Snowflake SnowPro Core Practice Test - Questions Answers, Page 61

When using the COPY INTO <table> command to load CSV data from a stage into a Snowflake table, one of the crucial guidelines to follow is that the number of columns in each row within the CSV file should be consistent. This ensures data integrity and allows for a smooth data loading process, as Snowflake expects each row in the CSV file to map directly to a row in the target table based on the number of columns. If there's a mismatch in the number of columns between any row in the file and the target table, Snowflake might return an error or produce unexpected results during the load operation.

It's important to note that while the CSV field delimiter can be specified to something other than a comma, ensuring the consistency in the number of columns across all rows is fundamental to successfully loading data.

Snowflake Documentation on Loading Data: Loading CSV Data

In addition to performing all the standard steps to share data, the USAGE privilege must be granted on each database referenced by a secure view in order to be shared. When sharing a database or specific objects like secure views, the receiving account needs to have the USAGE privilege on the database and schema to access the shared data. This privilege enables the receiving account to access the database and its schemas but does not allow for any DML operations. It's a prerequisite for accessing any objects within the database.

For a secure view to be part of a share, not only does the view itself need to be shared, but the underlying database (and schema, if applicable) must also be accessible to the recipients. Granting USAGE privilege on the database ensures that the receiving account can access the database in a read-only mode to utilize the shared view.

Snowflake Documentation on Shares: Creating and Managing Shares

In Snowflake, when a query execution requires more memory than what is available, Snowflake handles these situations by spilling the intermediate results to disk. This process is known as 'spilling.' The Query Profile in Snowflake includes a metric that helps users identify when and how much data spilling occurs during the execution of a query. This information is crucial for optimizing queries as excessive spilling can significantly slow down query performance. The value that provides this information about disk usage due to intermediate results not fitting in memory is appropriately labeled as 'Spilling' in the Query Profile.

Snowflake Documentation on Query Profile and Performance: This section explains the various components of the query profile, including the spilling metric, which indicates disk usage for operations where intermediate results exceed available memory.

Secure views and non-secure views in Snowflake are differentiated primarily by their handling of data access and security rather than performance characteristics. A secure view enforces row-level security and ensures that the view definition is hidden from the users. However, in terms of performance, secure views do not inherently execute slower or faster than non-secure views. The performance of both types of views depends more on other factors such as underlying table design, query complexity, and system workload rather than the security features embedded in the views themselves.

Snowflake Documentation on Views: This section provides an overview of both secure and non-secure views, clarifying that the main difference lies in security features rather than performance, thus supporting the assertion that there are no inherent performance differences.

When unloading data from SnowSQL (Snowflake's command-line client), to a file on a local machine, you need to specify certain configuration options to determine how and where the data should be outputted. The correct configuration options required are:

C . output_file: This configuration option specifies the file path where the output from the query should be stored. It is essential for directing the results of your SQL query into a local file, rather than just displaying it on the screen.

D . output_format: This option determines the format of the output file (e.g., CSV, JSON, etc.). It is crucial for ensuring that the data is unloaded in a structured format that meets the requirements of downstream processes or systems.

These options are specified in the SnowSQL configuration file or directly in the SnowSQL command line. The configuration file allows users to set defaults and customize their usage of SnowSQL, including output preferences for unloading data.

Snowflake Documentation: SnowSQL (CLI Client) at Snowflake Documentation

Snowflake Documentation: Configuring SnowSQL at Snowflake Documentation

first run SHOW FILE FORMATS

then SELECT * FROM TABLE(RESULT_SCAN(LAST_QUERY_ID(-1)))

https://docs.snowflake.com/en/sql-reference/functions/result_scan#usage-notes

The function that provides access to download unstructured data from a Snowflake stage is:

C . GET_PRESIGNED_URL: This function generates a presigned URL for a single file within a stage. The generated URL can be used to directly access or download the file without needing to go through Snowflake. This is particularly useful for unstructured data such as images, videos, or large text files, where direct access via a URL is needed outside of the Snowflake environment.

Example usage:

SELECT GET_PRESIGNED_URL('stage_name', 'file_path');

This function simplifies the process of securely sharing or accessing files stored in Snowflake stages with external systems or users.

Snowflake Documentation: GET_PRESIGNED_URL Function at Snowflake Documentation

Federated authentication in Snowflake allows users to use their organizational credentials to log in to Snowflake, leveraging Single Sign-On (SSO). The key activities enabled by this setup include:

B . Initiating user sessions: Federated authentication streamlines the process of starting a user session in Snowflake by using the existing authentication mechanisms of an organization.

C . Logging into Snowflake: It simplifies the login process, allowing users to authenticate with their organization's identity provider instead of managing separate credentials for Snowflake.

Snowflake Documentation: Configuring Federated Authentication

To upload a file to an internal Snowflake stage using a PUT command, you can use:

B . SnowSQL: SnowSQL, the command-line client for Snowflake, supports the PUT command, allowing users to upload files directly to Snowflake stages from their local file systems.

E . Snowsight worksheets: Snowsight, the web interface for Snowflake, provides a user-friendly environment for executing SQL commands, including the PUT command, through its interactive worksheets.

Snowflake Documentation: Loading Data into Snowflake using SnowSQL

Snowflake Documentation: Using Snowsight

Topic 5, Exam pool E