Exceptions in Informatica - 3

Here are few more Exceptions:
1. There are occasions where sessions fail with the following error in the Workflow Monitor:
“First error code [36401], message [ERROR: Session task instance [session XXXX]: Execution terminated unexpectedly.] “
where XXXX is the session name.
The server log/workflow log shows the following:
“LM_36401 Execution terminated unexpectedly.”
To determine the error do the following:
a. If the session fails before initialization and no session log is created look for errors in Workflow log and pmrepagent log files.
b. If the session log is created and if the log shows errors like
“Caught a fatal signal/exception” or
“Unexpected condition detected at file [xxx] line yy”
then a core dump has been created on the server machine. In this case Informatica Technical Support should be contacted with specific details. This error may also occur when the PowerCenter server log becomes too large and the server is no longer able to write to it. In this case a workflow and session log may not be completed. Deleting or renaming the PowerCenter Server log (pmserver.log) file will resolve the issue.
2. Given below is not an exception but a scenario which most of us would have come across.
Rounding problem occurs with columns in the source defined as Numeric with Precision and Scale or Lookups fail to match on the same columns. Floating point arithmetic is always prone to rounding errors (e.g. the number 1562.99 may be represented internally as 1562.988888889, very close but not exactly the same). This can also affect functions that work with scale such as the Round() function. To resolve this do the following:
a. Select the Enable high precision option for the session.
b. Define all numeric ports as Decimal datatype with the exact precision and scale desired. When high precision processing is enabled the PowerCenter Server support numeric values up to 28 digits. However, the tradeoff is a performance hit (actual performance really depends on how many decimal ports there are).

Exceptions in Informatica - 2

Let us see few more strange exceptions in Informatica
Sometimes the Session fails with the below error message.
“FATAL ERROR : Caught a fatal signal/exception
FATAL ERROR : Aborting the DTM process due to fatal signal/exception."
There might be several reasons for this. One possible reason could be the way the function SUBSTR is used in the mappings, like the length argument of the SUBSTR function being specified incorrectly.
Example:
IIF(SUBSTR(MOBILE_NUMBER, 1, 1) = '9', SUBSTR(MOBILE_NUMBER, 2, 24), MOBILE_NUMBER)
In this example MOBILE_NUMBER is a variable port and is 24 characters long. When the field itself is 24 char long, the SUBSTR starts at position 2 and go for a length of 24 which is the 25th character.
To solve this, correct the length option so that it does not go beyond the length of the field or avoid using the length option to return the entire string starting with the start value.
Example:
In this example modify the expression as follows:
IIF(SUBSTR(MOBILE_NUMBER, 1, 1) = '9', SUBSTR(MOBILE_NUMBER, 2, 23), MOBILE_NUMBER)
OR
IIF(SUBSTR(MOBILE_NUMBER, 1, 1) = '9', SUBSTR(MOBILE_NUMBER, 2), MOBILE_NUMBER).
2. The following error can occur at times when a session is run
“TE_11015 Error in xxx: No matching input port found for output port OUTPUT_PORT TM_6006 Error initializing DTM for session...”
Where xxx is a Transformation Name.
This error will occur when there is corruption in the transformation. To resolve this do one of the following: * Recreate the transformation in the mapping having this error.
3. At times you get the below problems,
1. When opening designer, you get "Exception access violation", "Unexpected condition detected".
2. Unable to see the navigator window, output window or the overview window in designer even after toggling it on.
3. Toolbars or checkboxes are not showing up correctly.
These are all indications that the pmdesign.ini file might be corrupted. To solve this, following steps need to be followed.
1. Close Informatica Designer 2. Rename the pmdesign.ini (in c:\winnt\system32 or c:\windows\system). 3. Re-open the designer.
When PowerMart opens the Designer, it will create a new pmdesign.ini if it doesn't find an existing one. Even reinstalling the PowerMart clients will not create this file if it finds one.

Intro to Infa

The blogs in this area will dicuss about Informatica,its architecture,exceptions,latest version and features in it.
Will try to answer questions if any raised here.

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