The answer is that the LOCATION path in the external table is relative to the data source, and the data source points to the wrong container or folder. When you create an external table in Azure Synapse Analytics serverless SQL pool, the LOCATION value is appended to the root path defined in the external data source, so if the data source points to the 'sales' container but the LOCATION is 'parquet/sales/', the combined effective path becomes 'sales/parquet/sales/', which likely does not exist, causing the query to return no rows even though the Parquet files are present elsewhere. This scenario is a common trap on the DP-203 exam, testing your understanding of how serverless SQL external table paths are resolved—many candidates forget that LOCATION is relative, not absolute. A quick memory tip: think of the data source as the base directory and LOCATION as the subfolder; if the base is wrong, the full path is broken.
DP-203 Develop data processing Practice Question
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of develop data processing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Refer to the exhibit. You created an external table in Azure Synapse Analytics serverless SQL pool to query Parquet files. Queries return no rows even though the files exist. What is the most likely issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The LOCATION path in the external table is relative to the data source, but the data source points to the wrong container or folder
Option B is correct. The external table LOCATION is 'parquet/sales/' but the external data source points to the root 'sales' container. The combined path is 'sales/parquet/sales/', which may be wrong. Option A is wrong because compression is supported. Option C is wrong because credential is defined. Option D is wrong because the file format is correct.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The CREDENTIAL is missing
Why it's wrong here
Credential is defined.
✗
The FILE_FORMAT is incorrectly specified
Why it's wrong here
It is correct.
✗
The DATA_COMPRESSION is not supported for Parquet
Why it's wrong here
Snappy compression is supported.
✓
The LOCATION path in the external table is relative to the data source, but the data source points to the wrong container or folder
Why this is correct
The data source points to 'sales' container, table location adds 'parquet/sales', likely the files are not there.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-203 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DP-203 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Develop data processing — This question tests Develop data processing — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The LOCATION path in the external table is relative to the data source, but the data source points to the wrong container or folder — Option B is correct. The external table LOCATION is 'parquet/sales/' but the external data source points to the root 'sales' container. The combined path is 'sales/parquet/sales/', which may be wrong. Option A is wrong because compression is supported. Option C is wrong because credential is defined. Option D is wrong because the file format is correct.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DP-203 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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