Data Conversion

Contents[Hide]

The Data Conversion transform allows you to change the data type of a column.

Data Conversion transform
Data Conversion transform

1. Input

This transform requires one input transform with at least one column.

As an example, data coming from a CSV file may have been recognized as a string of text when it's known to contain dates.

Data Conversion - Input Data
Data Conversion - Input Data

Tip
If you have access, you can change the data type for a flat file by editing the data connector.

2. Configure

In the Data Conversion configuration dialog, you can choose a new data type for each column from the corresponding drop down list:

Data Conversion configuration
Data Conversion configuration

When you choose String as the data type, you can specify a value for Maximum Length. The default value is 200. 

Set the maximum length for the string
Set the maximum length for the string

When converting a DateTime value to a string, you can specify a Format.

Set the format when converting DateTime to String
Set the format when converting DateTime to String

When choosing DateTime, a Format field will appear, allowing you to enter the format to be used to correctly identify each part of the text as a part of the date and time.

DateTime format
DateTime format

For example, the format for the text 2014-01-21T20:28:21.703 would be yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.fff. See .NET Custom Date and Time Format Strings for details.

3. Output

The figure below illustrates the output from the transform in our example.

Sample output
Sample output

4. See also

Dundas Data Visualization, Inc.
400-15 Gervais Drive
Toronto, ON, Canada
M3C 1Y8

North America: 1.800.463.1492
International: 1.416.467.5100

Dundas Support Hours:
Phone: 9am-6pm, ET, Mon-Fri
Email: 7am-6pm, ET, Mon-Fri