A virtual table is a table in a virtual database. A virtual database defines uniform views of data and makes the data available for end users to query. A virtual database contains the virtual schemas that contain the virtual tables that define the database structure. End users can run SQL queries against the virtual tables as if they were physical database tables.

When you export the mapping specification logic as a virtual table, you can create a virtual database or select an existing virtual database. The Analyst tool creates a virtual table in the virtual database and displays parameters to use as connection information for an ODBC or JDBC connection. You can use an ODBC or JDBC client tool to access the virtual table. You can view the virtual database as an application for the Data Integration Service in the Administrator tool. You can use a JDBC client tool to run SQL queries against the virtual table. You must install the Informatica JDBC driver on the machine that you connect to the virtual database from.

After you export the mapping specification logic as a virtual table, you can edit the mapping specification and export the logic to the same virtual table in the same virtual database. The Analyst tool updates the existing virtual table in the virtual database with the modified logic of the mapping specification.