Drop Work Table FAQS

1. What is the purpose of the "Drop Work Table" task?
•  The Drop Work Table task is used to remove the loading table in the target database after it has been used for data transfer. This table typically holds temporary data before it is moved to the final target table.
2. When is the "Drop Work Table" task executed?
•  This task is executed at the end of the loading phase once the data has been transferred to the target system. It ensures that the temporary loading table is dropped, leaving the system clean.
3. What happens if the loading table does not exist?
•  If the loading table does not exist, the Drop Work Table task will still execute but will not result in an error, because the Ignore Errors flag is activated. The task will simply skip dropping the table and proceed to the next steps.
4. What is the purpose of the "Ignore Errors" flag?
•  The Ignore Errors flag allows the Drop Work Table task to continue execution even if the loading table is missing. This prevents the task from failing or stopping the entire integration process in case the table was already removed or never created.
5. How is the table to be dropped identified?
•  The table to be dropped is dynamically referenced in the command using:

o   drop table <%=snpRef.getTable("L", "COLL_NAME", "A")%>

• The getTable function dynamically generates the name of the loading table based on the mapping context, allowing it to identify the correct target table.
5. Can I customize the table name in the "Drop Work Table" task?
•  Yes, you can customize the table name by modifying the Knowledge Module (KM) configuration or the reference used to dynamically generate the table name. This gives you flexibility in how temporary tables are handled.
6. Is this task critical for data integration processes?
•  While not directly involved in data transformation or loading, the Drop Work Table task is important for clean-up purposes. It helps maintain a clean database environment by ensuring that temporary tables do not persist after their use, thus improving performance and preventing unnecessary clutter.
7. What command is used to drop the loading table?
•  The DROP TABLE SQL command is used to remove the temporary loading table from the target database:

o   drop table <%=snpRef.getTable("L", "COLL_NAME", "A")%>

9. What happens if there is an error while executing this task?
•  Since the Ignore Errors flag is enabled, errors during the execution of this task (such as the loading table not being found) will not stop the entire process. The integration will continue, and the task will simply proceed to the next steps.
10. Can I monitor the execution of the "Drop Work Table" task?
•  Yes, you can monitor the execution of this task through ODI Studio or by reviewing the log files generated during the integration process. The log will indicate whether the table was successfully dropped or if any issues occurred.