The answer is a mismatch between the LOCATION path specified in the external table definition and the actual file path in the container. In Azure Synapse serverless SQL pools, the LOCATION parameter is relative to the root of the external data source, so even if the folder 'sales/products/' exists, any discrepancy—such as a missing trailing slash, case sensitivity, or an extra prefix—causes the query engine to scan no files, returning zero rows. This scenario is a classic trap on the Microsoft Azure Data Engineer Associate DP-203 exam, testing your understanding of how serverless SQL pools resolve file paths against the external data source’s root. The key is that the path must be an exact, case-sensitive match to the subfolder structure within the container. Remember the memory tip: “Location is literal—every slash and letter counts.”
DP-203 Design and implement data storage Practice Question
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement data storage. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
CREATE EXTERNAL DATA SOURCE myDataSource
WITH (
LOCATION = 'abfss://container@storageaccount.dfs.core.windows.net',
CREDENTIAL = myCredential
);
CREATE EXTERNAL FILE FORMAT myFileFormat
WITH (
FORMAT_TYPE = PARQUET,
DATA_COMPRESSION = 'org.apache.hadoop.io.compress.SnappyCodec'
);
CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE myExternalTable
(
ProductID int,
ProductName varchar(100),
Price decimal(10,2)
)
WITH (
LOCATION = 'sales/products/',
DATA_SOURCE = myDataSource,
FILE_FORMAT = myFileFormat
);
You execute the above T-SQL in a serverless SQL pool in Azure Synapse Analytics. The external table creation succeeds, but when you query the table, it returns zero rows. The folder 'sales/products/' exists in the container and contains multiple .parquet files. What is the most likely cause?
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 does not match the actual file path.
Option B is correct because the external table's LOCATION parameter specifies a path relative to the external data source's root. Even though the folder 'sales/products/' exists, the LOCATION must exactly match the subfolder path within the container. A mismatch (e.g., missing a trailing slash, case sensitivity, or an extra prefix) causes the serverless SQL pool to scan no files, returning zero rows.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 file format is incorrect; should be DELIMITEDTEXT instead of PARQUET.
Why it's wrong here
The files are parquet, so format is correct.
✓
The LOCATION path in the external table does not match the actual file path.
Why this is correct
If the files are in a subfolder or the path is incorrect, no files are read.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The external data source location uses the wrong endpoint; should use .blob.core.windows.net instead.
Why it's wrong here
abfss is correct for Data Lake Storage Gen2.
✗
The credential used in the external data source does not have read permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Permission issues would cause an error, not zero rows.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the LOCATION must include the full container path, but it is relative to the external data source's root, so a mismatch in the relative subfolder (e.g., missing a slash or using an absolute path) leads to zero rows without an error.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The LOCATION path in an external table is appended to the root URL defined in the external data source. For example, if the data source points to 'abfss://container@storage.dfs.core.windows.net/sales/', then LOCATION='products/' resolves to '.../sales/products/'. A subtle mismatch—like LOCATION='products' (no trailing slash) or 'sales/products/' (redundant prefix)—can cause the engine to look for a non-existent directory or file, resulting in zero rows. The serverless SQL pool uses the Hadoop FileSystem API to list files; path normalization and case sensitivity (Linux-based) are critical.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-203 question in full detail.
Design and implement data storage — This question tests Design and implement data storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The LOCATION path in the external table does not match the actual file path. — Option B is correct because the external table's LOCATION parameter specifies a path relative to the external data source's root. Even though the folder 'sales/products/' exists, the LOCATION must exactly match the subfolder path within the container. A mismatch (e.g., missing a trailing slash, case sensitivity, or an extra prefix) causes the serverless SQL pool to scan no files, returning zero rows.
What should I do if I get this DP-203 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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