Understand Informatica PowerCenter Source Analyzer

  Level1 Training

In one of our previous article, we got to know the different client components of Informatica PowerCenter.  Source Analyzer - The first tool in PowerCenter Designer,  is used to identify the sources that will be used to build the data mart or warehouse and create definitions for those sources. Source definitions describe the sources that are going to be providing data to the warehouse. There are different ways to create source definitions.

• Import from Database
• Import from File
• Import from COBOL File
• Import from XML
• Create manually and more...

In this article lets see how we can create source definition in different ways.

Try creating your Source Definition.

Please follow the steps below for you to get familiarize with PowerCenter Source Analyzer

I. Getting connected to PowerCenter Designer

1. START PROGRAMS | INFORMATICA POWERCENTER CLIENT | DESIGNER.
   • You can connect to the repository in the following ways:
     • Double click on the repository
     • Select the repository and select the menu option REPOSITORY | CONNECT
     • Select the repository and click on the icon
   
2. Enter your User Name and Password to LogOn.
3. Once you are connected you can see your folder name appearing in the Navigator window.
4. To open the folder, right click on the folder and select Open.
   Note : An open folder is required in order to add, delete or modify objects. All of the work is performed in the Workspace Window, to the right of the Navigator Window (i.e. - Where the tools such as the Source Analyzer, Warehouse Designer,Mapplet Designer, etc., are active). The objects created in the Workspace, will appear in the Navigator Window.
5. To view all objects in the folder, click on the + sign.

II. Working with Source Analyzer

1. In the Designer’s Navigator Window, highlight your folder and select TOOLS | SOURCE ANALYZER or open the folder. This opens the Source Analyzer window. You can also click on the Source Analyzer button shown below to open Source Analyzer.

   
2. Notice the folder name and the repository names are displayed in the application title bar and Open Folders drop down list.

 

III. Importing Source from Database

1. Select SOURCES | IMPORT FROM DATABASE.
   • i. The Import tables dialog box appears.
   

• ii. Click on the icon, to create the data source.

• iii. Click on Add in the ODBC Data Source Administrator box

• iv. Select the DataDirect Closed 4.20 Oracle driver and enter the Data Source Name, Description and Server Name.

• v. Click on Test Connect to test connectivity. Enter the following information:
• Username: Your database user name
• Password: Your database password

• vi. If the connection to the database is successful, click on Apply or OK.

1. Select the ODBC data source from the pull down list, which corresponds to the location of the tables.
   Note: Designer will fill in Owner name. In case of Oracle database.
2. Click on Connect after providing all the details as shown in figure below.
3. In the Select Tables box, expand the owner name until you see a TABLES listing.
4. Select the EMPLOYEES table.
   HINT: To select multiple tables, press the Ctrl key while selecting each table with a single mouse click.
   
5. Click OK. The source table definition now appear in the Source Analyzer workbook
   Note: Using Designer’s Navigator Window, notice the source definition has also been added to the Source section, or node, in your folder.

IV. Verify the source definitions.  

1. In the Source Analyzer workbook, for the source definition, expand the Key Types column.
   
   HINT: When the source definitions are in normal mode, hold the mouse over the separator between the Key Types column and the Name column. When the mouse turns into a bold double-arrow, click and drag the mouse to the right to expand the column.

V. Edit Source Definitions

1. In the Source Analyzer workbook, double-click on the EMPLOYEES table. The Edit Tables dialog box appears.
2. Select the Table tab. In the Description Window, enter: “This is the EMPLOYEES source table containing data of employees in the company”
   
3. Select the Columns tab.     
4. Select the DEPT_ID column name.
   HINT: Click in the Column Name column on the DEPT_ID line     
5. In the Description window, type: “This is the department id to which the employee belongs”
   
6. If you want to enter comments for additional columns, repeat the above steps.    
7. Click on OK to save the comments and close the Edit Tables dialog box.    
8. Select REPOSITORY | SAVE to save your folder in the repository.

Video Tutorial

In this tutorial we will see different ways in which a source definition can be created.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial, Please let us know if you have any difficulties in trying out these exercise.

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