DP-700 Ingest and Transform Data Practice Question
Exhibit
{
"name": "CopyFromS3",
"type": "Copy",
"typeProperties": {
"source": {
"type": "AmazonS3Source"
},
"sink": {
"type": "LakehouseTableSink",
"tableAction": "Overwrite"
}
}
}Refer to the exhibit. You are reviewing a JSON snippet from a Fabric Data Factory pipeline. What is the result of executing this activity if the target table already exists?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers often assume table actions like 'Append' or 'Fail' are defaults for existing targets, overlooking explicit JSON property settings such as tableAction set to Overwrite.
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
✓
The existing data in the table will be replaced by the source data.
The JSON configuration specifies a Copy Activity that pulls data from an Amazon S3 source and writes it to a Lakehouse table. The tableAction property is set to Overwrite, which instructs the engine to drop the existing data in the target table and replace it with the new incoming dataset. This is a common pattern for full-load ingestion.
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 activity will append new rows to the existing table data.
Why it's wrong here
For the activity to append data to the existing table, the tableAction property would need to be set to Append. The current Overwrite setting ensures that the existing rows are removed before the new data is committed, preventing the accumulation of historical data within the target table.
- ✓
The existing data in the table will be replaced by the source data.
Why this is correct
Setting the tableAction to Overwrite triggers a process where the existing data in the destination table is cleared before the new data from the S3 source is written. This ensures that the table reflects only the most recent ingestion cycle and prevents data duplication issues.
- ✗
The pipeline will fail because the table already exists.
Why it's wrong here
The activity will not fail if the table exists; instead, it will perform the action defined by the Overwrite property. Failures usually occur if there are schema mismatches that the engine cannot resolve or if the service principal lacks the necessary permissions to drop and recreate table data.
- ✗
A new table with a timestamp suffix will be created.
Why it's wrong here
While the activity will create the table if it does not already exist, the primary function of the Overwrite setting when a table is present is to replace the data. It does not create a new versioned table or a separate entity with a different name automatically.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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