Key Features of Informatica Data Explorer

Data Mapping

To ensure that data used to populate strategic business applications and systems—or in data integration initiatives—is consistently accurate, current, and complete, organizations need to perform data mapping to get the source data ready for use in their targets. Data modeling, mapping, integration, and movement processes are more accurate when they are based on accurate metadata, or "data about the data."

Informatica Data Explorer features robust data mapping capabilities, which generate accurate source-to-target mapping between different data structures and defines the necessary transformation specifications. With these capabilities, Informatica Data Explorer enables data analysts and data stewards to compare actual data and metadata sources to target application requirements and identify the gaps, inconsistencies, redundancies, and inaccuracies so that they can be resolved before moving the data.

Benefits

• Helps business and IT use the results of data profiling to communicate effectively, understand their business processes, and discover where they are flawed
• Minimizes risk and increases effectiveness of data quality initiatives when data modeling, mapping, integration, and movement processes are based on accurate metadata
• Increases productivity by enabling data analysts and data stewards to easily compile all the information necessary to prepare source data for use in applications, databases, or data integration initiatives
• Minimizes impact on limited IT resources and improve IT's effectiveness to respond to the needs of the business

Capabilities

Informatica Data Explorer's data mapping capabilities go beyond the core functionality of most data profiling products on the market today. Informatica Data Explorer examines the actual data in valid sample sets—or in its entirety—rather than relying on the use of existing metadata or copybooks. Data modeling, mapping, and movement processes are more accurate when based on accurate metadata generated by Informatica Data Explorer.

Informatica Data Explorer produces a fully normalized data model of all source data and generates accurate source-to-target mapping and transformation specifications. Informatica Data Explorer can also perform orphan analysis and foreign key analysis.

Using this information, Informatica Data Explorer builds a "third normal form" data model in which unwanted redundancies are eliminated. This model can be used as a staging area for subsequent data cleansing, using Informatica Data Quality, and integrating and delivery to the target system, using Informatica PowerCenter. The metadata generated by Informatica Data Explorer can be imported into Informatica PowerCenter to create a repository for understanding data lineage.

Informatica Data Explorer provides full integration with Informatica PowerCenter via fixed target mapping (FTM). From within PowerCenter, a developer can use Informatica Data Explorer's profiling results (e.g.,transformation tags) to create mappings (e.g., filter and expression transforms). Profiling results from Informatica Data Explorer appear in PowerCenter. The software captures the target data structures from packaged applications (or data warehouse designs) and manages the mapping process within Informatica Data Explorer's repository between profiled sources and the target. The software can deliver matching specifications between multiple data structures. In addition Informatica Data Explorer FTM/XML mapping capabilities go a step further, supporting applications that utilize XML to communicate with back-end databases and PowerCenter.

Product Literature

Informatica Data Explorer datasheet