Use the following steps as a guideline when you develop a mapping:
Verify that all source, target, and reusable objects are created.
Create source and target definitions. If you want to use mapplets, you must create them also. You can create reusable transformations in the Transformation Developer, or you can create them while you develop a mapping.
Create the mapping.
Create a mapping by dragging a source, target, mapplet, or reusable transformation into the Mapping Designer workspace, or you can click Mappings > Create from the menu.
Add sources and targets.
Add sources and targets to the mapping.
Add transformations and transformation logic.
Add transformations to the mapping and build transformation logic into the transformation properties.
Connect the mapping.
Connect the mapping objects to create a flow of data from sources to targets, through mapplets and transformations that add, remove, or modify data along this flow.
Validate the mapping.
Validate the mapping to identify connection or transformation errors.
Save the mapping.
When you save the mapping, the Designer validates it, identifying any errors. The Designer displays validation messages in the Output window. A mapping with errors is invalid, and you cannot run a session against it until you validate it.
PowerCenter also provides a tool that you can use to create a template for a PowerCenter mapping and generate multiple mappings from the template. Mapping Architect for Visio provides an Informatica stencil for the Microsoft Office Visio software that contains shapes representing PowerCenter mapping objects. You can use the mapping object shapes to draw the mapping template on the Visio drawing window.