1.3.4.10.7 Output Selector: Longest String

The Longest String output selector selects the longest string value for an output attribute from the input attribute values, for all records being merged together. The longest string is considered as that with the most characters.

Note that Longest String actually works with number and date values as well.

Use the Longest String output selector when you think the best output value for an attribute is likely to be the most complete/longest value.

The following table describes the configuration options:

Configuration	Description
Inputs	Any attributes (String, Number or Date) from any input data sets.
Options	Specify the following options: Use first non-empty value if tied?: this option provides a way of selecting a value arbitrarily if no value is the longest for all records in a group. The first alphabetically sorted value will be selected for String values, the lowest value for Numbers, and the earliest value for Dates. Type: Yes/No. Default value: Yes.

Example

In this example, the Longest String output selector is used to select the value for a Given Name attribute from all records in each match group.

Example configuration

Use first non-empty Value if tied? = Yes

Example output

The following table shows example output using the Longest String selector:

Table 1-106 Example Output Using Longest String

Record A	Record B	Record C	Output value(Longest String)
J	James	J.	James
John Francis	John	John F	John Francis
Brian H	Brian	Brian	Brian H
null	null	null	null
Frederick	Frederick	Fred	Frederick
Fred	null	Freddie	Freddie