggregation?
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Index and data caches are reused in the next run, incrementing as new data comes in
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What's the use of variable ports in an Aggregator?
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Store reusable components of expressions. This improves performance (according to the docs)
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What's the use of group by ports in an Aggregator?
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The IS produces one row for each group. If you select multiple group by ports, the IS produces one row for each unique combination.
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What's the relationship between CURRVAL and NEXTVAL in a Sequence Generator?
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CURRVAL = NEXTVAL + Increment-By value
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Which of these operations can you perform on Sequence Generator ports: add, update, delete
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None of them.
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If you connect a Sequence Generator port to 2 different targets, what will be the result?
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They will contain different values. If you need the same value in both, pass them to a different transformation first.
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What happens if you specify more than one sort key in a Sorter?
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They will define primary, secondary, ... sort orders, based on the order of the ports in the Sorter.
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What's the Sorter work directory? (3 points)
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* It's where the Sorter stores temporary files.
* Defined by $PMTempDir by default. * Can be split to different places, one for each partition (possibly improve disk performance) |
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How can you configure a Sorter to discard duplicate rows?
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Select Distinct Output Rows.
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What's a typical use of Lookups in a dimensional warehouse?
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Update slowly changing dimensions: check if a row exists in the target
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What's a pipeline lookup?
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A lookup on an application source (JMS, SAP). Connect SQ to pipeline lookup
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What's the purpose of dynamic lookup cache?
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It can be updated. There are configuration options for the different update strategies.
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What's a shared lookup cache?
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A cache that is shared between different transformations. If it is named, it can also be shared between different mappings. Its purpose is to increase performance.
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What's a persistent lookup cache?
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Saves the cache files between runs. You can select to recache in the session properties when the source changes.
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How does the IS work with master and detail branch of a Joiner?
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Each row from the master is compared against the detail
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Which one of two branches should be master for a Joiner?
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The one with less rows.
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What does a master outer join do?
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Keep all rows from the detail and the matching ones from the master
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What's the best way to increase Joiner performance?
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Use sorted data.
Join in the database. |
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How can you join a source to iself? (2 methods)
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* Use 2 instances of the source.
* Put a transformation in one branche between SQ and joiner |
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How can you configure whether to update or insert rows in a target?
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Either at the session level, or within a mapping with an Update Strategy
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What are the 4 constants used in the update strategy expression?
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dd_update, dd_insert, dd_delete, dd_reject
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When you using an Update Strategy, the field Treat Source Rows As in the session properties should be:
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Data Driven
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What happens if you put an aggregator behind an update strategy?
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It will perform different calculations based on how the row is flagged
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How are rejected rows handled by the update strategy?
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By default they are passed to the next transformation and written to the row error log if row error handling is enable. You can configure the Update Strategy to drop them
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What's a filter condition?
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A condition that returns a boolean value, used in a Filter
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What's the function of the default group in a Router?
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Rows that don't go into any other group go into the default group.
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Can you change the output ports of a Router?
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No. Datatypes are copied from the input group.
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Can a Mapplet have multiple pipelines?
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Yes
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Can a Mapplet have multiple Output transformations?
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Yes. They will appear as separate groups when you use the mapplet in a mapping.
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How can you view the contents of a mapplet?
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Mappings -> Expand from the menu
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Can mapplets be nested?
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No
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Name a transformation that cannot be used in a mapplet
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Normalizer
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What kind of sources can be previewed in Designer?
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Relational, flat files, XML
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How do you preview XML data?
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In the XML editor, select a view, then XML Views -> Preview and select a file
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3 ways to define an XML target
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* From an XML schema or file
* From an XML source * From a relational or flat file source |
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Difference between creating hierarchy or creating entity relationships in the XML import wizard
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Hierarchy creates one big hierarchy (normalized or denormalized), while entity creates views for multiple-occurring elements.
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Does PowerCenter support all XML datatypes?
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No. There are 13 unsupported datatypes in 9.1. Always check.
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Can you generate an XML target from relational tables?
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Yes. If they are related through primary key relationships, the XML will be structured accordingly
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What happens if generate hierarchies in the XML import wizard?
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Each reference to a component is expanded under its parent element.
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