A complex file data object is a representation of a file in the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). Create a complex file data object to read data from or write data to complex files, such as Avro, JSON, and Parquet, in the HDFS.
You can read from complex files on a local system or in the HDFS. Similarly, you can write to complex files on a local system or in the HDFS. To access files in the HDFS, you must use an HDFS connection. When you use an HDFS connection, you can create a complex file data object to read data from a directory of files that have the same format and properties. You can read from and write to compressed complex files.
When you create a complex file data object, the Developer tool creates a read and write operation. Use the complex file data object read operation as a source in mappings and mapplets. Use the complex file data object write operation as a target in mappings and mapplets.