Rule specification assets > Rule statement configuration > Actions
  

Actions

An action specifies the output from a rule statement. An action generates an output value when the conditions in the rule statement validate an input value.
Configure an action to generate an output in one of the following ways:
Return a value that you enter
Configure an action to return a data value that you specify.
For example, you might configure an action to return the word VALID when the input data matches a dictionary value.
Return a value from an input column
Configure an action to return a data value from an input in the rule specification. The action reads the data value on the corresponding row of the input that you select.
For example, a business might define a rule that requires all product records to use Quick Response (QR) codes in place of bar codes. You configure an action to replace an input column of bar code values with a corresponding column of QR code values.
Return a value from a dictionary
Configure an action to return a data value from a dictionary. The action compares the input data to the values in the dictionary that you specify. If the action finds the input data in the dictionary, the action returns the dictionary value that corresponds to the input data.
For example, you might configure an action to compare first name data to a dictionary that identifies the gender of the first name. The action might read the word "JOHN" from the input data and return the word "MALE" from the dictionary.
Return a value that you enter when an input data value matches a dictionary value
Configure an action to return a data value from a dictionary. The action compares the input data to the values in the dictionary that you specify. If the action finds the input data in the dictionary, the action returns the string that you entered. if the action does not find the input data in the dictionary, the action returns the input value.
For example, you might configure an action to compare employee code data to a dictionary that contains the valid employee codes in an organization. You define a function that returns the word "VALID" when an employee code matches a value in the dictionary. If the function does not find an employee code in the dictionary, the action returns the employee code from the input column.
Return the current date and time
Configure an action to return the current date and time. The rule statement returns the date and time values in a date/time data type.
Remove data values from the input data
Configure an action to remove a data value that you specify.
For example, the input data might include a product name that the business no longer uses. Configure the action to return a version of the input data that omits the product name.
Remove dictionary values from the data
Configure an action to remove dictionary values from an input.
The action compares the input data to the values in a dictionary that you specify. If the action finds an input data value in the dictionary, the action returns a version of the input without the data value.
For example, you might configure an action to compare an input string to a dictionary of salutation terms. The action might read the input string "MR JOHN SMITH" and return the string "JOHN SMITH" as the output.
Remove character spaces from the input data
Configure an action to delete character spaces from the input data. Remove character spaces when the input data includes redundant character spaces.
For example, you might configure an action to remove character spaces from the following telephone number:
212 555 1234
Use a function expression to determine the output value
Configure an action to apply a function expression to the input data.
For example, you might configure the action to return the character length of the input data.
Use a custom expression to determine the output value
Configure an action to apply an expression that you define to the input data.
For example, you might configure the action to concatenate two input data values.
Merge values from multiple inputs
Configure an action to merge data from two or more inputs.
For example, you might configure an action to merge a column of first name data and a column of second name data. The action returns a single field that contains the first name and second name.
Change the character case of the input data
Configure an action to convert the character case of an input that you select.
For example, a rule statement might read a data set that stores data values in sentence case. Configure an action to return the data in uppercase.
Return an output form a rule specification
Configure an action to run a rule specification on one or more inputs that you specify. Select at least one input on the rule specification, or enter a value as a rule specification input. You can select any input available to the current rule specification as an input. You also select the field that the action reads as the output of the rule specification.
Return an output from a mapplet
Configure an action to run a mapplet on one or more inputs that you select. Select at least one input on the mapplet, or enter a value as a mapplet input. You can select any input available to the current rule specification as an input. You also select the field that the action reads as the mapplet output.
You can configure a condition or an action with up to four nested mapplets and rule specification assets in an alternating manner. For more information, see Rules and guidelines for mapplets in conditions and actions.
Note: A rule specification can read mapplets that contain passive transformations.
Generate a status value
Configure an action to generate a predefined status value when the input data satisfies the condition on the rule statement.
You can configure an action to return the status values Valid and Invalid. If you select Invalid as the status value, you can add data to the record to explain the status and to identify the priority of the issue that the value represents.

Function configuration in actions

You can configure the data operation in an action as a function expression. You can also select a function expression from a list of expressions in the rule specification. Use the function options in the action to configure or select the expression.
You can use the function options as an alternative to the inline action options that the rule statement displays in the workspace. You can configure a function to read multiple inputs. You can also use the function options to add a dictionary or another rule specification to the condition.
To configure an expression, select the function option from the action menu. When you select the field, you open the Define Action dialog box. The dialog box displays a common list of function expressions for all operators.
The following image shows the Define Action dialog box:
The dialog box shows the types of action that you can perform in the left-hand pane. You select the type of action, and you configure the action in the right-hand pane.
The dialog box contains the following options:
  1. 1Merge
    2. Use the Merge options to return data values from multiple inputs as a single output.
  2. 2Input
    3. Use the Input options to return a data value. You can specify a constant value, or you can select an input. If you select an input, the action returns the value from the input column on the same row as the condition input.
  3. 3Functions
    4. Use the Functions options to apply a function expression to the input that you select and to return the output of the expression.
  4. 4Standardize
    5. Use the Standardize options to remove an input value or to update a copy of the input data value and return the copy. The section below describes the standardization options.
  5. 5Convert Case
    6. Use the Convert Case options to change the character case of the input data values.
  6. 6Rules
    7. Use the Rules options to return the output of a rule specification that you add to the function.
  7. 7Mapplets
    8. Use the Mapplets options to return the output of a mapplet that you add to the function.
  8. 8Expressions
    9. Use the Expressions options to define and apply a custom expression to the input that you select and to return the output of the expression. You can enter an expression as text, or you can select from a range of built-in expressions.

Stardardization options

The Standardization options contain several properties that you can configure to remove or replace data.
You can configure the properties to perform the following actions:
Remove Values
Searches an input field for one or more values that you specify, and removes the values.
You can enter one or more values that the asset will remove. Or, you can use a dictionary to identify the values that the asset will remove.
Remove Spaces
Removes redundant character spaces from an input field.
You can remove leading and trailing spaces, and you can replace multiple spaces with a single space.
Replace Values
Searches an input field for one or more values that you specify, and replaces the values. You can find and replace values in the following ways:
When you select a dictionary in an option, you must specify the column in the dictionary that contains the valid values. You must also confirm one or more delimiters for the data values that the action reads.

Mapplet configuration options

When you add a mapplet to a condition or action, you must configure at least one input on the mapplet. A mapplet may specify one or multiple inputs, depending on its design. The rule statement additionally reads a single output from the mapping.
Before you configure the inputs, review the design of the mapplet. Verify that your input selections enable the mapplet to generate the data outcomes that the condition or action requires.
For example, you may decide to configure a single input on a mapplet that supports multiple inputs. The data on the field that you specify will flow through the mapplet at run time, provided that the mapplet logic does not require any additional data input. If the input that you select has a dependency on other inputs on the mapplet, configure those inputs also.
The following image shows the options for a sample mapplet in the Define Action dialog box:
The image shows the mapplet options in the Define Action dialog box. The selected mapplet specifies a multiple inputs and a single output.
The dialog box includes the following options:
  1. 1Mapplet name and selection options.
    2. The options open the Select Mapplet dialog box, which displays the mapplets on the system.
  2. 2Mapplet inputs.
    3. The number of inputs depends on the mapping design. You can assign an input from the rule specification to a mapplet input, or you can enter a value as the input.
  3. 3Mapplet output.
    4. The rule statement reads a single output from the mapplet as a condition to evaluate or as the data outcome of an action.

Custom expression configuration options

A custom expression is a logical element in a condition or an action. When you configure a custom expression, you enter or select the expression logic and you select the fields that the expression will apply to.
When you add a custom expression to a condition, the custom expression applies the expression logic that you specify to the input data that you select and returns the result to the condition. The condition uses the rule statement operator to determine the next step. When you add a custom expression to an action, the action applies the expression logic to the input data that you select and returns the result as the rule statement output.
To add a custom expression to a condition, use the Custom expression option in the Define Condition dialog box. To add a custom expression to an action, use the Custom expression options in the Define Action dialog box.
Before you add the custom expression to a condition or action, you can validate the expression.
The following image shows the options for a sample custom expression in the Define Condition dialog box:
The image shows the options that you configure to add and validate a custom expression.
The dialog box includes the following options:
  1. 1Built-in functions option.
    2. Displays a library of custom expressions that you can apply to the input data.
  2. 2Expression field.
    3. Displays the expression logic.
  3. 3Fields option.
    4. Displays the input fields that you can select.
    Click Add next to the field that you want to use.
  4. 4Properties field.
    5. Displays the details of the input field or the built-in function that you select.
  5. 5Validate option.
    6. Validates the custom expression.
Note: You select the Built-in functions option and the Fields option from the same menu.

Exception data properties

You can configure a rule specification to add exception data indicators to a record. Use the exception data properties to add outputs for the indicators to the rule specification.
When you configure the exception data properties, you enable an output field for status values that can summarize the data quality issue that the rule logic identifies in a record. You also enable an output for values that indicate the priority of each issue and an output to contain a description of each issue. The output values allow a downstream user to find exception records and to understand the reasons why a record is an exception.
A rule specification asset can specify a single set of output fields for exception indicators. In basic mode, configure the exception indicators as outputs from a rule statement in the primary rule set. If you add a rule specification within a rule statement in basic mode, take care that the child rule specification does not create outputs for exception indicators.
Note: Configure the options and add the rule specification to a profiling task before you create the exception task that reads the profiling task. If a profiling task reads a rule specification in which the exception data options are not configured, configure the exception options and refresh the rule specification in the profiling task before you create the exception task.

Exception data options in basic mode

To add exception indicators to a record, activate the exception indicators in a rule statement that specifies the status value Invalid as an action.
Use the Configure Exception Data dialog box options to define the indicators. To open the dialog box, click the + Exception option beside the action properties.
The following image shows the options on the Configure Exception Data dialog box:
The dialog box shows the exception data options that you can add to the records.
The dialog box contains the following options:
  1. 1Add Exception Details.
    2. Indicates whether the rule statement adds exception indicators to records. The option is cleared by default.
    The rule statement can add indicators to a record if it assigns Invalid as a status value to the record. You specify the indicators in the Exception priority and Exception description fields.
  2. 2Exception priority.
    3. Indicates the priority of the data quality issue that defines the record as an exception. The rule statement adds a field to the output records for the priority indicators.
    You can select one of the following options:
  3. 3Exception description.
    4. Describes the data quality issue that defines the record as an exception. The rule statement adds a field to the output records for the description.
Configure all of the dialog box options if you will use the rule specification in a profiling task from which you create an exception task.
Note: The dialog box does not identify an output field for status values. You activate the output for status values when you configure the Invalid option in the rule statement action.

Exception data options in advanced mode

To add exception indicators to a record, activate exception indicators in the rule specification. You can include the exception indicators in the rule logic that you write.
Use the Input and Output Management dialog box options to activate the exception indicators. To open the dialog box, click Manage Inputs and Outputs.
The following image shows the options on the Outputs tab in the Input and Output Management dialog box:
The dialog box shows the exception data options that you can configure for one or more status values in rule logic.
The dialog box contains the following options:
  1. 1Add Exception Details.
    2. Indicates whether the expression logic can add exception indicators to records. The option is cleared by default.
  2. 2Output field for status values.
    3. Identifies an output field that the rule specification can use for status values. You can rename the status field in advanced mode.
  3. 3Exception priority field.
    4. The name of the output field that indicates the priority of the data quality issue in the output field. The statement adds the ExceptionPriority field to the output data.
    You can specify one of the following options when you configure the exception indicator:
  4. 4Exception description field.
    5. The name of the output field that describes the data quality issue in the output field. The statement adds the ExceptionDescription field to the output data.