Loading Data

The Teradata Load stage uses the FastLoad utility to load data into a Teradata table. FastLoad is a command-driven utility that uses multiple sessions to quickly load large amounts of data into an empty table on a Teradata database.

If Teradata Load has an input link, it generates data to load into a Teradata database table by creating a control and data file for FastLoad. An IBM® InfoSphere® DataStage® job generates one control file for each input link to each instance of Teradata Load.

The column names and data types of the data are those of the InfoSphere DataStage metadata and must match those of the Teradata table to be loaded or cleared. You can optionally drop and recreate the Teradata table.

The source data for a FastLoad operation comes from the data file generated by the stage. The target table on the Teradata database must be empty, with no defined secondary indexes. Each FastLoad job loads one table into the Teradata database. When using FastLoad to load more than one table, you must submit multiple FastLoad jobs, one for each table.

FastLoad accepts both FastLoad commands and a subset of Teradata SQL statements. The FastLoad commands perform two types of activities:

• Session control commands begin and end FastLoad sessions.
• Data handling commands establish and define a FastLoad operation.