1

Question

Answer =================================

Phases - are used to break the graph into pieces. Temp

after its completion. Phases are used to effectively sep
CPU, disk) parts of the application.
Phases vs Checkpoints

Checkpoints - created for recovery purposes. These ar

can recover to the latest saved point - and rerun from i

You can have phase breaks with or without checkpoin

xfr

three types of parallelism

A new sandbox will have many directories: mp, dml, x

with extension .xfr containing your own custom funct
"somepath/xfr/yourfile.xfr"). Usually XFR stores map

1) Data Parallesim - data (copies of the same - or diffe

components.
2) Componnent Paralelism (execute simultaneously on
3) Pipeline (sequential).
Multi-File System

MFS

m_mkfs - create a multifile (m_mkfs ctrlfile mpfile1 .

m_ls - list all the multifiles
m_rm - remove the multifile
m_cp - copy a multifile

m_mkdir - to add more directories to existing director

Memory requirements of a
graph

How to calculate a SUM

dedup sort with null key

Each partition of a component uses: ~ 8 MB +

Add size of lookup files used in phase (if mult
once)
Multiply by degree of parallelism. Add up all c
is used in that phase.
Select the largest-memory phase in the graph

SCAN
ROLLUP
SCANWITHROLLUP
Scan followed by Dedup sort and select the last

If we don't use any key in the sort component while us

then the output depends on the keep parameter.

first - only the first record

last - only last record

unique_only - there will be no records in the o

join on partitioned flow

file1 (A,B,C) , file2 (A,B,D). We partition both files b

should we partition by "A,B" ? Not clear.

checkin, checkout

You can do checkin/checkout using the wizard right fr

how to have different

passwords for QA and
production

parameterize the .dbc file - or use environmental varia

How to get records 50-75 out of

100

Hot to convert a serial file into

FFS
project parameters vs. sandbox
parameters
Bad-Straight-flow

merging graphs

partitioning, re-partitioning,
departitioning

use scan and filter

m_dump <dml> <mfs file> -start 50 -end 75

use next_in_sequence() function and filter by e

&& next_in_sequence() <75)

create MFS, then use partition component

When you check out a project into your sandbox - you

you can refer to them as sandbox parameters.

error you get when connecting mismatching compone

to mfs flow without using a partition component)

You can not merge two ab initio graphs. You can use t
can also copy/paste the contents between graphs. See

partitioning - dividing a single flow of records

departitioning - removing partitionning (gather

re-partitioning - change the number of partition

lookup file

for large amounts of data use MFS lookup file (instead

indexing

No indexes as such. But there is an "output indexing"

transform part.

Environment project

Environment project - special public project that exist

the environment parameters required by the private or

Environment.
Aggregate vs Rollup

Aggregate - old component

Rollup - newer, extended, recommended to use instead
(built-in functions like sum count avg min max produc

EME = Enterprise Metdata Environment. Func

analysis, dependency analysis). It is on the serv
transformations, config info, source and target
you checkin/checkout. /Project dir of EME con
sandboxes connected to it. It also helps in depe
air commands to manipulate repository objects
GDE = Graphical Devlopment Environment (o

Co-operating sytem = Ab Initio server installed

EME, GDE, Co-operating

sytem

fencing means job controlling on priority basis.

In AI it actually refers to customized phase breaking. A
source data volume process will not cough in dead loc
processes.
fencing

Fencing - changing a priority of a job

Phasing - managing the resources to avoid deadlocks.
For example, limiting the number of simultaneous pro
(by breaking the graph into phases, only 1 of which ca
Continuous components

Continuous components - produce useful output file w

Continuous rollup, Continuous update batch subscribe

Question

Answer
================================
======

deadlock

Deadlock is when two or more processes are

resource. To avoid use phasing and resource

environment

AB_HOME - where co>operating sy

AB_AIR_ROOT - default location fo
sandboxes standard environment
AI_SORT_MAX_CORE, AI_HOME

from unix prompt: env | grep AI

wrapper script

unix script to run graphs

multistage component

A multistage component is a component whi

in 5 stages (1.input select, 2.temporary initia
output selection, 5.finalize). So it is a transfo
packages. Examples: scan Normalize and De
normalize and denormalize sorted.

Dynamic DML

Dynamic DML is used if the input metadata

different time different input files are recieve
different dml. in that case we can use flag in
read in the input file recieved and according
dml is used.

fan out - partition component (increa

fan in departition component (decrea

fan in, fan out

lock

a user can lock the graph for editing so that o

and can not edit the same graph.

join vs lookup

Lookup is good for spped for small files (wil

memory). For large files use join. You may n
limit to handle big joins.

multi update

multi update executes SQL statements - it tre

completely separate piece of work.

We can use Autosys, Control-M, or a

We can take care of dependencies in

scripts should run sequentially, we ca
Autosys, or we can create a wrapper
sequential commands (nohup comma
command2.ksh &; etc). We can even
Initio to execute individual scripts as

scheduler

Api and Utility modes in input table

These are database interfaces (api - uses SQL

whatever vendor provides)

lookup file component. Functions: lo

lookup_next, lookup_match, lookup_

Lookups are always used with combi

components.

lookup file

Calling stored proc in DB

You can call stored proc (for example, from

you can even write SP in Ab Initio. Make it "
good performance.

Frequently used functions

string_ltrim, string_lrtrim, string_substring,

now()

data validation

is_valid, is_null, is_blank, is_defined

driving port

When joining inputs (in0, in1, ...) one of the

default - in0). Driving input is usually the lar
smallest can have "Sorted-Input" parameter b
sorted" because it will be loaded completely

Ab Initio benefits: parallelism built in, mulit

amounts of data, easy to build and run. Gene
easily modified as needed )if something coul
itself). The scripts can be easily scheduled us
and easily integrated with other systems.

Ab Initio doesn't require a dedicated adminis

Ab Initio vs Informatica for ETL

Ab Initio doesn't have built-in CDC capabili

Capture).

Ab Initio allows to (attach error / reject files)

capture and analyze the message and data se
Informatica which has just one huge log). Ab
metrics for each component.
override key

override key option is used when we need to

different field names.

control file

control file should be in the multifile directo

the serial files)

max-core

max-core parameter (for example, sort 100 M

of memory used by a component (like Sort o
before spilling to disk. Usually you don't nee
default value. Setting it too high may degrad
of OS swapping and degrading of the perform

Input Parameters

graph > select parameters tab > click "create

Usage: $paramname. Edit > parameters. The
substituted during run time. You may need to
scope as formal.

Each component has reject, error, and log po

records, Error captures corresponding error,
execution statistics of the component. You ca
each component by setting reject threshold to
on first reject, or setting ramp/limit. You can
function in transform function.

Error Trapping

3
Question

Answer
=======================================

How to see resource usage

In GDE goto options View > Tracking Details - will se

and memory usage, etc.

assign keys component

Easy and saves development time. Need to understand

and you can't control it easily.

Scenario 1 (preferred): we run query which joi

us the result in just 1 DB component.

Scenario 2 (much slower): we use 2 database c

and join them in Ab Initio.

Join in DB vs join in Ab Initio

Join with DB

not recommended if number of records is big. It is bet

and then join in Ab Initio.

Parameter showing how data is unevenly distributed b

Data Skew

skew = (partition size - avg.part.size)* 100 / (size of th

.dbc - database configuration file (dbname, nodes, ver

the db directory
dbc vs cfg

.cfg - any tyoe of config file. for example, remote con

remote server, user/pwd to connect to db, location of O
connection method). .cfg file resides in the config dir.
depth not equal data format error etc...

compilation errors

depth error : we get this error.. when two components

does't match there layout

types of partitions

broadcast pbyexpression pbyroundrobin pbykey pwith

unused port

when joining, used records go to the output port, unus

port

tuning performance

Go parallel using partitionning. Roundrobin pa

balance.
Use Multi-file system (MFS).
Use Ad Hoc MFS to read many serial files in p
component.
Once data is partitionned - do not switch it to s
instead.
Do not acceess large filess via NFS - use FTP
use lookup local rather than lookup (especially
Use rollup and Filter as soon as possible to red
Ideally do it in the source (database ?) before y
Remove unnecessary components. For exampl
exp, you can implement the same function in r
Another example - when joining data from 2 fi
instead of adding an additional component for
use gather instead of concatenate.
it is faster to do a sort after a partitino, than to
try to avoid using a join with the "db" compon
when getting data from database - make sure y
indexes, etc.). If possible, do necessary selectio
the database before getting data into Ab Initio.
tune Max_core for Optimal performance (for s
the input file).
Note - If in-memory join cannot fit its non-driv
MAX-CORE, then it will drop all the inputs to
not make sence.
Using phase breaks let you allocate more mem
components - thus improving performance.
Use checkpoint after sort to land data on disk
Use Join and rollup in-memory feature
When joining very small dataset to a very larg
to broadcast the small dataset to MFS using br
the small file as lookup. But for large dataset d
partitioner.
Use Ab Initio layout instead of database defau
Change AB_REPORT parameter to increased m
Use catalogs for reusability
Components like join/ rollup should have the o

if they are placed after a sort component.

minimize number of sort components. Minimi
component, and if possible replace them by inonly required fields in the sort reformat join co
Groups" instead of just Sort when data was alr
Use phasing/flow buffers in case of merge sort

Minimize the use of regular expression functio

transfer functions
Avoid repartitioning of data unnecessarily. Wh
more than two flows, use Reformat rather than
For joining records from 2 flows use Concaten
there is a need to follow some specific order in
is required then it is preferable to use Gather c

Instead of putting many Reformat components

indexes parameter in the first Reformat compo
condition there.

Delta table maintain the sequencer of each dat

Master (or base) table - a table on tp of which

delta table

scan vs rollup

rollup - performs aggregate calculations on groups, sc

totals

packages

used in multistage components or transform compone

Reformat - deriving new data by adding/dropp

Redefine format - rename fields

Reformat vs "Redefine Format"

Conditional DML

DML which is separated based on a condition

SORTWITHINGROUP

passing a condition as a parameter

The prerequisit for using sortwithingroup is th

by the major key. sortwithingroup outputs the
reading the major key group. It is like an impli

Define a Formal Keyword Parameter of type string. Fo

FilterCondition, and you want it to do filtering on CO
graph in your "Filter by expression" Component enter
$FilterCondition

Now on your command line or in wrapper script give

YourGraphname.ksh -FilterCondition COUNT > 0
Passing file name as a parameter

#!/bin/ksh
#Running the set up script on
enviornment
typeset PROJ_DIR $(cd $(dirname $0)/..; pwd
.
$PROJ_DIR/ab_project_setup.ksh $PROJ_DI
#Exporting the script parameter1 to
INPUT
if [ $# -ne 2 ];
then
INPUT_FILE_PARAMETER_1
$1
INPUT_FILE_PARAMETER_2 $2

# This grpah is using the input

file
cd $AI_RUN
./my_graph1.ksh $INPUT_FILE_PARAMETER_1
# This graph also is using the input
fi
./my_graph2.ksh $INPUT_FILE_PARAMETER_2
exit 0;
else
echo Insufficient
parameters
exit 1;
fi
------------------------------------#!/bin/ksh

#Running the set up script on enviornment

typeset PROJ_DIR $(cd $(dirname $0)/..; pwd
. $PROJ_DIR/ab_project_setup.ksh $PROJ_DIR

#Exporting the script parameter1 to INPUT_F

export INPUT_FILE_NAME $1
# This grpah is using the input file
cd $AI_RUN
./my_graph1.ksh
# This graph also is using the input file.
./my_graph2.ksh
exit 0;

How to remove header and trailer

lines?

How to create a multi file system on

Windows

use conditional dml where you can separate detail from

validations use reformat with count :3 (out0:header ou

first method: in GDE go to RUN > Execute Co

c:control c:dp1 c:dp2 c:dp3 c:dp4

second method: double-click on the file compo

double-click on partitions - there you can enter

Vector

A vector is simply an array. It is an ordered set of elem

can be any type, including a vector or a record).

Dependency Analysis

Dependency analysis will answer the questions regard

does the data come from what applications prodeuce a

Question

Answer
=======================================

Surrogate key

There are many ways to create a surrogate key. For ex

next_in_sequence() function in your transform. Or you

values" component. Or you can write a stored procedu

Note: if you use partitions, then do something like this

(next_in_sequence()-1)*no_of_partition()+this_partiti

.abinitiorc

.profile

This is a config file for ab initio - in user's home direc

$AB_HOME/Config. It sets abinitio home path, confi
(AB_WORK_DIR, AB_DATA_DIR, etc.), login info
login methods for hosts for execution (like EME host,

your ksh init file ( environment, aliases, path variables

command prompt settings, etc.)

data mapping, data modelling

Hwo to execute the graph

From GDE - whole graph or by phases. From checkpo

Write Multiplefiles

A component which allows to write simultaneously in

Testing

Run the graph - see the results. Use components from

Sandbox vs EME

Sandbox is your private area where you develop and t

one version can be in the sandbox at any time. The EM
versions of the code that have been checked into it (so

Layout

Where the data-files are and where the components ar

data - serial or partitioned (multi-file). The layout is d
file (or a control file for the multifile). In the graph the
automatically (for multifile you have to provide detail

Latest versions

April 2009: GDE ver.1.15.6, Co-operative system ver

Graph parameters

menu edit > parameters - allows you to specify private

They can be of 2 types - local and formal.

Plan>It

You can define pre- and post-processes, triggers. Also

run on success or on failure of the graphs.

Frequently used components

input file / output file

input table / output table
lookup / lookup_local
reformat
gather / concatenate
join

running on hosts

conventional loading vs direct

loading

runsql
join with db
compression components
filter by expression
sort (single or multiple keys)
rollup
trash

partition by expression / partition by key

co>operating system is layered on top of native OS (u

GDE, GDE generates a script (according to "run" setin
execute the scripts on different machines (using specif
connection methods, like rexec telnet rsh rlogin) - and
codes back.

This is basically an Oracle question - regarding SQLL

Conventional load - using insert statements. All trigge
will be checked, all indexes will be updated.

Direct load - data is written directly block by block. C

partition. Some constraints are checked, indexes may
native options to skip index maintenance.

in abinitio there are 3 types of joins: inner join, outer j

semi-join

for inner join 'record_requiredN' parameter is t

for outer join it is false for all the "in" ports.

for semi join it is true for the required compon

components.

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