Datastage-Type conversion functions

Type conversion functions

Use the type conversion functions to change the type of an argument.

The following functions are in the Type Conversion category of the expression editor. Square
brackets indicate an argument is optional. The default date format is %yyyy-%mm-%dd.

Char

Generates an ASCII character from its numeric code value. You can optionally specify the
allow8bits argument to convert 8-bit ASCII values.

 Input: code (number), [allow8bits]

 Output: result (char)
 Examples. The following example outputs the ASCII code 65 as the character A.

Char(65)

DateToString

Returns the string representation of the given date. The format of the string can optionally be
specified.

 Input: date (date), [format (string)]

 Output: result (string)
 Examples. The following example outputs the date contained in the column
mylink.mydate to a string. If mylink.mydate contains the date 18th August, 2009, then
the output string is “2009-08-18″:

DateToString(mylink.mydate)

The following example outputs the date contained in the column mylink.mydate to a string with
the format dd:mm:yyyy. If mylink.mydate contained the date 18th August, 2009, then the output
string would be “18:08:2009″:

DateToString(mylink.mydate, "%dd:%mm:%yyyy")

DateToDecimal

Returns the given date as a packed decimal value. If your target decimal specifies a scale, part of
the date appears after the decimal point. You can optionally specify a format string that specifies
how the date is stored in the decimal number. The default format string is “%yyyy%mm%dd”,
so, for example, the date 2009-08-25 is stored as the decimal number 20090825. Format strings
can only specify a format that contains numbers. For example, you cannot specify a format string
such as “%yyyy-%mm-%dd”, because the hyphen character (-) cannot be stored in a packed
decimal value. The following tokens are valid for conversions to or from decimal values:

%yyyy (four-digit year)

%yy (two-digit year)

%NNNNyy (two-digit year with cutoff)

%mm (two-digit month)

%dd (two-digit day of month)

%ddd (three-digit day of year)

The literal digits 0 to 9 are also valid.

 Input: basedate (date) [, format (string)]

 Output: converted_date (decimal)
 Examples. If the column mylink.basedate contains the date 2012-08-18, then the
following function stores the date as the decimal number 18082012:

DateToDecimal (mylink.basedate, "%dd%mm%yyyy")

If the column mylink.basedate contains the date 2012-08-18, and the target column has a length
of 10 and a scale of 2, then the following function stores the date as the decimal number
201208.18:

DateToDecimal (mylink.basedate)

DecimalToDate

Returns the given packed decimal as a date. Both the sign and the scale of the decimal number
are ignored when it is converted to a date. You can optionally specify a format string that
specifies how the date is stored in the decimal number. The default format string is “%yyyy
%mm%dd”, so, for example, the date 2009-08-25 is stored as the decimal number 20090825.
Format strings can only specify a format that contains numbers. For example, you cannot specify
a format string such as “%yyyy-%mm-%dd”, because the hyphen character (-) cannot be stored
in a packed decimal value. The following tokens are valid for conversions to or from decimal
values:
%yyyy (four-digit year)

%yy (two-digit year)

%NNNNyy (two-digit year with cutoff)

%mm (two-digit month)

%dd (two-digit day of month)

%ddd (three-digit day of year)

The literal digits 0 to 9 are also valid.

 Input: basedec (decimal) [, format (string)]

 Output: date
 Examples. If the column mylink.mydecdata contains the value 18082012, then the
following function returns the date 2012-08-18:

DecimalToDate (mylink.basedate, "%dd%mm%yyyy")

If the column mylink.mydecdata contains the value -201208.18, then the following function
returns the date 2012-08-18:

DecimalToDate (mylink.basedate)

DecimalToDecimal

Returns the given decimal in decimal representation with precision and scale specified in the
target column definition. The argument rtype optionally specifies a rounding type, and is set to
one of the following values:

ceil. Round the source field toward positive infinity. For example, 1.4 -> 2, -1.6 -> -1.

floor. Round the source field toward negative infinity. For example, 1.6 -> 1, -1.4 -> -2.

round_inf. Round or truncate the source field toward the nearest representable value, breaking
ties by rounding positive values toward positive infinity and negative values toward negative
infinity. For example, 1.4 -> 1, 1.5 -> 2, -1.4 -> -1, -1.5 -> -2.

trunc_zero. Discard any fractional digits to the right of the rightmost fractional digit supported
in the destination, regardless of sign. For example, if the destination is an integer, all fractional
digits are truncated. If the destination is another decimal with a smaller scale, round or truncate
to the scale size of the destination decimal. For example, 1.6 -> 1, -1.6 -> -1.
  Input: decimal (decimal) [,rtype (string)]
 Output: result (decimal)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 2.5345, the
following function returns the decimal number 00000002.54.

DecimalToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"ceil")

The following function returns the decimal number 00000002.53.

DecimalToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"floor")

The following function returns the decimal number 00000002.53.

DecimalToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"trunc_zero")

The following function returns the decimal number 00000002.53.

DecimalToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"round_inf")

In all these examples, the target decimal has a length of 10 and a scale of 2.

DecimalToDFloat

Returns the given decimal in dfloat representation. The argument “fix_zero” optionally specifies
that all zero decimal values are regarded as valid (by default, decimal numbers comprising all
zeros are treated as invalid).

 Input: decimal (decimal) [,"fix_zero"]

 Output: result (dfloat)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00000004.00 the
following function returns the dfloat number 4.00000000000000000E+00.

DecimalToDFloat(mylink.mydec,"fix_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.00 the following function
returns the dfloat number 1.23440000000000000E+04.

DecimalToDFloat(mylink.mydec,"fix_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.120 the following function
returns the dfloat number 1.23441200000000010E+04.

DecimalToDFloat(mylink.mydec,"fix_zero")
If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.120 the following function
returns the dfloat number 1.23441200000000010E+04.

DecimalToDFloat(mylink.mydec)

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.000 the following function
returns the dfloat number 1.23440000000000000E+04.

DecimalToDFloat(mylink.mydec)

DecimalToString

Returns the given decimal as a string. The argument “fix_zero” optionally specifies that all zero
decimal values are regarded as valid (by default, decimal numbers comprising all zeros are
treated as invalid). This covers the case where the sign bits of the packed decimal representation
are all 0 as well as all the content digits. This cast is not considered valid unless “fix_zero” is
true.

 Input: decimal (decimal) [,"fix_zero"]

 Output: result (string)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00000004.00, the
following function returns the string “4″:

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec,"suppress_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00000004.00, the following function
returns the string “0000000000000000000000000004.0000000000″.

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec,"fix_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.00, the following function
returns the string “12344″.

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec,"suppress_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.00, the following function
returns the string “0000000000000000000000012344.0000000000″.

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec,"fix_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.120, the following function
returns the string “0000000000000000000000012344.1200000000″.

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec,"fix_zero")
If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.120, the following function
returns the string “12344.12″:

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec,"suppress_zero")

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.120, the following function
returns the string “0000000000000000000000012344.120000000″.

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec)

If the column mylink.mydec contains the decimal number 00012344.000, the following function
returns the string “0000000000000000000000012344.0000000000″.

DecimalToString(mylink.mydec)

DecimalToTime

Returns the given packed decimal as a time. You can optionally specify a format string that
specifies how the time is stored in the decimal number. The default format string is ” %hh%nn
%ss”, so, for example, the time 14:03:22 is stored as the decimal number 140322. Format strings
can only specify a format that contains numbers. For example, you cannot specify a format string
such as “%hh:%nn:%ss”, because the colon character (:) cannot be stored in a packed decimal
value. The following tokens are valid for conversions to or from decimal values:

%hh (two-digit hours using 24-hour clock)

%nn (two-digit minutes)

%ss (two-digit seconds)

%ss.N (two-digit seconds, plus the number of fractional digits allowed. The number of fractional
digits is from one to six inclusive).

The literal digits 0 to 9 are also valid.

If your specified format includes microseconds (for example, %ss.4), then the position of the
decimal point is inferred in the decimal value. The position of the decimal point does not have to
coincide with the specified scale of the decimal (for example, scale = 4).

 Input: time (time) [, format (string)]

 Output: result (decimal)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytimedec contains the decimal value 200658, then the
following function returns the time 20:06:58:
DecimalToTime(mylink.mytimedec)

If the column mylink.mytimedec contains the decimal value 580620, then the following function
returns the time 20:06:58:

DecimalToTime(mylink.mytimedec, "%ss%nn%hh")

DecimalToTimestamp

Returns the given packed decimal as a timestamp. You can optionally specify a format string that
specifies how the timestamp is stored in the decimal number. The default format string is ”
%yyyy%mm%dd%hh%nn%ss”, so, for example, the timestamp 2009-08-25 14:03:22 is stored
as the decimal number 20090825140322. Format strings can only specify a format that contains
numbers. For example, you cannot specify a format string such as “%yyyy/%mm/%dd%hh:%nn:
%ss”, because the slash character (/) and the colon character (:) cannot be stored in a packed
decimal value. The following tokens are valid for conversions to or from decimal values:

%yyyy (four-digit year)

%yy (two-digit year)

%NNNNyy (two-digit year with cutoff)

%mm (two-digit month)

%dd (two-digit day of month)

%ddd (three-digit day of year)

%hh (two-digit hours using 24-hour clock)

%nn (two-digit minutes)

%ss (two-digit seconds)

%ss.N (two-digit seconds, plus the number of fractional digits allowed. The number of fractional
digits is from one to six inclusive).

The literal digits 0 to 9 are also valid.

If your specified format includes microseconds (for example, %ss.4), then the position of the
decimal point is inferred in the decimal value. The position of the decimal point does not have to
coincide with the specified scale of the decimal (for example, scale = 4).

 Input: timestamp (timestamp) [, format (string)]

  Output: result (decimal)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytimestampdec contains the value 19580818200658,
then the following function returns the timestamp 1958–08–18 20:06:58:

DecimalToTimestamp(mylink.mytimestampdec)

If the column mylink.mytimestampdec contains the decimal value 200658580818, then the
following function returns the timestamp 1958–08–18 20:06:58:

DecimalToTimestamp(mylink.mytimestampdec, "%hh%nn%ss%yy%mm%dd")

DFloatToDecimal

Returns the given dfloat in decimal representation. The argument rtype optionally specifies a
rounding type, and is set to one of the following values:

ceil. Round the source field toward positive infinity. For example, 1.4 -> 2, -1.6 -> -1.

floor. Round the source field toward negative infinity. For example, 1.6 -> 1, -1.4 -> -2.

round_inf. Round or truncate the source field toward the nearest representable value, breaking
ties by rounding positive values toward positive infinity and negative values toward negative
infinity. For example, 1.4 -> 1, 1.5 -> 2, -1.4 -> -1, -1.5 -> -2.

trunc_zero. Discard any fractional digits to the right of the rightmost fractional digit supported
in the destination, regardless of sign. For example, if the destination is an integer, all fractional
digits are truncated. If the destination is another decimal with a smaller scale, round or truncate
to the scale size of the destination decimal. For example, 1.6 -> 1, -1.6 -> -1.

 Input: number (dfloat), [rtype (string)]

 Output: result (decimal)
 Examples. If the column mylink.myfloat contains the dfloat number 2.534, the following
function returns the decimal number 00000002.54.

DFloatToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"ceil")

If the column mylink.myfloat contains the dfloat number 2.534, the following function returns
the decimal number 00000002.53.

DFloatToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"floor")

If the column mylink.myfloat contains the dfloat number 2.534, the following function returns
the decimal number 00000002.53.
DFloatToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"trunc_zero")

If the column mylink.myfloat contains the dfloat number 2.534, the following function returns
the decimal number 00000002.53.

DFloatToDecimal(mylink.mydec,"round_inf")

DfloatToStringNoExp

Returns the given dfloat in its string representation with no exponent, using the specified scale.

 Input: number (dfloat), scale (string)

 Output: result (string)
 Examples. If the column mylink.myfloat contains the dfloat number 2.534, then the
following function returns the string 00000002.50:

DfloatToStringNoExp(mylink.myfloat,2)

IsValid

Returns whether the given string is valid for the given type. Valid types are “date”, “decimal”,
“dfloat”, “sfloat”, “int8″, “uint8″, “int16″, “uint16″, “int32″, “uint32″, “int64″, “uint64″, “raw”,
“string”, “time”, “timestamp”, “ustring”. For data types of date, time, and timestamp, you can
optionally specify a format string. The format string describes the format that your input data
uses when it differs from the default formats for date, time, or timestamp. The default format for
date is “%yyyy-%mm-%dd”. The default format for time is “%hh:%mm:%ss”. The default
format for timestamp is “%yyyy-%mm-%dd %hh:%mm:%ss”.

 Input: type (string), teststring (string) [, format (string)]

 Output: result (int8)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “1″, then the following
function returns the value 1.

IsValid("int8",mylink.mystring)

If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “380096.06″, then the following function
returns the value 0.

IsValid("int8",mylink.mystring)

IsValidDate

Returns whether the given value is valid for the type date.
  Input: testdate (date)
 Output: result (int8)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mydate contains the date 2011-09-13, then the
following function returns the value 1.

IsValidDate(mylink.mydate)

If the column mylink.mydate contains the string “380096.06″, then the following function
returns the value 0, because the converted string is not a valid date.

IsValidDate(StringTodate (mylink.mydate))

IsValidDecimal

Returns whether the given value is valid for the type decimal. If the allzerosflag is set to 0, then
an all-zeroes representation is not valid. The allzerosflag is set to zero by default.

 Input: testvalue (decimal) [, allzerosflag (uint8)]

 Output: result (int8)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mynum contains the value 310007.65, then the
following function returns the value 1.

IsValidDecimal(mylink.mynum)

If the column mylink.mynum contains the string “wake-robin”, then the following function
returns the value 0, because the converted string is not a valid decimal.

IsValidDecimal(StringToDecimal (mylink.mynum))

IsValidTime

Returns whether the given time is valid for the type time.

 Input: testtime (time)

 Output: result (int8)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mytime contains the time 23:09:22, then the following
function returns the value 1:

IsValidTime(mylink.mytime)

If the column mylink.mydate contains the string “IbnKayeed”, then the following function
returns the value 0, because the converted string is not a valid time.

IsValidTime(StringToTime (mylink.mytime))
IsValidTimestamp

Returns whether the given timestamp is valid for the type timestamp.

 Input: testtimestamp (timestamp)

 Output: result (int8)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the time 2011-09-13 23:09:22,
then the following function returns the value 1:

IsValidTimestamp(mylink.mytimestamp)

If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the string “one of two”, then the following function
returns the value 0, because the converted string is not a valid timestamp.

IsValidTimestamp(StringToTimestamp (mylink.mytimestamp))

RawNumAt

Returns the integer value at the specified index value in the specified raw field. The index starts
at 0.

 Input: rawfield (raw), index (int32)

 Output: result (int32)
 Examples. If the column mylink.myraw contains a raw value derived from the string
“hello”, then the following function returns the integer 0×68 (the ASCII code for the
character h):

RawNumAt(mylink.myraw, 0)

If the column mylink.myraw contains a raw value derived from the string “hello”, then the
following function returns 0 because the specified index is out of range:

RawNumAt(mylink.myraw, 12)

RawToString

Returns the given raw value as a string representation. You must ensure that the raw input value
contains a sequence of bytes that are valid as characters in the target character set in which the
output string is used. For example, the raw value { 0xE0 0×41 0×42 } is not a valid sequence of
UTF-8 characters, since the lead byte, 0xE0, is supposed to be followed by a byte in the range
[0x80..0xBF]. If a raw value { xE0 x41 x42 } is passed to the RawToString function, there could
be an error if the output string is then accessed as if it were encoded in UTF-8.

 Input: rawfield (raw)

 Output: result (string)
  Examples. If the column mylink.myraw contains the value { 0×31 0×31 0×30 0×35 0×32
0×32 0×30 0×39 }, then the following function returns the string “11052209″.

RawNumAt(mylink.myraw)

Seq

Generates a numeric code value from an ASCII character. You can optionally specify the
allow8bits argument to convert 8-bit ASCII values.

 Input: Seq (char)

 Output: result (number)
 Examples. The following example outputs the character A as the ASCII code 65.

Seq("A")

SeqAt

Returns the numeric code point value of the character at the specified position in the given string.
The index starts at 0. If the specified index is out of range, the function returns 0.

 Input: basestring (string), index (int32)

 Output: result (int32)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “horse”, then the following
function returns the value 0x6F (that is, the ASCII value of the character o).

SeqAt(mylink.mystring, 1)

StringToDate

Returns a date from the given string in the given format. You do not have to specify a format
string if your string contains a date in the default format yyyy-mm-dd.

 Input: string (string) [,format (string)]

 Output: result (date)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mystring contains the string ″1958–08–18″, then the
following function returns the date 1958–08–18.

StringToDate(mylink.mystring)
If the column mylink.mystring contains the string ″18:08:1958″, then the following function
returns the date 1958–08–18.

StringToDate(mylink.mystring,"%dd:%mm:%yyyy")

StringToDecimal

Returns the given string as a decimal representation. The argument rtype optionally specifies a
rounding type, and is set to one of the following values:

ceil. Round the source field toward positive infinity. For example, 1.4 -> 2, -1.6 -> -1.

floor. Round the source field toward negative infinity. For example, 1.6 -> 1, -1.4 -> -2.

round_inf. Round or truncate the source field toward the nearest representable value, breaking
ties by rounding positive values toward positive infinity and negative values toward negative
infinity. For example, 1.4 -> 1, 1.5 -> 2, -1.4 -> -1, -1.5 -> -2.

trunc_zero. Discard any fractional digits to the right of the rightmost fractional digit supported
in the destination, regardless of sign. For example, if the destination is an integer, all fractional
digits are truncated. If the destination is another decimal with a smaller scale, round or truncate
to the scale size of the destination decimal. For example, 1.6 -> 1, -1.6 -> -1.

 Input: string (string), [rtype (string)]

 Output: result (decimal)
 Examples. If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “19982.22″, and the target
is defined as having a precision of 7 and a scale of 2, then the following function returns
the decimal 19983.22.

StringToDecimal(mylink.mystring)

If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “19982.2276″, and the target is defined as
having a precision of 7 and a scale of 2, then the following function returns the decimal
19983.23.

StringToDecimal(mylink.mystring,"ceil")

StringToRaw

Returns a string in raw representation.

 Input: string (string)

 Output: result (raw)
  Examples. If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “hello”, and the target
column is defined as being of type Binary then the following function returns the value
{ 0×68 0×65 0x6C 0x6C 0x6F }.

StringToRaw(mylink.mystring)

StringToTime

Returns a time representation of the given string.

 Input: string (string), [format (string)]

 Output: result (time)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “20:06:58″, then the
function returns a time of 20:06:58.

StringToTime(mylink.mystring)

If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “20: 6:58″, then the function returns a time of
20:06:58.

StringToTime(mylink.mystring,"%(h,s):$(n,s):$(s,s)")

StringToTimestamp

Returns a time representation of the given string.

 Input: string (string) [format (string)]

 Output: result (time)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “1958–08–08 20:06:58″,
then the function returns the timestamp 1958–08–08 20:06:58.

StringToTimestamp(mylink.mystring)

If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “8/ 8/1958 20: 6:58″, then the function returns
the timestamp 1958–08–08 20:06:58.

StringToTimestamp(mylink.mystring, "%(d,s)/%(m,s)/%yyyy%(h,s):$(n,s):$(s,s)")

StringToUstring

Returns a ustring from the given string, optionally using the specified map (otherwise uses
project default).

 Input: string (string), [mapname(string)]

 Output: result (ustring)
  Examples: If the column mylink.mystring contains the string “11052009″, then the
following function returns the ustring “11052009″

StringToUstring(mylink.mystring)

TimestampToDate

Returns a date from the given timestamp.

 Input: timestamp (timestamp)

 Output: result (date)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the timestamp 1958–08–18
20:06:58, then the following function returns the date 1958–08–18:

TimestampToDate(mylink.mytimestamp)

TimestampToDecimal

Returns the given timestamp as a packed decimal. You can optionally specify a format string that
specifies how the timestamp is stored in the decimal number. The default format string is ”
%yyyy%mm%dd%hh%nn%ss”, so, for example, the timestamp 2009-08-25 14:03:22 is stored
as the decimal number 20090825140322. Format strings can only specify a format that contains
numbers. For example, you cannot specify a format string such as “%yyyy/%mm/%dd%hh:%nn:
%ss”, because the slash character (/) and the colon character (:) cannot be stored in a packed
decimal value. The following tokens are valid for conversions to or from decimal values:

%yyyy (four-digit year)

%yy (two-digit year)

%NNNNyy (two-digit year with cutoff)

%mm (two-digit month)

%dd (two-digit day of month)

%ddd (three-digit day of year)

%hh (two-digit hours using 24-hour clock)

%nn (two-digit minutes)

%ss (two-digit seconds)

%ss.N (two-digit seconds, plus the number of fractional digits allowed. The number of fractional
digits is from one to six inclusive).
The literal digits 0 to 9 are also valid.

If your specified format includes microseconds (for example, %ss.4), then the position of the
decimal point is inferred in the decimal value. The position of the decimal point does not have to
coincide with the specified scale of the decimal (for example scale = 4).

 Input: timestamp (timestamp) [, format (string)]

 Output: result (decimal)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the timestamp 1958–08–18
20:06:58, then the following function returns the decimal value 19580818200658:

TimestampToDecimal(mylink.mytimestamp)

If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the timestamp 1958–08–18 20:06:58, then the
following function returns the decimal value 200658580818:

TimestampToDecimal(mylink.mytimestamp, "%hh%nn%ss%yy%mm%dd")

TimestampToString

Returns a string from the given timestamp.

 Input: timestamp (timestamp) [format (string)]

 Output: result (string)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the timestamp 1958–08–
1820:06:58, then the function returns the string “1958–08–1820:06:58″.

TimestampToString(mylink.mytimestamp)

If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the timestamp 1958–08–1820:06:58, then the

function returns the string “18/08/1958 20:06:58″:

TimestampToString(mylink.mytimestamp, "%dd/%mm/%yyyy %hh:$nn:$ss")

TimestampToTime

Returns the string representation of the given timestamp.

 Input: timestamp (timestamp)

 Output: result (time)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytimestamp contains the timestamp 1958–08–
1820:06:58, then the function returns the time 20:06:58:
TimestampToTime(mylink.mytimestamp)

TimeToString

Returns a string from the given time.

 Input: timestamp (timestamp) [format (string)]

 Output: result (time)
 Examples: If the column mylink.mytime contains the time 20:06:58, then the following
function returns the string “20:06:58″:

TimeToString(mylink.mytime)

If the column mylink.mytime contains the time 20:06:58, then the following function returns the
string “58:06:20″:

TimeToString(mylink.mytime, "%ss:$nn:$hh")

TimeToDecimal

Returns the given time as a packed decimal. You can optionally specify a format string that
specifies how the time is stored in the decimal number. The default format string is ” %hh%nn
%ss”, so, for example, the time 14:03:22 is stored as the decimal number 140322. Format strings
can only specify a format that contains numbers. For example, you cannot specify a format string
such as “%hh:%nn:%ss”, because the colon character (:) cannot be stored in a packed decimal
value. The following tokens are valid for conversions to or from decimal values:

%hh (two-digit hours using 24-hour clock)

%nn (two-digit minutes)

%ss (two-digit seconds)

%ss.N (two-digit seconds, plus the number of fractional digits allowed. The number of fractional
digits is from one to six inclusive).

The literal digits 0 to 9 are also valid.

If your specified format includes microseconds (for example, %ss.4), then the position of the
decimal point is inferred in the decimal value. The position of the decimal point does not have to
coincide with the specified scale of the decimal (for example scale = 4).

 Input: time (time) [, format (string)]

 Output: result (decimal)
  Examples: If the column mylink.mytime contains the time 20:06:58, then the following
function returns the decimal value 200658:

TimeToDecimal(mylink.mytime)

If the column mylink.mytime contains the time 20:06:58, then the following function returns the
decimal value 580620:

TimeToDecimal(mylink.mytime, "%ss%nn%hh")

UstringToString

Returns a string from the given ustring, optionally using the specified map (otherwise uses
project default).

 Input: string (ustring) [, mapname(string)]

 Output: result (string)
 Examples: If the column mylink.myustring contains the ustring “11052009″, then the
following function returns the string “11052009″:

Datastage-Utility functions
Utility functions
The utility functions have a variety of purposes.

GetEnvironment

Returns the value of the given environment variable.

 Input: environment variable (string)

 Output: result (string)
 Examples. If you queried the value of the environment variable name
APT_RDBMS_COMMIT_ROWS then the following derivation might return the value
“2048″.

GetEnvironment("APT_RDBMS_COMMIT_ROWS")

GetSavedInputRecord
This function is used to implement the aggregating of data on the input link of a Transformer
stage. You call the GetsSavedInputRecord function to a retrieve a copy of an input row that you
have previously saved to a cache area. The function retrieves the next input row from the cache
(in the order in which they were saved to the cache) and makes it the current input row. The
retrieved row overrides what was the current input row, and so any derivation using an input
column value will use the value of that column in the input row retrieved from the cache, not
what was previously the current input row. You must call GetSavedInputRecord in a loop
variable derivation, you cannot call it from anywhere else. For example, you cannot call
GetSavedInputRecord in the Loop Condition expression. You can call GetSavedInputRecord,
multiple times and retrieve the next cached row on each call. Use the SaveInputRecord function
to store rows to the cache. GetSavedInputRecord returns the cache index number of the record
retrieved from that cache.

 Input: -
 Output: cache_index_number
 Examples. The following example is the derivation of a loop variable named
SavedRecordIndex in a Transformer stage:

SavedRecordIndex:  GetSavedInputRecord()

NextSKChain

This function is used in the Slowly Changing Dimension stage as the derivation for a column
with the SKChain purpose code. The function is not used in the Transformer stage.
NextSKChain returns the value of the surrogate key column for the next row in the chain, or the
value that has been specified to use for the last record in the chain.

 Input: last_chain_value (int64)

 Output: surrogate_key_value (int64)
 Examples. If you specify the following function in the derivation field for a SKChain
column in an SCD stage, the output column contains the value of the surrogate key of the
next record in the chain, or the value 180858 if this is the last row in the chain.

NextSKChain(180858)

NextSurrogateKey

Returns the value of the next surrogate key. You must have previously set up your surrogate key
source, and defined details on the Surrogate Key tab of the Stage page of the Transformer
properties window.

 Input: -
 Output: surrogate_key_value (int64)
  Example. The derivation field of your surrogate key column contains the following
function:

NextSurrogateKey()

PrevSKChain

This function is used in the Slowly Changing Dimension stage as the derivation for a column
with the SKChain purpose code. The function is not used in the Transformer stage. PrevSKChain
Returns the value of the surrogate key column for the previous record in the chain, or the value
that has been specified to use for the first record in the chain.

 Input: first_chain_value (int64)

 Output: surrogate_key_value (int64)
 Examples. If you specify the following function in the derivation field for a SKChain
column in an SCD stage, the output column contains the value of the surrogate key of the
previous record in the chain, or the value 121060 if this is the last row in the chain.

PrevSKChain(121060)

SaveInputRecord

This function is used to implement the aggregating of data on the input link of a Transformer
stage. You call the SaveInputRecord function to save a copy of the current input row to a cache
area. The function returns the count of records in the cache, starting from 1. You can call
SaveInputRecord from within the derivation of a stage variable in the Transformer stage. You
can call SaveInputRecord multiple times for the same input row. The first call adds the input row
to the cache and each subsequent call adds a duplicate of that same input row into the cache. So,
for example, if SaveInputRecord is called three times for one input record, then the cache will
contain three rows, each identical to the original input row. Use the GetSavedInputRecord
function to retrieve the rows that you have stored.

 Input: -
 Output: cache_record_count (int64)
 Examples. The following example is the derivation of a stage variable named
NumSavedRecords in a Transformer stage:

NumSavedRecords:  SaveInputRecord()

 
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