Transforming data with the transformation generator

If a text field is populated with mappings from the Suggested mappings or Available mappings lists, but the data formats of the "source" mappings do not match the data format of the target field that is populated, you can generate a JSONata expression to define how to present the source data in the target application.

To transform the data format of a single mapping in a target field that is populated with one or more mappings, complete the following steps.

1. Select the target field, then click Transform data format.
   
   The "Generate transformation for TargetFieldName" panel opens with five blank source and corresponding target fields for you to map your data formats.

   
2. Provide at least five examples of source and target formats.
   You can either enter values manually, or click Populate using sample data to fetch values from your source and target applications. To add more than five mappings, click Add row +. If data is discovered in the source application, the fields in the source column are populated with a random sample of unique examples from the source application. If fewer than five examples are discovered, enter similar examples manually in any blank source fields.

   If data is also discovered in the target application, this data is analyzed to identify the specified formats, such as lowercase or uppercase formats. The source examples are then used to generate target examples that are based on the discovered target formats. Up to five formats can be shown in individual tabs (numbered 1 to 5) in the target column. A Copy from source link is also provided. Click each numbered tab to examine the generated target formats. To accept a generated format, ensure that its numbered tab is active.

   To specify a custom format, either edit the data on a numbered tab, or click Copy from source to add a copy of the source examples as target examples. When you begin to edit the data or when you click Copy from source, an Edited tab is appended to the existing numbered tabs, and the focus switches to this tab. The Edited tab enables you to specify a custom format, while preserving the generated formats in the numbered tabs for reselection if required. The data in the Edited tab always shows your latest update.

   

   If no data is discovered in the target application, the fields in the target column remain blank. You can use the Copy from source link to add a copy of the source examples as target examples and then edit the copied data if required. You can also specify examples manually in your preferred format.

   If no data is discovered in the source and target applications after you click Populate using sample data, the source and target fields remain blank. The Copy from source link is also shown as initially disabled. In the source column, manually specify at least five examples for the source field. (The Copy from source link becomes enabled when you begin to add the first entry.) To complete the target fields, either click Copy from source to add a copy of the source examples as target examples, or manually specify examples in your preferred format.

   Tips for completing the source and target fields:

   To specify examples manually, consider the following tips.

   • Ensure that an identical data format is used for all the source field examples. Also ensure that an identical data format is used for all the target field examples.
   • Ensure that a completed example exists for each source and target pair of fields.
   • Ensure that each example is of the expected data type. For example, use a date format if the source and target fields are used to present dates.
3. Click Transform data format to generate a JSONata expression that represents your selections.
   
4. Click Insert transformation to insert the JSONata expression into the target field.
   

1. Click the target field, then click Transform data format.
   

   The "Generate transformation for TargetFieldName" panel opens with a column for each source format and target format.

   

2. Provide at least five examples of source and target formats.
   Click Populate using sample data to fetch values from your source and target applications. To add more than five mappings, click Add row +. If data is discovered in the source application, the fields in the source column are populated with a random sample of unique examples from the source application. If fewer than five examples are discovered, enter similar examples manually in any blank source fields.

   

   If the appropriate type of data is also discovered in the target application, this data is analyzed to identify the specified formats, such as lowercase or uppercase, or date formats. The source examples are then used to generate target examples that are based on the discovered target formats. Up to five formats can be shown in individual tabs (numbered 1 to 5) in the target column. Click each numbered tab to examine the generated target formats. To accept a generated format, ensure that its numbered tab is active.

   To specify a custom format, either edit the data on a numbered tab, or click Copy from source to add a concatenated copy of the source examples as target examples. When you begin to edit the data or when you click Copy from source, an Edited tab is appended to the existing numbered tabs, and the focus switches to this tab. The Edited tab enables you to specify a custom format, while preserving the generated formats in the numbered tabs for reselection if required. The data in the Edited tab always shows your latest update.

   

   If no appropriate data is discovered in the target application, the fields in the target column remain blank. You can click Copy from source to add a concatenated copy of the source examples as target examples in each row as target examples. You can then edit the copied data as required. (In the following example, the @ symbol and email domain have been removed from the email addresses in the target fields, and the time has been removed from the dates.) You can also manually specify target examples without copying the source.

   

   If no data is discovered in the source and target applications after you click Populate using sample data, the source and target fields remain blank. The Copy from source link is also shown as initially disabled. In the source columns, manually specify at least five examples for each of the source fields. (The Copy from source link becomes enabled when you begin to add the first entry.) To complete the target fields, either click Copy from source to add a copy of the source examples as target examples, or manually specify examples in your preferred format.

   Tips for completing the source and target fields:

   To specify examples manually, consider the following tips.

   • If no target examples are generated, the easiest option is to use Copy from source to add a concatenated copy of the source examples in each row to the target fields, then edit the target formats as required. Also ensure that the concatenated target examples are listed in the same sequence as the source mappings.

     If the target field in the flow editor contains any static data, include and correctly position this data in your target examples to ensure that the target field is correctly populated when you insert the transformation.

   • Ensure that an identical data format is used for all the source field examples. Also ensure that an identical data format is used for all the target field examples.
   • Ensure that a completed example exists for each source and target pair of fields.
   • Ensure that each example is of the expected data type. For example, use a date format if the source and target fields are used to present dates.
3. Click Transform data format to generate a JSONata expression that represents your selections.
   
4. Click Insert transformation to insert the JSONata expression into the target field.
   

   • The following example shows a transformation that includes static text. This example illustrates how to transform the data in a target field that includes multiple mappings that are prefixed with some static text (in this case, Reference:). In the Generate transformation panel, the static text is added as a prefix to each of the target example formats to ensure that this text is included in the generated JSONata expression.
     

About this task

If a drop-down field is populated with a single mapping from the Suggested mappings or Available mappings list, and the drop-down list values for the inserted "source" mapping do not match the drop-down list values for the target field that is populated, the following notification is displayed.

SourceApplication has different values for SourceFieldName

To map the drop-down values for the source and target fields, complete the following steps.

1. Click Transform data format to open the "Generate transformation for SourceFieldName" panel.
   The drop-down values for the source field are listed in the source column, and the target column contains corresponding drop-down lists that are populated with target values.

   
2. Use the target drop-down lists to map an appropriate target value to each source value.
3. Click Transform data format to generate a JSONata expression that represents your selections.
   
4. Click Insert transformation to insert the JSONata expression into the target field.
   

   Disclaimer: You are responsible for any example data (including any personal information) used for, and any decision to proceed with, any automated flows which are suggested for your convenience when IBM® App Connect is used. IBM has no responsibility for any such automated flows and IBM warranties and support will not apply to them; they are used at your risk. IBM might periodically modify the underlying learning models in App Connect through updates, fixes, or patches in order to improve App Connect performance.