ABS_DIFF comparison

Compares the absolute difference between two numbers to a tolerance that you specify.

If the numbers differ by less than or equal to the value that you specify in the Param 1 field, a prorated weight is assigned. If the numbers differ by more than the value in the Param 1 field, the full disagreement weight is assigned.

Required Columns

The following data source and reference source columns are required:

  • Data. A column from the data source that contains numeric values.

    You can use this match comparison with vectors and reverse matching. If you want to create vectors to use in the Match Designer, see Make Vector stage in DataStage.

  • Reference. A column from the reference source that contains numeric values (only applies to a two-source match).

Required Parameters

One parameter is required and one parameter is optional.

  • Param 1. The maximum absolute value difference that can be tolerated. If you specify a value for only the Param 1 parameter, the value can be tolerated for either reference source value greater than data source value or data source value greater than reference source value. If you specified both parameters, the value for theParam 1 parameter is the maximum value tolerated for reference source value greater than data source value.
  • Param 2. (Optional) The maximum absolute value difference that can be tolerated when reference source value is less than data source value.

Example

Suppose that you want to compare age in two files. If you want a tolerance of up to 10 years, specify 10 for the Param 1 parameter. Each absolute value of the difference that is closer to 10 subtracts 1/11 of the weight range from the agreement weight. The weight range is the difference between the agreement weight and disagreement weight. This equation means that for a difference of one year, the agreement weight is penalized 1/11 of the weight range. For a difference of 10 years, the agreement weight is penalized 10/11 of the weight range. For a difference of 11 years, the agreement weight is penalized 11/11 of the weight range, which means that the full disagreement weight is assigned.

You would specify 5 for the Param 2 parameter if you want a five year tolerance when the reference source value is less than the data source value.