Informatica Developer Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a source and target in PowerCenter and a physical data object in the Developer tool?

In PowerCenter, you create a source definition to include as a mapping source. You create a target definition to include as a mapping target. In the Developer tool, you create a physical data object that you can use as a mapping source or target.

What is the difference between a mapping in the Developer tool and a mapping in PowerCenter?

A PowerCenter mapping specifies how to move data between sources and targets. A Developer tool mapping specifies how to move data between the mapping input and output.

A PowerCenter mapping must include one or more source definitions, source qualifiers, and target definitions. A PowerCenter mapping can also include shortcuts, transformations, and mapplets.

A Developer tool mapping must include mapping input and output. A Developer tool mapping can also include transformations and mapplets.

The Developer tool has the following types of mappings:

• - Mapping that moves data between sources and targets. This type of mapping differs from a PowerCenter mapping only in that it cannot use shortcuts and does not use a source qualifier.
• - Logical data object mapping. A mapping in a logical data object model. A logical data object mapping can contain a logical data object as the mapping input and a data object as the mapping output. Or, it can contain one or more physical data objects as the mapping input and logical data object as the mapping output.
• - Virtual table mapping. A mapping in an SQL data service. It contains a data object as the mapping input and a virtual table as the mapping output.
• - Virtual stored procedure mapping. Defines a set of business logic in an SQL data service. It contains an Input Parameter transformation or physical data object as the mapping input and an Output Parameter transformation or physical data object as the mapping output.

What is the difference between a mapplet in PowerCenter and a mapplet in the Developer tool?

A mapplet in PowerCenter and in the Developer tool is a reusable object that contains a set of transformations. You can reuse the transformation logic in multiple mappings.

A PowerCenter mapplet can contain source definitions or Input transformations as the mapplet input. It must contain Output transformations as the mapplet output.

A Developer tool mapplet can contain data objects or Input transformations as the mapplet input. It can contain data objects or Output transformations as the mapplet output. A mapping in the Developer tool also includes the following features:

• - You can validate a mapplet as a rule. You use a rule in a profile.
• - A mapplet can contain other mapplets.

What is the difference between a mapplet and a rule?

You can validate a mapplet as a rule. A rule is business logic that defines conditions applied to source data when you run a profile. You can validate a mapplet as a rule when the mapplet meets the following requirements:

• - It contains an Input and Output transformation.
• - The mapplet does not contain active transformations.
• - It does not specify cardinality between input groups.