Union Transformation

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Union Transformation

Union Transformation
This chapter includes the following topics:
Union Transformation Overview
Working with Groups and Ports
Creating a Union Transformation
Using a Union Transformation in a Mapping

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Union Transformation > Union Transformation Overview

Union Transformation Overview

Transformation type:
Active
Connected
The Union transformation is a multiple input group transformation that you use to merge data from
multiple pipelines or pipeline branches into one pipeline branch. It merges data from multiple sources
similar to the UNION ALL SQL statement to combine the results from two or more SQL statements.
Similar to the UNION ALL statement, the Union transformation does not remove duplicate rows.
The Integration Service processes all input groups in parallel. It concurrently reads sources connected to
the Union transformation and pushes blocks of data into the input groups of the transformation. The
Union transformation processes the blocks of data based on the order it receives the blocks from the
Integration Service.
You can connect heterogeneous sources to a Union transformation. The transformation merges sources
with matching ports and outputs the data from one output group with the same ports as the input groups.
The Union transformation is developed using the Custom transformation.

Rules and Guidelines for Union Transformations

Use the following rules and guidelines when you work with a Union transformation:

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You can create multiple input groups, but only one output group.
All input groups and the output group must have matching ports. The precision, datatype, and scale
must be identical across all groups.
The Union transformation does not remove duplicate rows. To remove duplicate rows, you must add
another transformation such as a Router or Filter transformation.
You cannot use a Sequence Generator or Update Strategy transformation upstream from a Union
transformation.
The Union transformation does not generate transactions.

Union Transformation Components

When you configure a Union transformation, define the following components:
Transformation tab. You can rename the transformation and add a description.
Properties tab. You can specify the tracing level.
Groups tab. You can create and delete input groups. The Designer displays groups you create on the
Ports tab.
Group Ports tab. You can create and delete ports for the input groups. The Designer displays ports
you create on the Ports tab.
You cannot modify the Ports tab in a Union transformation.

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Union Transformation > Working with Groups and Ports

Working with Groups and Ports

A Union transformation has multiple input groups and one output group. Create input groups on the
Groups tab, and create ports on the Group Ports tab.
You can create one or more input groups on the Groups tab. The Designer creates one output group by
default. You cannot edit or delete the output group.
You can create ports by copying ports from a transformation, or you can create ports manually. When you
create ports on the Group Ports tab, the Designer creates input ports in each input group and output ports
in the output group. The Designer uses the port names you specify on the Group Ports tab for each input
and output port, and it appends a number to make each port name in the transformation unique. It also
uses the same metadata for each port, such as datatype, precision, and scale.
The Ports tab displays the groups and ports you create. You cannot edit group and port information on the
Ports tab. Use the Groups and Group Ports tab to edit groups and ports.

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Union Transformation > Creating a Union Transformation

Creating a Union Transformation

Use the following procedure to create a Union transformation.
To create a Union transformation:
1.

In the Mapping Designer, click Transformations > Create.

2.

Select Union Transformation and enter the name of the transformation.

The naming convention for Union transformations is UN_TransformationName.

3.

Enter a description for the transformation. Click Create, and then click Done.

4.

Click the Groups tab.

5.

Add an input group for each pipeline or pipeline branch you want to merge.
The Designer assigns a default name for each group but they can be renamed.

6.

Click the Group Ports tab.

7.

Add a new port for each row of data you want to merge.

8.

Enter port properties, such as name and datatype.

9.

Click the Properties tab to configure the tracing level.

10. Click OK.

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Union Transformation > Using a Union Transformation in a Mapping

Using a Union Transformation in a Mapping

The Union transformation is a non-blocking multiple input group transformation. You can connect the
input groups to different branches in a single pipeline or to different source pipelines.
When you add a Union transformation to a mapping, you must verify that you connect the same ports in
all input groups. If you connect all ports in one input group, but do not connect a port in another input
group, the Integration Service passes NULLs to the unconnected port.
The following figure shows a mapping with a Union transformation:

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When a Union transformation in a mapping receives data from a single transaction generator, the
Integration Service propagates transaction boundaries. When the transformation receives data from
multiple transaction generators, the Integration Service drops all incoming transaction boundaries and
outputs rows in an open transaction.

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