TutorialKart.comIn this Informatica tutorial, you will learn what Mapping Architect for Visio is, why it is used in Informatica PowerCenter, and how its stencil, toolbar, drawing window, parameters, validation, and publishing options help you create mapping templates.
Mapping Architect for Visio in Informatica PowerCenter
Mapping Architect for Visio is an Informatica PowerCenter client tool used with Microsoft Office Visio to create mapping templates. Instead of building each mapping manually in PowerCenter Designer from the beginning, you can draw a reusable template in Visio, define transformation rules, validate the drawing, and publish the template as XML and parameter files.
The tool is useful when a project has many mappings that follow a similar structure. For example, if several mappings load data from different source tables into target tables using the same transformation pattern, a mapping template can reduce repeated design work and keep the mapping layout consistent.
Why Mapping Architect for Visio is used in Informatica projects
Mapping Architect for Visio is mainly used to design reusable mapping templates. A template can describe the source, target, transformations, links, parameters, and rules needed to generate actual PowerCenter mappings. This is different from designing one finished mapping directly in Designer. The goal is to define a pattern that can be reused with different metadata or parameter values.
- It helps create mapping templates visually by using Visio shapes.
- It supports PowerCenter mapping objects such as sources, targets, transformations, and mapplets.
- It lets developers define mapping parameters and variables for reusable logic.
- It provides validation before publishing the template output.
- It creates template XML and parameter files that can be used in the mapping generation process.
Informatica stencil shapes used in Mapping Architect for Visio
Informatica stencil: Informatica stencil displays shapes that represent PowerCenter mapping objects. To use a shape, drag it from the Informatica stencil to the drawing window. The selected shape becomes a mapping object in the mapping template.
Some of the common tools and objects that we find in Informatica Stencil are Source Definition, Target Definition, Aggregator, Expression, Filter, Joiner, Lookup, Router, Rank, Sorter, Source Qualifier, Sequence Generator, Union, Transaction Control, Application Source, Mapplet, Normalizer, and many more.
Each stencil shape should be used according to the role it plays in the mapping flow. For example, a Source Definition represents source metadata, a Source Qualifier represents the extraction query layer for relational sources, an Expression transformation is used for row-level calculations, and a Target Definition represents the final structure where data is loaded.
Informatica toolbar options in Mapping Architect for Visio
Informatica toolbar: Informatica toolbar displays buttons for creating a mapping template from mapping XML. It contains options such as online help, Validate, Publish, Arrange All, Show Parameters, Declare Parameter, and Declare Variable.
Validate button for checking the mapping template drawing
Validate: The mapping drawing is checked using the Validate button. Validation helps identify missing links, incorrect object usage, incomplete properties, and template design issues before the mapping template is published.
Publish button for generating template XML and parameter files
Publish: The mapping template XML file and parameter file are created when publishing the drawing file. Publishing should be done after the template has been validated and the required object properties have been reviewed.
Arrange All button for aligning PowerCenter mapping objects
Arrange All button: It aligns the mapping objects in the drawing window. This is useful when the template contains many sources, transformations, and targets, because a clear layout makes the data flow easier to understand and maintain.
Show Parameters option for reviewing template parameters
Show Parameters: It displays the parameters that are created while creating the mapping template. This helps you review whether the template has the required parameter values before it is published or used for mapping generation.
Declare Parameter and Declare Variable options in mapping templates
Declare Parameter & Variable: Mapping parameters and variables are defined and denoted as $$<ParameterName>. Parameters are useful when a value should be supplied at runtime or during mapping generation instead of being hard-coded inside the template.
$$SourceTableName
$$TargetTableName
$$LoadDate
$$LookupConditionUse clear parameter names that describe the value being supplied. For example, $$TargetTableName is easier to understand than a short name such as $$TGT, especially when many templates are maintained by different developers.
Drawing window work area for a Mapping Architect template
Drawing window: The drawing window is the work area for the mapping template. You drag shapes from the Informatica stencil to the drawing window, connect the shapes with links, set properties for the mapping objects, and define the rules for data movement and transformation.
A simple template flow may start with a Source Definition, move through a Source Qualifier and one or more transformations, and end with a Target Definition. The links between these objects show how ports and rows move through the mapping pattern.
Typical steps to create a mapping template in Mapping Architect for Visio
The exact template design depends on the project requirement, but the common process usually follows these steps.
- Open Mapping Architect for Visio and start a new mapping template drawing.
- Drag source, target, and transformation shapes from the Informatica stencil.
- Connect the objects in the drawing window to represent the required data flow.
- Open the object properties and define names, ports, transformation rules, and expressions where required.
- Declare mapping parameters and variables for values that should remain reusable.
- Use Show Parameters to review the declared parameters.
- Use Validate to check whether the mapping template drawing is complete and valid.
- Use Publish to generate the mapping template XML file and the parameter file.
Mapping template validation checklist before publishing
Before publishing a Mapping Architect for Visio template, review the template carefully. A small naming, linking, or parameter issue can affect the generated mapping output.
- Check that every source, transformation, and target shape has a meaningful name.
- Confirm that all required links are present between source, transformation, and target objects.
- Review transformation properties such as expressions, lookup conditions, join conditions, filters, and router groups.
- Verify that all required mapping parameters and variables are declared using the correct $$ naming format.
- Use the Validate button and fix validation errors before using Publish.
- Keep the drawing layout readable by using Arrange All or by manually aligning related objects.
Mapping Architect for Visio compared with PowerCenter Designer
PowerCenter Designer is used to create actual mappings, transformations, mapplets, and related design objects in the repository. Mapping Architect for Visio is used to create mapping templates outside the normal Designer canvas by using Visio. A template is not the same as a finished mapping; it is a reusable design pattern that can later be used to generate mappings.
| Area | Mapping Architect for Visio | PowerCenter Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Create reusable mapping templates | Create and edit actual PowerCenter mappings |
| Interface | Microsoft Visio with Informatica stencil and toolbar | PowerCenter client design workspace |
| Output | Template XML and parameter files | Repository mapping objects |
| Best suited for | Repeated mapping patterns and template-based generation | Direct mapping development and maintenance |
Common mistakes while using Mapping Architect for Visio
- Creating a drawing that looks correct visually but has missing object properties.
- Forgetting to validate the template before publishing it.
- Using unclear parameter names that make the template difficult to reuse.
- Adding transformations without checking whether the ports and links match the intended data flow.
- Treating the template as a final mapping instead of a reusable mapping generation pattern.
FAQs on Mapping Architect for Visio in Informatica
What is Mapping Architect for Visio in Informatica?
Mapping Architect for Visio is an Informatica PowerCenter client tool used with Microsoft Office Visio to create reusable mapping templates. It provides Informatica stencil shapes, toolbar options, validation, and publishing features for template-based mapping design.
What is the use of the Informatica stencil in Mapping Architect for Visio?
The Informatica stencil contains Visio shapes that represent PowerCenter mapping objects such as Source Definition, Target Definition, Expression, Filter, Joiner, Lookup, Router, Aggregator, Source Qualifier, and other transformations. These shapes are dragged into the drawing window to build the mapping template.
What does the Publish button do in Mapping Architect for Visio?
The Publish button creates the mapping template XML file and parameter file from the Visio drawing. It should be used after validating the drawing and confirming that the required mapping objects, links, and parameters are correctly defined.
How are mapping parameters written in Mapping Architect for Visio?
Mapping parameters and variables are written using the double dollar format, such as $$ParameterName. For example, $$SourceTableName or $$TargetTableName can be used when the value should be supplied instead of hard-coded.
Is Mapping Architect for Visio the same as PowerCenter Designer?
No. PowerCenter Designer is used to create actual mappings and repository design objects. Mapping Architect for Visio is used to create reusable mapping templates in Microsoft Visio, which can then be published as template XML and parameter files.
Next Informatica PowerCenter topic after Mapping Architect for Visio
In our previous Informatica tutorial, you have learned about Informatica PowerCenter ETL tools. In the upcoming Informatica tutorial, you will learn about Informatica PowerCenter Designer.