1.3.4.10 List of Output Selectors

Output selectors are functions that allow a single value to be derived for a field in a merged record, based on the data in the records being merged.

The following Output selectors are provided in EDQ. It is also possible to add new output selectors.

Output Selector Compatible Input Column Type Description Example Output Selection

Average

Number

Calculates the average of the input values for a Number attribute.

Inputs: 1,5,8,10

Output: 6

Combine Arrays

String Array, Number Array, or Date Array

Merge the arrays into one array

Inputs: {1,2}{3,4}Output: {1,2,3,4}

Delimited List

String

Outputs all input values, or all distinct input values, in a delimited list.

Inputs: lewistaylor@yahoo.com, lewist@hotmail.com, lewis@abco.com

Output: lewistaylor@yahoo.com, lewist@hotmail.com, lewis@abco.com

Earliest Value

String, Number or Date

Uses a date attribute to select the merged value of a different attribute. The record containing the earliest value in the specified date field is chosen, and the output value for the other attribute is extracted from the selected record.

Inputs: Johnson (01/05/2001), Johnston (06/01/1998)

Output: Johnston

First Non-empty Value

String, Number or Date

Selects the first non-empty value it finds from the input attributes, in order.

Inputs: null, Smith

Output: Smith

Inputs: Smith, Smyth

Output: Smith

Highest Value

String, Number or Date

Selects the highest number, for number attributes, the latest date, for date attributes, or the last alphabetic value, for string attributes.

Inputs: 9, 12, 14

Output: 14

Latest Value

Number or Date

Uses a date attribute to select the merged value of a different attribute. The record containing the latest value in the specified date field is chosen, and the output value for the other attribute is extracted from the selected record.

Inputs: Johnson (01/05/2001), Johnston (06/01/1998)

Output: Johnson

Longest String

String

Selects the longest string value (the string value with the most characters).

Inputs: J, James, Jameson

Output: Jameson

Lowest Value

String, Number or Date

Selects the lowest number, for number attributes, the earliest date, for date attributes, or the first alphabetic value, for string attributes.

Inputs: 8.2, 8.1, 7.6

Output: 7.6

Most Common Value

String, Number or Date

Selects the most common value from the input attribute(s), from all the input records.

Inputs: Davis, Davis, Davies

Output: Davis

Output as Array

String, Number or Date

Combines the input into an array.

Input: Red, Green Output: {Red}{Green}

Standard Deviation

Number

Calculates the standard deviation of the input values for a Number attribute.

Inputs: 1, 5, 8, 10, 12

Output: 3.87

Sum Values

Number

Adds together the numeric values from all the input records.

Inputs: 3,7,8,-2

Output: 16

Value from Highest

String, Number or Date

Uses a number attribute to select the merged value of a different attribute. The record containing the largest value in the specified number field is chosen, and the output value for the other attribute is extracted from the selected record.

Inputs: Johnston (50), Johnson (40), JOHNSON (35)

Output: Johnston

Value from Lowest

String, Number or Date

Uses a number attribute to select the merged value of a different attribute. The record containing the smallest value in the specified number field is chosen, and the output value for the other attribute is extracted from the selected record.

Inputs: Johnston (50), Johnson (40), JOHNSON (35)

Output: JOHNSON