Extract, Transform, and Load MongoDB Data in Informatica PowerCenter



Create a simple Workflow for MongoDB data in Informatica PowerCenter.

Informatica provides a powerful, elegant means of transporting and transforming your data. By utilizing the CData ODBC Driver for MongoDB, you are gaining access to a driver based on industry-proven standards that integrates seamlessly with Informatica's powerful data transportation and manipulation features. This tutorial shows how to create a simple Workflow in Informatica PowerCenter to extract MongoDB data and load it into a flat file.

About MongoDB Data Integration

Accessing and integrating live data from MongoDB has never been easier with CData. Customers rely on CData connectivity to:

MongoDB's flexibility means that it can be used as a transactional, operational, or analytical database. That means CData customers use our solutions to integrate their business data with MongoDB or integrate their MongoDB data with their data warehouse (or both). Customers also leverage our live connectivity options to analyze and report on MongoDB directly from their preferred tools, like Power BI and Tableau.

For more details on MongoDB use case and how CData enhances your MongoDB experience, check out our blog post: The Top 10 Real-World MongoDB Use Cases You Should Know in 2024.


Getting Started


Add MongoDB as an ODBC Data Source

If you have not already, install the driver on the PowerCenter server and client machines. On both machines, specify the connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

Set the Server, Database, User, and Password connection properties to connect to MongoDB. To access MongoDB collections as tables you can use automatic schema discovery or write your own schema definitions. Schemas are defined in .rsd files, which have a simple format. You can also execute free-form queries that are not tied to the schema.

Create an ETL Workflow in PowerCenter

Follow the steps below to create a workflow in PowerCenter to pull MongoDB data and push it into a flat file.

Create a Source Using the ODBC Driver

  1. In PowerCenter Workflow Manager, add a new ODBC relational connection by going to Connections -> Relational, and in the first window select the ODBC type and click New.
  2. In the Relational Connection Editor, set the name of the newly created connection and set the User Name and Password based on the credentials utilized to connect to your Repository. Under the Connection String input your System DSN, which by default is called 'CData MongoDB Sys'.
  3. In PowerCenter Designer, connect to your repository and open your folder. If you do not already have a folder created, you will need to manually create a folder for your repository. To create a folder, open Informatica PowerCenter Repository Manager, connect to your Repository Service and go to Folder -> Create to create a new folder.
  4. Select the Source Analyzer, click the sources menu, and select Import from Database...
  5. In the drop-down menu for ODBC data source, select the DSN you previously configured (CData MongoDB Sys).
  6. Click connect and select the tables and views to include.
  7. Click OK.

Create a Flat File Target Based on the Source

  1. Select the Target Designer and drag and drop the previously created source onto the workspace. Using the existing source copies the columns into the target.
  2. Right-click the new target, click edit, and change the database type to flat file.

Create a Mapping to Between MongoDB Data and a Flat File

  1. Click on the Mapping Designer.
  2. Drag the source and target to the workspace (name the new mapping, if prompted).
  3. Right-click on the workspace and select Autolink by Name.
  4. Drag the columns from the source qualifier to the target definition.
  5. Save the folder (Ctrl + S).

Create Workflow Based on the Mapping

With the source, target, and mapping created and saved, you are now ready to create the workflow.

  1. Right-click the mapping and select generate workflow to open the Workflow Generation wizard.
  2. Create a workflow with a non-reusable session.
  3. Ensure that you have properly configured the connection object and set the prefixes. If you have not already done so, you will need to create an Integration Service. To create an Integration Service, open your Administrator site, and under Domain, create a new PowerCenter Integration Service. Under the PowerCenter Repository Service, select the Repository you are referring to, and as Username and Password, use your Administrator login information.
  4. Configure the Connection as needed.
  5. Review the Workflow and click Finish.

With a workflow created, you can open the PowerCenter Workflow Manager to access and start the workflow, quickly transferring MongoDB data into a flat file. With the CData ODBC Driver for MongoDB, you can configure sources and targets in PowerCenter to integrate MongoDB data into any of the elegant and powerful features in Informatica PowerCenter.

Ready to get started?

Download a free trial of the MongoDB ODBC Driver to get started:

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Learn more:

MongoDB Icon MongoDB ODBC Driver

The MongoDB ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live MongoDB document databases, directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.

Access MongoDB like you would a database - read, write, and update through a standard ODBC Driver interface.