Designer Guide

Skill Set Inventory Informatica Professional Certification Examination G PowerCenter 6 Designer Guide Includes Informatica PowerMart 6.x / Informatica PowerCenter 6.x The PowerCenter 6 Architecture and Administration examination is composed of the twelve sections listed below. In order to ensure that you are prepared for the test, review the subtopics associated with each section. The Informatica documentation is an excellent source of information on the material that will be covered in the examination. If you are thoroughly knowledgeable in the areas mentioned in this Skill Set Inventory, you will do well on the examination. The examination is designed to test for “expert level” knowledge. Informatica strongly urges you to attain a complete understanding of these topics before you attempt to take the examination. Hands-on experience with the software is the best way to gain this understanding.

Designer Configuration a) b) c) d)

Be familiar with the rules for using shared and non-shared folders. Understand the meaning of each of the Designer configuration options. Know what Designer options can be configured separately for each client machine. Be familiar with the Designer toolbar functions, Such as Find.

Transformation ports a) b) c) d)

Know the rules for linking transformation ports together. Know the rules for using and converting the Informatica data types. Know what types of transformation ports are supported and the uses for each. Be familiar with the types of data operations that can be performed on a port level.

Source and Target Definations a) Understand how editing source and target definitions affect associated objects such as Mapping and Mapplets. b) Understand how the repository stores referential integrity. c) Know how to edit flat file definitions at any time. d) Know the types of source and target definitions supported.

e) Know how to determine if a Session Task is considered to have heterogeneous targets. f) Understand the rules and limitations of overriding target types.

Validation a) b) c) d)

Know all the possible reasons why an expression may be invalid. Understand how to use strings correctly in Informatica expressions. Know the rules regarding connecting transformations to other transformations. Know the rules of Mapping and Mapplet validation.

Transformation Language a) Be familiar with all transformation language functions and key words. b) Know how the Informatica server evaluates expressions. c) Be able to predict the output or result of a given expression.

Source Qualifier transformation a) Understand how the Source Qualifier uses data types. b) Know how the default query is generated and the rules for modifying it. c) Understand how to use the Source Qualifier to perform various types of joins.

Aggregator Transformation a) b) c) d) e)

Know how to use Informatica aggregate functions. Understand how to be able to use a variable port in an Aggregator transformation. Be able to predict the output of a given Aggregator. Know the rules associated with defining and using aggregate caches. Know how to calculate an optimum cache size.

Sorter Transformation a) Know the capabilities and limitations of the Sorter transformation. b) Know when a Sorter transformation does the data sort with respect to the parent workflow. c) Understand how the Sorter transformation uses hardware resources. d) Understand the meaning and use of the Distinct Output Rows property.

Lookup Transformation a) b) c) d) e)

Know the advantages and disadvantages of connected and unconnected Lookups. Know the ways a Lookup transformation may cause a session to fail. Be familiar with the meaning of all Lookup properties. Understand how a dynamic Lookup cache works and what it accomplishes. Know what types of Lookups are supported under various configurations.

Joiner Transformation a) Know what types of sources can be joined with the Joiner transformation. b) Be familiar with the limitations of the Joiner Transformation. c) Understand the supported join types and options available for controlling the join.

Update Strategy Transformation a) know how the Update Strategy transformation works in conjunction with session properties. b) Understand how transformations that are “downstream” of the Update Strategy are affected. c) Be familiar with the Update Strategy properties and options. d) Know what can happen to a given row for each different type of row operation.

Filter and Router transformations a) Understand how to work with the Router and Filter Transformations. b) Understand how to work with Sequence Generator Transformation.

Reusable Logic a) Be familiar with the rules and limitations regarding Mapplets. b) Know how to use Mapplet Output transformations and Output groups. c) Know the rules regarding active and passive Mapplets.