You can create different types of physical data objects based on the type of data source that you want to read data from or write data to.
Physical data objects include the following types:
Relational data object
A physical data object that uses a relational table, view, or synonym as a source. For example, you can create a relational data object from an Oracle view.
Depending on the object type, you can add a relational data object to a mapping or mapplet as a source, a target, or a Lookup transformation.
Customized data object
A physical data object that uses one or multiple related relational resources or relational data objects as sources. Relational resources include tables, views, and synonyms. For example, you can create a customized data object from two Microsoft SQL Server tables that have a primary key-foreign key relationship.
Create a customized data object if you want to perform operations such as joining data, filtering rows, sorting ports, or running custom queries in a reusable data object.
Nonrelational data object
A physical data object that uses a nonrelational database resource as a source. For example, you can create a nonrelational data object from a VSAM source.
Flat file data object
A physical data object that uses a flat file as a source. You can create a flat file data object from a delimited or fixed-width flat file.
WSDL data object
A physical data object that uses a WSDL file as a source.
Informatica PowerExchange® adapters also provide access to many data sources that you can use to create physical data objects, such as SAP, Salesforce, and Netezza.