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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Important Python Interview Questions and Answers - Part IV


Are you preparing for Python interview? Are you looking for information about data comparison and data modifier functions commonly used in Python language? Are you also interested to learn Python concepts? If yes, then refer to this article which is helpful for interview preparation as well for learning Python concepts. I would also recommend reading the previous article on Important Python Interview Questions and Answers - Part III

Q 1: What is Python?

Answer:
Python is a programming language with below features -
  • High-level
  • Interpreted
  • Interactive 
  • Object-oriented 
  • Used for Scripting
  • Highly readable. 
Python is simple in nature as it uses English keywords with fewer syntactical constructions.

Q 2: What is the Dictionary data type in the Python language?

Answer
  • The dictionary data type defines one-to-one relationship between keys and values. 
  • It contains the pair of keys and associated values
For example, 
region_country = {  
                               'NA':'CANADA',
                               'LA':'PERU',
                               'APAC':'INDIA'
                             }

In the example above, the region value such as NA, LA, and APAC are keys in the dictionary. The country values such as CANADA, PERU, and INDIA are values associated with keys in the dictionary.



Q 3: How to compare two lists with each other? Is there any way to determine the length of a list?

Answer:
A List or an Array in Python is data storing structure. Using a list we can store values during program execution. We can read, update or append values to the List structure. There are several utility functionalities comes with List. These functionalities are helpful during Python programming.

a) Assume that we have two lists as below:
country_list = ["US", "INDIA", "UK"]
region_list = ["NA", "LA", "APAC", "EMEA"]

We can compare elements of two lists by using cmp function as 

cmp(country_list , region_list )

b) The size or length of a list helps in many scenarios such as iterating over list value based on the size of the list. Python List comes with len function which gives the total length of the list.

len(country_list )






Q 4: How will you convert the String value to an Object, a Tuple and a List? How will you convert the object value to the String value?

Answer:
During programming for an application using any technology, we need to interact with many interfaces which work on different data types. There are some cases we need to manipulate data which requires different data type. So converting the String to other data type is not an exception for it. So Python provides the function to achieve it.

a) Convert an object to a String
Use str function to convert an object value to the String value as 
str(x) 

b) Convert a String to an object
Use eval function to convert the String value to an Object value as 
eval(str) 

c) Convert a string to a tuple
Use tuple function to convert the String value to the Tuple as 
tuple(s)

d) Convert a string to a list
Use list function to convert the String value to the List as 
list(s) 

Q 5: What is the use of 'is' operator in Python language?

Answer:
The operator 'is' is used to evaluate
a) To true if the variables on either side of the operator are the same object 
b)To false if the variables on either side of the operator are the different object  

e.g. x is y

Here, 'is' results in 1 if  object (x) equals object (y).




In order to learn the Python language, you need to install PyCharm tool. The video below explains how to install PyCharm Tool.






                                      



Monday, December 17, 2018

Unix Interview Questions and Answers - Part I


Are you preparing for Unix interview? Unix is major operating systems on which enterprise applications run. Because of it, the interviewer asks Unix related questions during interviews of technologies such as Java, Hadoop, and Python etc. Are you planning to give an interview for support project for which Unix knowledge is required? If yes, then refer to this article as it provides detailed questions and answers about Unix.

Q 1: What is the process in Unix and What are the types of process exists in Unix?

Answer
A process is an instance of a program running in an Operating System. Normally, the process is started when a program is initiated.

Type of Processes: There are two types of the process
a) Foreground Processes
b) Background Processes


Q 2: What is the command to list the directories and the files?

Answer:
This is a very basic question asked during an interview to understand whether the candidate has basic knowledge of Unix.

The command below is used to list the directories and the files in current location -
$ ls -ltr

ls : To list files
ls -l : To list files with additional information

Every file line begins with d, -, or l. These characters indicate the type of the file which is shown on the screen as result.

e.g
drwrrwxr-x 3 abc abc 16   Jan 10 2018 temp_dir
-rw-rw-r-- 2 abc abc 4028 Mar 5  17:12 test.sh

Learn more: Click here to learn more about ls command.

Q 3: What are the differences between the Zombie and Orphan processes?

Answer: The differences between the Zombie and the Orphan processes are listed as below -

Zombie Process
Orphan Process
Zombie processes are those processes which are killed or completed execution but still show an entry in the process table.
A child process which remains running itself even after its parent process is completed or terminated is called as an orphan process.
Zombies only occupy space in the process table
Orphan Process uses memory resources
If the Zombies that exist for more time, then it indicates an issue in the parent program
The orphan process is get created unknowingly and unintentionally due to process crash
The zombie process shows the process with a Z state
The orphan processes are terminated


ReadClick here, to know more details about the Zombie, Orphan and the Daemon processes.


Q 4: How to run the process in background and foreground?

Answer: Follow the below steps to run a process in
A. Background:
To run any process in the background, we need to '&' sign at the end of the command. By using '&' sign we are telling Unix system that runs the given process in the background so that we can continue to use the command prompt. 

The example of running the process as the background process is as -

sh run_calculate_interest.sh &

B. Foreground:
If any process is running background and you would like to bring it to foreground then use the steps below -
a)  Get job id of the process
$ jobs

The output will look like as 
[1]   7095 Running                 run_calculate_interest&
[2]   7206 Running                 run_app &

b) Use jobid and run it in the foreground as
$ fg 7095

Learn more: Unix tutorial 




Q 5: Assume that one of the processes is running more than 24 hrs. How you are going to identify such process and remove or kill it?

Answer: Sometimes, interviewer tries to create the complex scenario for the simple answer. So do not get confused with the description of the question. The underline principle will remain the same to kill the process. By asking this question, an interviewer is trying to check whether how extensive you worked on Unix system.

To identify long running processes we can use commands such as 'Top' or 'jobs'. However, you can also us 'ps -ef'  command to know running process.

The above command will provide the process ids (or Job ids) for running processes.

Use below command to kill the process-
$ kill -9 PID

Here, PID is process id.









Thursday, December 13, 2018

What are the features of Python Programming

Are you interested to know what are the features of the Python language? Would you like to start programming in Python and would be interested in knowing more about Python? If so, then you reached the right place. This article provides detailed information about the advantages of Python Programming.

Python Advantages:

  • Easy to learn
  • Object Oriented Programm
  • Portable (Cross-platform)
  • Expressive (Understandable and Readable)
  • Interpreted
  • GUI Programming
  • Free and Open source

1. Easy to learn:

Python is easy to learn compared to other programming languages such as Java, .NET or C++.  Python programming syntax is simple and easy to read and write. The concepts such as function, structures, expression can be easily understood by the beginner with ease. No exhaustive list of software is required to learn and work on Python programming. A simple editor such as notepad or development IDE such as PyCharm is enough to start with Python. If you are first time learning any programming language then Python is the best language to start with. Along with its simplicity, Python is also a very strong and robust language which can be used to developing enterprise applications.

2. Object Oriented Programming

Python is Object Oriented language. i.e. all features of Object Oriented programming such as inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction, and polymorphism are supported in Python. In Python class acts as the blueprint and it will be model for the objects. Every real-time entity such as human being, trees, non-living things can be represented as the object.
e.g. In the example below, the class for 'Cat' is presented using Python language.

class Cat:

    def __init__(self, cat_name, cat_age):  
        self.cat_name cat_name
        self.cat_age cat_age



3. Portable (Cross-Platform)

Python is a portable language. It is also known as cross-platform language. It means we can run the same program on different Operating Systems such as Windows or Mac or Unix as long as we have Python interpreter installed on these operating systems. We do not need to write program specific to any operating system. However, we need to keep in mind that there are some features which are dependent on the Operating System. Such features need to be handled properly if your program is going to run on multiple systems. 

4. Understandable and Readable

The breadth of ideas that can be represented and communicated using the Python language is quite better than other programming languages. There are some features in the Python language using which we can build the business functionalities extensively. These extensive features may not feasible in other languages. Programming in the Python language is easily understandable and readable which help us to build better and extensive programming functionalities. Hence, the Python language is expressive and it is one of the great features.

5. Interpreted language

Python is interpreted language. The source code in Python is executed line by line, unlike Java language where the complete code is compiled first and then it is executed. Python using an interpreter to interpret Python code. The interpreter converts Python source code to bytecode which operating system can understand and execute step by step.



6. GUI Programming

Python provides GUI programming framework by using which we can develop user interfaces. The framework TkInter can be used to build the user interface for Python. 

7. Free and Open Source

Python software is open source and it is freely available. No additional cost is required for the licensing. Python software and custom modules are freely available for download over the internet. The Python module communities provide a good number of Python useful utilities in the form of Python modules.




The video below provides detailed information about Python language -







Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Important MDM SQL Queries

This article provides important queries used for daily activities in the Informatica MDM. This article will continuously keep updating for interesting and important SQL queries which are used in day to day activities in MDM.




Survivorship Verification

Order of survivorship is a very important concept in the Informatica MDM. As per Informatica below is the order of precedence, 

1. By trust score (only if a column is trust-enabled). The data with the highest trust score wins. If the trust scores are
equal, or if trust is not enabled for a column, then proceed to the next comparison.
2. By SRC_LUD in the cross-reference(XREF) record. The data with the more recent cross-reference SRC_LUD value
wins. If the SRC_LUD values are equal, then proceed to the next comparison.
3. By ROWID_XREF in the cross-reference. ROWID_XREF values are evaluated in numeric descending order. The
data with the highest ROWID_XREF wins.

In order to verify the order of precedence working correctly or not, use below query -

select P.party_name, x.party_name as party_nm, x.rowid_object, x.orig_rowid_object, x.rowid_system,x.src_lud, x.rowid_xref, x.LAST_UPDATE_DATE,
rank() over (partition by x.rowid_object order by x.rowid_system desc , x.src_lud desc, cast(x.orig_rowid_object as decimal) desc , cast(x.rowid_xref as decimal) desc)) as r1 
from 
    CMX_ORS.C_BASE_PARTY P, 
    CMX_ORS.C_BASE_PARTY_XREF X 
where p.rowid_object = x.rowid_object


Monday, December 10, 2018

Issues noticed during Materialized View Creation - ORA-23413: table "CMX_ORS"."C_B_CUST" does not have a materialized view log



Did you encounter with ORA-23413 the Oracle database error while creating a Materialized view? Are you also noticing ORA-01031: insufficient privileges error? If yes, then refer below article about explanation and solution to these database errors?

SQL Error: ORA-23413: table "CMX_ORS"."C_B_CUST" does not have a materialized view log

Explanation: This type of error occurs if you try to create a Materialized view on table C_BO_CUST without creating the Materialized View Log. It is mandatory to create log definition first before creating actual Materialized View.

Error Message:
SQL Error: ORA-23413: table "CMX_ORS"."C_B_CUST" does not have a materialized view log
23413. 00000 -  "table \"%s\".\"%s\" does not have a materialized view log"
*Cause:    The fast refresh cannot be performed because the master table does not contain a materialized view log.

Solution: Use the sample below to create the Materialized View Log -
CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW LOG ON C_B_CUST
   PCTFREE 5
   TABLESPACE CMX_TEMP
   STORAGE (INITIAL 5K NEXT 5K);



SQL Error: ORA-01031: insufficient privileges

Explanation: ORA-01031 - insufficient privileges is the generic message which normally occurs if required privileges are not available for given operation. In the case of Materialized view, if user does not have "CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW" privileges then 'ORA-01031: insufficient privileges'  error message will be reported.

Error Message:
SQL Error: ORA-01031: insufficient privileges 01031. 00000 -  "insufficient privileges"
*Cause:    An attempt was made to change the current username or password 
           without the appropriate privilege. This error also occurs if
           attempting to install a database without the necessary operating
           system privileges.
           When Trusted Oracle is configure in DBMS MAC, this error may occur
           if the user was granted the necessary privilege at a higher label
           than the current login.

Solution: In order to get required privileges we need to reach out Oracle DBA. In the current case, we need to ask DBA to provide "CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW" privileges to given user. Assume that you are using TEST_USER to create Materialized view then ask DBA to provide privileges below -
GRANT CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW TO TEST_USER

The video below provides a detailed explanation and prerequisites for Material views : 




Friday, December 7, 2018

Important Python Interview Questions and Answers - Part III

Are you preparing for Python interview and looking for questions and answers? Would you also like learn Python concepts? If so, then read this article to prepare for your interview. If you have not read the previous article  then you can read here Important Python Interview Questions and Answers - Part II


Q 1: What is the use of PYTHONPATH environment variable in Python language?

Answer
  • The environment variables PATH and PYTHONPATH are similar. 
  • The variable PYTHONPATH provides information to Python interpreter in order to locate the module files or source code files which are imported in the source code.
  • Normally, PYTHONPATH includes source library directory and the directories which contain source code. 
  • The Python installer normally setup PYTHONPATH variable automatically. If it is not set then we have to manually set it.

Q 2: Explain the purpose of PYTHONCASEOK and PYTHONSTARTUP environment variable in Python?

Answer: The environment variables such as PYTHONCASEOK and PYTHONSTARTUP are important for Python programming and execution as like PYTHONPATH variable. 
  • PYTHONSTARTUP:
  1. This variable contains path of an initialization file containing Python source code.
  2. When we start the Python interpreter, initialization is executed each time.
  3. In the Unix system, it is named as pythonrc.py
  4. The commands are included to load utilities or change PYTHONPATH  
  • PYTHONCASEOK:
  1. It is used in the Windows operating system.
  2. It is used to find the first case-insensitive match in the import statement.
  3. To activate this variable, we can set it to any value.
  • PYTHONHOME:
  1. It is normally used within PYTHONSTARTUP or PYTHONPATH directories.
  2. It is used to make easines in switching module libraries. 


Q 3: How to convert a String value to an integer, a long and a float value in Python?

Answer: Converting String to other data types such as integer, long and float is common practice in Python programming. It is required for the various reason such as to perform arithmetic operations.
1. String to Int -
Use int function to convert the String value to an integer.
Syntax: Here, base specifies the base if x is a string.
int(x [,base])  
Example:
x = "5"
int_value = int(x) 
2. String to long -
Use long function to convert the String value to the long value.
Syntax: Here, base specifies the base if x is a string.
long(x [,base])  
Example:
x = "50000"
long_value = long(x) 
3. String to Float -
Use float function to convert the String value to the float value.
Syntax: Here, base specifies the base if x is a string.
float(x)  
Example:
x = "8.5"
float_value = float(x)

Q 4: What is the use of ** operator Python language?

Answer:  
  • It is an arithmetic operation. 
  • It is known as the Exponent operator.
  • It is used to perform an exponential i.e. Power calculation
e.g.  a = 4  and b = 5
       a **  b =  1024




Q 5: What is the use of // operator in Python language?

Answer:

  • The operator // is called floor division
  • It is the division of operands where the result is the quotient in which the digits after the decimal point are removed.








            



Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Important Python Interview Questions and Answers - Part II



In this article, we will see details on the most important questions which are asked during Python interviews. In the Python interview question and answers part - , we learned some basic questions. In this article, we learn more interesting questions and their answers in order to prepare for the Python interview. Good luck with your interview.



Q 1: What are the differences between List and Tuples?

Answer: The mentioned below is list differences between List and Tuples

List
Tuples
List elements can be changed as they are mutable
Tuples elements cannot be modified as they are immutable.
Normally, lists are slower compared to tuples during execution
Normally, tuples are faster than lists during execution of the program.
The list is created using open and close rectangular brackets
Tuples are created using open and close simple brackets
e.g. country_list = [“US”, “INDIA”, “UK”]
e.g. region_tuple = (“NA”, “APAC”, “LA”)


Q 2: Explain Multithreading concepts in Python?

Answer: The multithreading in Python is explained as below
  1. In order to achieve multithreading i.e. executing the program in parallel, Python has a multi-threading package.
  2. The concept named the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) is used in Python.  It is the responsibility of GIL to make sure that only one ‘threads’ can execute at any a time. 
  3. The thread acquires GIL for processing business logic. Once processing is completed, it passes the GIL onto the next thread.
  4. This processing happens very quickly so to the human eye. On the surface, it looks like threads are running in parallel, but they are really just taking turns using the same CPU core.
  5. The extra overhead of working with GIL will cause extra processing time.



Q 3: What are the rules or standards for global and local variables in the Python language?

Answer:  The basic guidelines for local and global variables are as below
Global variables: The variables which are only referenced inside a function are implicitly global.

Local variables: The local variables are those variables for which a new value is assigned within the function's body.

Q 4: What are the supported data types in Python?

Answer: The supported data types in Python are 
  1. Number
  2. String
  3. List
  4. Tuple
  5. Dictionary
Here, the Number data type can include integer and float values.

You can refer the video below to learn more about Python programming -

Q 5: Is it possible to convert Integer value to String value and vice-versa in the Python language?

Answer: Yes, we can convert an integer value into the String value. Also, we can convert the String value to integer value.  

Normally, if we get input from the user is comes as String even it is number. So in such cases, we need to convert the String value to an integer value  as

    user_input = input("Enter any number")
    int_value = int(user_input)
    print(int_value * 5)

In some cases, we need to convert the numeric value to String value. e.g. Printing number value with appending string content.

       int_age_value = 25
   print("Age of a person is " + str(int_age_value))





                                        


Understanding Survivorship in Informatica IDMC - Customer 360 SaaS

  In Informatica IDMC - Customer 360 SaaS, survivorship is a critical concept that determines which data from multiple sources should be ret...