To standardize data values, you can write rule logic that searches for instances of one or more values that you specify and replaces the values with a single new value.
For example, your organization might decide to standardize a list of department names to a common format. The organization decides to replace the terms Information Technology and Information Tech with the term IT in a column of department name data.
1Open a rule specification in advanced mode.
2Verify that the rule specification contains the inputs and outputs that you require.
If the rule specification does not contain an input and an output that you can use, create an input and output. Configure the input and output properties to represent the type of column that contains the business data.
3In the rule editor, type an output name.
4Add an = operator value to associate the output with the function that you'll add.
5Define a function that replaces the string values that you specify with a new value.
To define the function, use the STANDARDIZE command with a replaceCustomString function, add the input name, and enter the string values that the rule specification will search for and replace.
Specify the list of custom string values within square brackets.
The rule editor can suggest available function names based on the text that you type.
6Enter the delimiter that the rule specification will use to recognize discrete values in the input field.
Specify the delimiters within square brackets. If you do not specify a delimiter, the rule specification uses a character space as the delimiter.
7Enter the scope for the search operation.
You can set the following options:
- Anywhere. Replaces any instance of the value that occurs in the input field.
- Start. Replaces any instance of the value that is not preceded by another value in the input field.
- End. Replaces any instance of the value that is not followed by another value in the input field.
8Enter the replacement value.
The following example shows rule logic that represents the standardize operation: