New Features and Enhancement in

Informatica 7.1.1

© 2004 Infosys Technologies Ltd. Private and confidential. All rights reserved.
Objective

Some of the New Features and Enhancements In 7.1.1

• Transformation

• Usability

• New Functions

• Version Control

• Data Profiling

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Transformations

 Flat file lookup

Perform lookups on flat files. When you create a Lookup transformation using a flat file
as a lookup source, the Designer invokes the Flat File Wizard. You can also use a
lookup file parameter if you want to change the name or location of a lookup between
session runs.
• You can use indirect files as lookup sources by specifying a file list as the lookup file name.

• You can use sorted input for the lookup. (improves performance)

• You can sort null data high or low. With relational lookups, this is based on the database support.

• You can use case-sensitive string comparison with flat file lookups. With relational lookups, the
case-sensitive comparison is based on the database support.

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Transformation

 Dynamic Lookup Cache Enhancement

you can choose whether the PowerCenter Server outputs old or new
values from the lookup/output ports when it updates a row. You might
want to output old values from lookup/output ports when you use the
Lookup transformation in a mapping that updates slowly changing
dimension tables.

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Transformations contd.

 Union transformation

You can use the Union transformation to merge multiple sources into a single
pipeline. The Union transformation is similar to using the UNION ALL SQL statement
to combine the results from two or more SQL statements.

 Custom transformation API enhancements

Custom transformations operate in conjunction with procedures you create outside of

the Designer to extend PowerCenter functionality.

The Custom transformation functions allow you to develop the transformation logic in a
procedure you associate with a Custom transformation.

PowerCenter provides two sets of functions called generated and API functions.

The PowerCenter Server uses generated functions to interface with the procedure.
When you create a Custom transformation and generate the source code files, the
Designer includes the generated functions in the files. Use the API functions in the
procedure code to develop the transformation logic.

Example.zip

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Transformations contd.

 Joiner Transformation

You can use the Joiner transformation to join two data streams that originate from
the same source.

• Join two branches of the same pipeline.

• Create two instances of the same source and join pipelines from these source
instances.

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Usability

 Viewing active folders. The Designer and the Workflow Manager

highlight the active folder in the Navigator.

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Usability

 Comparing objects :

You can compare workflows and tasks from the Workflow Manager. You can also
compare all objects from within the Repository Manager.

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Usability

 Change propagation :

When you edit a port in a mapping, you can choose to propagate changed
attributes throughout the mapping. The Designer propagates ports, expressions,
and conditions based on the direction that you propagate and the attributes you
choose to propagate.

 Enhanced partitioning interface :

The Session Wizard is enhanced to provide a graphical depiction of a mapping

when you configure partitioning.

Paritioning.JPG

 Revert to saved :

You can now revert to the last saved version of an object in the Workflow
Manager. When you do this, the Workflow Manager accesses the repository to
retrieve the last-saved version of the object.

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Usability
 Enhanced validation messages :

The PowerCenter Client writes messages in the Output window that describe why
it invalidates a mapping or workflow when you modify a dependent object.

 Validate multiple objects :

You can validate multiple objects in the repository without fetching them into the
workspace. You can validate sessions, mappings, mapplets, workflows, and
worklets.
 Validation in Designer.ppt

 Validate in Repository MNGR.ppt

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Usability
 View dependencies :

Before you edit or delete versioned objects, such as sources, targets, mappings,
or workflows, you can view dependencies to see the impact on other objects. You
can view parent and child dependencies and global shortcuts across repositories.

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Functions

 Soundex

The Soundex function encodes a string value into a four-character string.

SOUNDEX works for characters in the English alphabet (A-Z). It uses the
first character of the input string as the first character in the return value and
encodes the remaining three unique consonants as numbers.

SOUNDEX(char as char)

Example

The following expression encodes the values in the EMPLOYEE_NAME port:

SOUNDEX( EMPLOYEE_NAME )

EMPLOYEE_NAME Return Value

William W450

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Functions
 Metaphone

The Metaphone function encodes string values. You can specify the length of the
string that you want to encode. METAPHONE encodes characters of the English
language alphabet (A-Z). It encodes both uppercase and lowercase letters in
uppercase.

METAPHONE(char as char, [n as numeric])

Examples

The following expression encodes the first two characters in EMPLOYEE_NAME

port to a string:

METAPHONE( EMPLOYEE_NAME, 2 )

Employee_Name Return Value

John JH

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Version Control

 The PowerCenter Client and repository introduce features that allow you to create and manage
multiple versions of objects in the repository.
 Version control in PowerCenter includes the following features:
• Object versioning.
• Check out and check in versioned objects.
• Compare objects.
• Delete or purge a version.
• Deployment.
• Deployment groups.
• Labels.
• Queries.
• Track changes to an object
Once you enable version control for a repository, you cannot disable it.
Note: To enable a repository for version control, you must have the Team-Based Development option
license key in the repository license file.

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Data Profiling

 Understanding the content

 Improve data quality over time with historical dashboards and reports
 Ensure data is fit for its intended purpose by easily profiling source data
and eliminating unfounded assumptions
 Improved performance

 Saves time and is critical to success of data integration effort

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QUIZ

 Can you Compare mappings in Powercenter designer?

 Can you Revert to Saved in PowerCenter Designer?

 Can you use lookup transformation to update the slowly changing

dimension tables?

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© 2004 Infosys Technologies Ltd. Private and confidential. All rights reserved. BACK
© 2004 Infosys Technologies Ltd. Private and confidential. All rights reserved. BACK
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