Table of Contents

CONVERT DATA TYPE

Category: Transform / Basic


Description

This action converts values of one type to another (Text to date, Text to number, Everything to text, Empty to text, or a number).

Use cases


Action settings

SettingDescription
Columns to convertSelect the column(s) from the dataset to apply the value conversion to.
ConversionSelect the conversion mode to use. Options: Text to Date, Text to Number, Everything to Text, and Empty to text or number.
If conversion failsSelect how EasyMorph will respond when the selected conversion type cannot be applied to values.
Options: Keep original value (the original, unmodified value is kept), Generate error (an error message is inserted
into the cells where conversion failed), or Halt execution (the action will display an error flag).


Text to Date settings

In this mode, text values that look like a date are converted into number dates. A date format must be specified. All text values that match the specified format are converted to number dates. The format notation is the same as for the format() function.

SettingDescription
Format*Enter the date format the current text dates are using (e.g. yyyy-MM-dd). Use the Detect button to populate this field with the date format found within the column. If the auto-detection didn't work, compose the format string manually using the table below.

* Setting can be specified using a parameter.

Date-Time format string components

A format string defines a formatting template for dates and times. Its components can be put together in any combination. If a character doesn't belong to a format component then it's inserted verbatim.

:!: The specifiers below are case-sensitive.

Date format specifier Description
d The day of the month, from 1 through 31.
dd The day of the month, from 01 through 31.
ddd The abbreviated name of the day of the week.
M The month, from 1 through 12.
MM The month, from 01 through 12.
MMM The abbreviated name of the month.
MMMM The full name of the month.
y The year, from 0 to 99.
yy The year, from 00 to 99.
yyyy The year as a four-digit number.
Time format specifier Description
h The hour, using a 12-hour clock from 1 to 12.
hh The hour, using a 12-hour clock from 01 to 12.
H The hour, using a 24-hour clock from 0 to 23.
HH The hour, using a 24-hour clock from 00 to 23.
m The minute, from 0 through 59.
mm The minute, from 00 through 59.
s The second, from 0 through 59.
ss The second, from 00 through 59.
t The first character of the AM/PM designator.
tt The AM/PM designator.


Text to Number settings

In this mode, text values that look like a number are converted into numbers.

SettingDescription
Decimal separatorSelect what character is used to define decimal places in the source text values. Options: Point or Comma.
Thousand separatorSelect what character is used to define thousands places in the source text values. Options: Default, Comma,
Point or Space.


Everything to Text settings

In this mode, text values remain unchanged, and non-text values are converted into text. Numbers are formatted as per the specified format.

SettingDescription
Number formatSelect the output format for the converted text values (e.g., selecting "100%" will multiply numbers by 100 and append "%").


Empty to text or number settings

In this mode, empty values are replaced with the static text or number value specified.

SettingDescription
Value*Enter a static text or numeric value to convert empty cells to.

* Setting can be specified using a parameter.


Remarks

When using the Text to number mode, and choosing the Decimal separator and Thousand separator settings, be careful of values from countries using commas (,) as decimal delimiters and/or points (.) as thousands delimiters.


Examples

Example #1

Convert text values in the "Date" to date values. (Text to date example)

Before (source table)

Date Salesperson Daily Sales
12/31/2017 Sam 8900
12-31-2017 Oksana 5750
1/1/2017 Marisol 7200

After (result table)

Date Salesperson Daily Sales
43100Sam 8900
12-31-2017 Oksana 5750
1/1/2017 Marisol 7200

Action parameters

Columns to convert: Date
Convert: Text to Date
Input format:MM/dd/yyyy
If conversion fails: Keep original value


Example #2

Convert the text values in "Daily Sales" to numeric values. (Text to number example)

Before (source table)

Date Salesperson Daily Sales
12/31/2017 Sam $8900.00
12-31-2017 Oksana 5750.80
1/1/2017 Marisol 7,200

After (result table)

Date Salesperson Daily Sales
12/31/2017 Sam $8900.00
12-31-2017 Oksana 5750.80
1/1/2017 Marisol 7200

Action parameters

Columns to convert: Daily sales
Convert: Text to Number
Decimal separator: Point
Thousand separator: Default
If conversion fails: Keep original value


Example #3

Convert "Sales Goal Pct" values to text. (Everything to text example).

Before (source table)

Salesperson Sales Sales Goal Pct
Sam 8900.30 0.18
Oksana 5750.80 0.2525
Marisol 7200.00 1

After (result table)

Salesperson Sales Sales Goal Pct
Sam 8900.3018.00%
Oksana 5750.8025.25%
Marisol 7200.00100.00%

Action parameters

Columns to convert: Sales Goal Pct
Convert: Everything to Text
Number format: 100.00%
If conversion fails: Keep original value


Community examples


Shortcuts

Fast ways to create the action:


See also