Loading Process Overview FAQS

1. What is the purpose of the loading process?
•  The loading process is used to move data from the source server into the staging area. It is especially important when transformations need to occur in the staging area, and the source schema is located on a different server than the staging area.
2. Why do we need to create a temporary loading table?
•  The temporary loading table serves as an intermediary storage location where the source data is placed before being processed and integrated into the final target table. It helps manage and organize the data during the loading and transformation process.
3. What happens if the temporary loading table already exists?
•  If the temporary loading table already exists, it will be dropped (deleted) and then recreated before the new data is loaded. This ensures that the data is stored in a clean, empty table.
4. How is the data loaded into the staging area?
•  The data is loaded from the source server into the temporary loading table in the staging area using an appropriate loading method. The loading method can vary depending on the source and destination system, such as direct SQL inserts or batch processing.
5. What happens to the temporary loading table after the data is used?
•  After the data is processed during the integration phase and moved into the integration table, the temporary loading table is dropped to clean up the staging area and prevent any leftover data from affecting future processes.
6. When is the loading process repeated?
•  Steps 2 and 3 (creating the temporary table and loading data into it) are repeated for all the source data that needs to be moved to the staging area. This ensures all data required for transformation or integration is properly staged.
7. What is the integration phase?
•  The integration phase is where the data that has been loaded into the staging area (via the temporary loading table) is processed and transferred into the integration table, typically after transformations have been applied.
8. Why is the temporary loading table dropped after the integration phase?
•  The temporary loading table is dropped after the integration phase to ensure there are no remnants of previous data or tables in the staging area, which could cause issues or confusion in subsequent processes.
9. Is the loading process necessary if the source and staging area are on the same server?
•  Yes, the loading process is still necessary if transformations need to occur in the staging area. However, if the source and staging area are on the same server and no transformation is needed, the process may be simpler or more direct.
10. Can this process handle large amounts of data?
•  Yes, the loading process can handle large amounts of data, though performance and efficiency depend on the source and target systems, as well as how well the data transfer methods and staging area are optimized.