Informatica Transformations

Informatica Transformations are PowerCenter repository objects that generates, modifies and passes data. Transformation allows you to define business rules for processing data. Informatica PowerCenter Designer provides a set of transformations to perform specific functions. Informatica Transformations are classified in to Active Transformations and Passive Transformations.

What is Active transformation?

Active transformation in Informatica can effect the no of rows that passes through the transformation, change the transaction boundary and or change the no of rows by taking ‘n’ of input records,can  it may return <, =, > n no’of output records. The following are the list of active transformations used for processing the data.

TransformationTypeDescription
AggregatorActive/ConnectedIt performs aggregator calculations
Application Source QualifierActive/ConnectedIt represents the rows that the Integration service reads from an application, such as ERP source, when it runs a session.
CustomActive or Passive / ConnectedIt calls a procedure in a shared library or DLL.
FilterActive / ConnectedIt filters data.
JavaActive or Passive / ConnectedExecutes user logic coded in Java. The byte code for the user logic is stored in the repository.
JoinerActive / ConnectedJoins data from different databases or flat file system.
NormalizerActive / ConnectedSource qualifier for COBOL source. Can also use in the pipeline to normalize data from relational or flat file source.
RankActive / ConnectedIt limits records to a top or bottom range.
RouterActive / ConnectedIt routes data into multiple transformations based in group condition.
SorterActive / ConnectedIt sorts data based on a sort key.
Source QualifierActive / ConnectedIt represents the rows that the Integration service reads from a relational or flat file source when it runs a session.
Transformation ControlActive / ConnectedIt defines commit and rollback transactions.
UnionActive / ConnectedIt merges data from different database or flat file system.
Unstructured DataActive or Passive / ConnectedTransforms data in unstructured and semi-structured formats.
Update StrategyActive / ConnectedIt determines whether to insert, delete, update or reject rows.
XML generatorActive / ConnectedReads data from one or more input ports and outputs XML through a single output port.
XML ParserActive / ConnectedReads XML from one or more input ports and Outputs data to one or more output ports.
XML Source QualifierActive / ConnectedRepresents the rows that the Integration service reads from an XML source when it runs a session
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What is passive Transformation?

Passive Transformation in Informatica that does not affect the number of rows that passes through the transformation, maintains the transaction boundary and it does not change the number of rows by taking ‘n’ no’of input records and returns the same no of output records. Following are the list of passive Transformations used for processing the data.

TransformationTypeDescription
ExpressionPassive / ConnectedIt calculates a value.
HTTPPassive / ConnectedIt connects to an HTTP server to read or update data.
InputPassive / ConnectedIt defines mapplet input rows and available in the Mapplet designer.
LookupPassive / Connected or UnconnectedLooks up values.
OutputPassive / ConnectedIt defines mapplet output rows and available in Mapplet designer.
Sequence generatorPassive / ConnectedIt generated primary keys.
Stored procedurePassive / ConnectedIt calls a stored procedure.

Unconnected Transformation

Informatica Transformation can be connected to the data flow, or they can be unconnected. An unconnected transformation is no t connected to other transformation in the mapping and called within another transformation, and returns a value to that transformation.

How to create an Informatica Transformation.

Informatica transformation can be created using Designer tools such as Mapping Designer, Transformation developer and Mapplet Designer, then configure the transformation by adding ports, properties, groups, expressions and son on and finally link the transformation to other transformation and target definitions by drag and drop method in the mapping or mapplet.

Mapping Designer:  Mapping Designer in Informatica creates transformations that  connects Source to Target.

Transformation Developer: Transformation developer crates individual transformations called reusable transformations that can be used in other mappings.

Mapplet Designer: Mapplet designer creates and configures  transformations called as Mapplets, these transformations can be used in multiple mappings.

Informatica transformations

Conclusion

I hope this Informatica Transformations tutorial was helpful to understand the basics of Informatica Transformations and in our upcoming Informatica Transformations tutorial, we will learn about each transformation in detail with example.