Informatica Mapping represents the data flow between the Source and target tables. Or we can say that it defines the rules for data Transformation. To create Informatica Mapping, we require one or more Source Definitions, one or more Target definitions, and Transformations.
The following screenshot will show you the diagrammatic representation of the Informatica Mapping.
From the above screenshot, you can observe that Every mapping in Informatica should contain the following components:
- Source Definition: Here, we are going to use one or more sources that we created in the source analyzer. Please refer to the Informatica Source Analyzer article to understand its functionality.
- Transformations: Modifies the source data using different types of available transformations.
- Target Definition: Here, we are going to use one or more targets that we created in the target designer. Please refer to the Target Designer in Informatica article to understand its functionality.
Informatica Mapping Designer
Before we start Informatica Mapping, First connect to Informatica repository service.
To connect with the Repository service, we have to provide the Informatica Admin Console credentials. So, Please provide the Username and Password and click on the Connect button.
TIP: Here, you have to provide the Admin Username and password that you specified while installing the Informatica Server.
Once you connected successfully, Please navigate to Tools menu in Menu Bar. The following screenshot will show the list of available tools inside the Informatica PowerCenter Designer.
In this article, we are explaining the Informatica Mapping. So, please select the Mapping Designer option.
Once you select the Mapping Designer option, we will be in the Mapping Designer screen.
TIP: Mapping Menu in the Menu bar will be available only when you are in the Mapping Designer section. Otherwise, it won’t show up.
STEP 1: To create a new mapping, Please navigate to the Mappings menu in Menu Bar and select the Create..option. It will open the Mapping Name window. Here, you have to write the unique name for this mapping and click the OK button.
STEP 2: Drag and drop the DimProducts source definition from Sources folder to the mapping designer. Once you drag the source, the PowerCenter designer will automatically create the default transformation called source qualifier.
STEP 3: Drag and drop the Target_DimProducts target definition from Target’s folder to the mapping designer.
TIP: Generally, we place one or more transformations in between the Source definition and the target definition, and we will cover them in the following tutorials.
STEP 4: We have to connect the source qualifier with the target definition. Informatica PowerCenter Designer provides multiple ways to connect them. The first approach is, Right-click on the empty space present in the mapping designer will open the context menu. Please select the Autolink.. option from it.
The second approach is selecting all columns present in Source Qualifier and dragging them to the target definition. In both these approaches, if there is any mismatch in the column names, then we have to attach them manually.
From the below screenshot, you can observe that we have a Size column in Source and Size_FLD in the target. In these situations, Auto link or dragging columns will not link them. So, please select the required column (Size) and drag it to the destination column (Size_FLD) to create the connection.
NOTE: Informatica Mapping designer allows us to delete the wrong mapping by selecting the link and deleting it.
STEP 5: Let us validate the mapping by going to Mapping Menu bar and selecting the Validate option.
