EXAMPLE - IF Data Type Validation Functions
This example illustrates how to use the IF* functions for data type validation.
Functions:
Item | Description |
---|---|
IFNULL Function | The |
IFMISSING Function | The |
IFMISMATCHED Function | The |
IFVALID Function | The |
MERGE Function | Merges two or more columns of String type to generate output of String type. Optionally, you can insert a delimiter between the merged values. |
Source:
The following simple table lists zip codes by customer identifier:
custId | custZip |
---|---|
C001 | 98123 |
C002 | 94105 |
C003 | 12415 |
C004 | 12451-2234 |
C005 | 12441-298 |
C006 | |
C007 | |
C008 | 1242 |
C009 | 1104 |
Transformation:
When the above is imported into the Transformer page, you notice the following:
The
custZip
column is typed as Integer.There are two missing and two mismatched values in the
custZip
column.
First, you test for valid values in the custZip
column. Using the IFVALID
function, you can validate against any data type:
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Formula type | Single row formula |
Parameter: Formula | IFVALID(custZip, 'Zipcode', 'ok') |
Parameter: New column name | 'status' |
Fix four-digit zips: In the status
column are instances of ok
for the top four rows. You notice that the bottom two rows contain four-digit codes.
Since the custZip
values were originally imported as Integer, any leading 0
values are deleted. In this case, you can add back the leading zero. Before the previous step, change the data type of zip
to String and insert the following:
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Formula type | Single row formula |
Parameter: Formula | IF(LEN(custZip)==4,'0','') |
Parameter: New column name | 'FourDigitZip' |
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Formula type | Single row formula |
Parameter: Formula | MERGE([FourDigitZip,custZip]) |
Parameter: New column name | 'custZip2' |
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Columns | zip |
Parameter: Formula | custZip2 |
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Columns | FourDigitZip,custZip2 |
Parameter: Action | Delete selected columns |
Now, when you click the last recipe step, you should see that two more rows in status
are listed as Ok
.
For the zip code with the three-digit extension, you can simply remove that extension to make it valid. Click the step above the last one. In the data grid, highlight the value. Click the Replace suggestion card. Select the option that uses the following for the matching pattern:
'-{digit}{3}{end}'
The above means that all three-digit extensions are deleted from the zip. You can do the same for any two- and one-digit extensions, although there are none in this sample.
Missing and null values: Now, you need to address how to handle missing and null values. The IFMISSING
tests for both missing and null values, while the IFNULL
tests just for null values. In this example, you want to delete null values, which could mean that the data for that row is malformed and to write a status of missing
for missing values.
Click above the last line in the recipe to insert the following:
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Columns | custZip |
Parameter: Formula | IFNULL(custZip, 'xxxxx') |
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Columns | custZip |
Parameter: Formula | IFMISSING(custZip, '00000') |
Now, when you click the last line of the recipe, only the null value is listed as having a status other than ok
. You can use the following to remove this row and all like it:
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Condition | Custom formula |
Parameter: Type of formula | Custom single |
Parameter: Condition | (status == 'xxxxx') |
Parameter: Action | Delete matching rows |
Results:
custId | custZip | status |
---|---|---|
C001 | 98123 | ok |
C002 | 94105 | ok |
C003 | 12415 | ok |
C004 | 12451-2234 | ok |
C005 | 12441-298 | ok |
C006 | 00000 | ok |
C008 | 1242 | ok |
C009 | 1104 | ok |
As an exercise, you might repeat the above steps starting with the IFMISMATCHED
function determining the value in the status
column:
Transformation Name | |
---|---|
Parameter: Formula type | Single row formula |
Parameter: Formula | IFMISMATCHED(custZip, 'Zipcode', 'mismatched') |
Parameter: New column name | 'status' |