The Data Integration Service accesses source files when it runs a mapping or web service operation mapping that reads from a flat file source. The service generates output files when it runs mappings, mappings included in a workflow, profiles, SQL queries to an SQL data service, or web service operation requests. Based on transformation cache settings and target types, the Data Integration Service can generate cache, reject, target, and temporary files.

When you configure directories for the source and output files, you configure the paths for the home directory and its subdirectories. The default value of the

Home Directory

property is

<Informatica installation directory>/tomcat/bin

. If you change the default value, verify that the directory exists.

By default, the following directories have values relative to the home directory:

You can define a different directory relative to the home directory. Or, you can define an absolute directory outside the home directory.

If you define a different absolute directory, use the correct syntax for the operating system:

Data objects and transformations in the Developer tool use system parameters to access the values of these Data Integration Service directories. By default, the system parameters are assigned to flat file directory, cache file directory, and temporary file directory fields.

For example, when a developer creates an Aggregator transformation in the Developer tool, the CacheDir system parameter is the default value assigned to the cache directory field. The value of the CacheDir system parameter is defined in the

Cache Directory

property for the Data Integration Service. Developers can remove the default system parameter and enter a different value for the cache directory. However, jobs fail to run if the Data Integration Service cannot access the directory.