Using Special Characters in the Source Value Expression for Like Mappings

The Source and Target Value expressions can have one or more special characters. Special characters are supported for Like mappings only.

  • Asterisk (*)

    An asterisk (*) represents the source value. The asterisk (*) can be prefixed or suffixed by one or more characters, which filters the source value by that prefix or suffix. The wild card takes whatever is present in the source and puts it in the target column, usually adding a prefix.

  • Question Mark (?)

    The question mark (?) strips a single character from the source value. You can use one or more question marks (?) in the expression. You can also use question marks in combination with other expressions. For example, A?? finds members that start with A and have any two characters following and selects the members or strips off the two characters.

  • <1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>

    Processes rows that have concatenated values and extracts the corresponding value. The source member must use the "_" character as the separator.

    Note:

    <1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5> can be used with a question mark (?) but cannot be used with an asterisk (*).

  • <BLANK>

    Processes only rows that contain the blank character (space).

    The system only reads the expression where the source member is ‘ ‘ as <BLANK>. In this case, single quotes surround a single space character. If the source has NULL, which is shown like,, or as a space surrounded by " ", then the system does not interpret the NULL as a <BLANK>. Only the ‘<space char> expression is interpreted.

    Note:

    The <BLANK> notation may be used in both source and target expressions. If used in a target expression, it writes a blank space to the target.

Table 4-12 Examples of Expressions Using Special Characters

Special Character(s) Used Mapping Type Source Value Target Value Result Notes

*

Data Load * 1000

1000 returns 1000

WXYZ returns 1000

In this example, Data Management processes all rows and overrides the source value with a default value of 1000. In this expression, WXYZ also returns 1000. Because you entered an asterisk for the source value Data Management replaces any source value with the target value of 1000.

*

Data Load * *

1000 returns 1000

WXYZ returns WXYZ

In this example, Data Management processes all rows and replaces the source value as is.

*

Stripping * A*

101 returns A101

Processes all source members, and adds an "A" as a prefix.

*

Stripping *_DUP *

1000_DUP returns 1000

Processes and strips off only source values ending with "_DUP".

?

Stripping ?* *

A1000 returns 1000

B2000 returns 2000

This result processes only source values of one or more characters in length.

Strips off the first character

?

Stripping *???? *

1000_DUP returns 1000

A1000 returns A

This result processes only source values of four or more characters in length.

Strips off the last 4 characters

<1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>

Data Load <1> *

01_420 returns 01

 

<1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>

Data Load <2> *

01_420 returns 420

 

<1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>

Data Load <3> *

01_420_AB_CC1_001 returns AB

 

<1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>

Stripping ?<1> *

A01_420 returns 01

 

<BLANK>

Data Load <BLANK> [None]

' ' returns [None]

'01_ ' returns [None]

Single quotation marks are shown for illustration only.