Filter Stage Versus Switch Stage?

[jmessiha]

What is the difference between the Filter stage and the Switch stage?

Functionally, they seem to do the same thing, unless I am missing something. I know the Switch stage uses a C style case statement, so in terms of performance, is one better than the other? Are there any other considerations to take?

Thanks in advance.

[ray.wurlod]

There are two main differences, and probably some minor ones as well. The two main differences are as follows.

• The Filter stage can send one input row to more than one output link. The Switch stage can not - the C switch construct has an implicit break in every case.
  
  The Switch stage is limited to 128 output links; the Filter stage can have a theoretically unlimited number of output links. (Note: this is not a challenge!)