SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of database administration and cmdb. 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.
A scheduled job runs a transform map to import data into the CMDB from an external asset management system. The transform map has a field mapping that uses script to derive the CI class based on asset type. Recently, imports have been failing with a 'GlideRecord: Invalid table name' error. 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 script in the field mapping is returning a value that does not correspond to an existing table name.
Option C is correct because the error 'GlideRecord: Invalid table name' indicates that the script in the field mapping is returning a string that does not match any existing table (class) in the CMDB. When a transform map uses a script to derive the CI class, the returned value must be a valid table name (e.g., 'cmdb_ci_server'). If the script returns a misspelled, malformed, or non-existent table name, GlideRecord fails to instantiate the record, causing the import to fail.
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 external system is sending malformed data.
Why it's wrong here
Malformed data might cause parsing issues, but the error is specifically about an invalid table name, likely from the script.
✗
The scheduled job does not have the right roles.
Why it's wrong here
Access issues cause permission errors, not 'Invalid table name'.
✓
The script in the field mapping is returning a value that does not correspond to an existing table name.
Why this is correct
If the script sets sys_class_name to a non-existent table, GlideRecord will throw 'Invalid table name'.
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 target table name in the transform map is misspelled.
Why it's wrong here
A misspelled target table would cause an error during import set mapping, not specifically 'Invalid table name' from GlideRecord.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Invalid table name' with a data quality issue (Option A) or a configuration error in the transform map target (Option D), but the error is specifically tied to the dynamic table name returned by the script, not static configuration or external data format.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the transform map's field mapping script executes in a GlideRecord context where the table name is dynamically set via the 'setTableName()' method or by constructing a new GlideRecord('table_name'). If the script returns a value like 'cmdb_ci_servr' (typo) or 'cmdb_ci_unknown', GlideRecord throws an 'Invalid table name' exception because the table dictionary does not contain that name. In real-world scenarios, this often happens when asset type mappings change in the external system but the script's lookup table is not updated, or when the script concatenates strings incorrectly (e.g., missing underscores).
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 practitioner preparing for the SNOW-CSA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Database Administration and CMDB — This question tests Database Administration and CMDB — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The script in the field mapping is returning a value that does not correspond to an existing table name. — Option C is correct because the error 'GlideRecord: Invalid table name' indicates that the script in the field mapping is returning a string that does not match any existing table (class) in the CMDB. When a transform map uses a script to derive the CI class, the returned value must be a valid table name (e.g., 'cmdb_ci_server'). If the script returns a misspelled, malformed, or non-existent table name, GlideRecord fails to instantiate the record, causing the import to fail.
What should I do if I get this SNOW-CSA 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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Question Discussion
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