SQL with Manoj

Today while creating a mapping by using import method & template I got a pop-up with following error message in Designer:

03/30/2016 16:30:55 **** Importing Source Definition: tblCustomerResults ...
     : The first character in a name cannot be a number.
** Failed to Import: tblCustomerResults

03/30/2016 16:30:55 **** Importing Target Definition: tblCustomerResults ...
     : A column with the name 120_-_Unknown already exists.  
       Please enter a unique name.
** Failed to Import: tblCustomerResults

03/30/2016 16:30:56 **** Importing Mapping: mACQtblCustomerResults ...
     : Could not find Transformation definition for: tblCustomerResults
** Failed to Import: mACQtblCustomerResults 

With the above error its quiet evident that Informatica do not support column names that starts with a number. But to confirm I checked online and found it to be true and one of the biggest limitation in Informatica.
 

As a workaround:

1. I dropped the Source Connection pointing to the Original source.

2. I created the Source table in my Database and re-created the Source Connection pointing to this table.

3. Save and export the Source XML.

4. Finally Import the mapping by using same template and the new Source XML, successful 🙂
 

I also found that this limitation is not only with columns, but also with Source Table Name, Database Definition (DBD) name, Repository Folders, etc.