DP-203 Develop data processing Practice Question
You are building a data pipeline in Azure Synapse Analytics that ingests JSON files from Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, transforms the data using a mapping data flow, and loads it into a dedicated SQL pool. The pipeline must support incremental loads based on a LastModified timestamp in the source files. Which configuration should you use in the mapping data flow source transformation?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'incremental extraction' in the source transformation with sink-level settings or sampling options, mistakenly thinking that row sampling or sink properties can achieve incremental loads, when only the source's incremental extraction with a timestamp column provides the correct row-level filtering.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable 'Incremental extraction' and specify the timestamp column for filtering.
Mapping data flows in Azure Synapse Analytics support incremental extraction by enabling the 'Incremental extraction' option in the source transformation and specifying a timestamp column (e.g., LastModified) to filter only new or updated rows. This allows the pipeline to load only changed data since the last run, which is essential for efficient incremental loads into a dedicated SQL pool.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a 'Column pattern' to detect new columns and filter rows.
Why it's wrong here
Column patterns are for handling schema drift, not row-level timestamps.
- ✗
Configure 'Row sampling' settings to take only new rows.
Why it's wrong here
Row sampling takes a random percentage, not based on timestamp.
- ✗
Set 'Source' to 'New rows only' in the sink transformation.
Why it's wrong here
Sink transformations do not have an option to filter new rows at source.
- ✓
Enable 'Incremental extraction' and specify the timestamp column for filtering.
Why this is correct
Incremental extraction filters rows based on a watermark column like LastModified.
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