Design

Back Next

Types of Data and Field Properties

You can specify Field Properties, derived from API data types and options, in the Informatica Process Designer. Field Properties may be either of the following:

General data type properties. For example, specified on the

Fields

tab of the Process Properties.

A field that you can tailor for the context. For example, a pick list on a Screen step.

The following base options are available for many data types in the Field Properties:

Default Value
or Initial Value
: The value for an item when it is initially displayed.

Field
: The name of the field from which the Field Properties
dialog is invoked.

Hover text
: Text that a user sees when they place their cursor over the field.

Required
: If checked, a value for this field must exist.

Show List
: Values to display are determined at runtime based on what is configured here.

The following table explains built in data types:

Depending on where you access the Field Properties, the available data type options may vary.

Data Type	Description
Any	Use the Any data type if you want to declare fields that are process objects without setting the Reference To option. This means that the data type is an object, but you do not need to specify which object it is. If you use the Any object, you cannot drill further into the object. Some services return large amounts of data, but you may need only a small percentage of it. Use the Any data type to model all the data returned in to just a few fields. For example, when you use a REST proxy, it passes a received payload as input and then responds to this payload. The REST proxy would do some processing on the request or response, and it would not have to understand the whole message. A second example would be supporting heterogeneous lists. While simple REST APIs tend not to include heterogeneous lists, SOAP-based APIs do. For example, a SOAP API might have a "query" operation that returns data that depends on the query itself. Here, the static type of the output for the "query" operation would be an objectlist of the any type. A third example is calling a service that returns records that match a query. Each record can have a unique set of fields, so those could not be known at design time. At runtime, each field would just be turned into a child element of the record element, using a tagname that corresponds to the field name. The converted JSON returned as output might be: { "record": [ {"ROWID_OBJECT": "2001", "CREATOR": "admin", ...}, {"ROWID_OBJECT": "2002", "CREATOR": "admin", ...}, ... ] }
Attachment, Attachments	Use Attachment and Attachments to a process to pass through an attachment and extract data like file size and file name using functions on the response. The default Maximum File Size is 5,242,880 bytes and the default Maximum Number of Files is 10. You can change these field properties. If you run a process on the cloud server, do not use an attachment whose size is more than the default 5,242,880 bytes. The cloud server cannot process attachments that are greater than 5,242,880 bytes.
Checkbox	A check box allows the user to make a true/false decision. This decision can alternatively be displayed as Yes/No or No/Yes. For example, you could use a check box to indicate if an address is a work phone number or a home phone number. As an alternative, a check box can be displayed as yes/no values. Show as : A picklist that has the following items: Checkbox, Yes/No, and No/Yes. Your choice sets the labels that the user will see. You can also set the list of checkbox data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of boolean values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of checkbox, select a field of type Simple Types > Checkbox , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. To assign the initial values for the list of checkbox data type in the output field, you can enter the value in the following format: (true()) or (false()) For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
Currency	A currency field contains a monetary value. In addition to numbers and perhaps a decimal point, you can also use commas where they are needed. Commas are always optional. Length/Decimal places : Specify how many numbers can be entered (the left box). Use the right box to enter the maximum number of digits to the right of the decimal point. If you enter 0, there are no digits to the right of the decimal point. Hide currency symbol : When checked, a currency symbol does not display.
Date	The output date is in UTC, and the output date and time are in the ISO 8601 format. For example, if you enter an input date of 2016-03-29, and use the currentTime XQuery function to get date and time values, you see the following output: Date: 2016-03-29Z dateTime: 2016-03-29T06:00:48.525Z Time: 06:00:48.525Z Some sample valid date values are as follows: 2001-10-26 2001-10-26+02:00 2001-10-26Z 2001-10-26+00:00 -2001-10-26 -2000-04-01 If you do not pass a time zone, Informatica Process designers assumes the time to be in UTC. If you want to pass a date as a query parameter in the endpoint URL and the date contains special characters, you must encode the date. For example, encode 2001-10-26+02:00 to 2001-10-26%2B02%3A00. If you need to format the way in which the date appears, see Formatting Dates, Times, and Numbers . You can also set the list of date data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of date values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of date, select a field of type Simple Types > Date , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
Date Time	When selecting a Date Time field in a process , the user can select the time from a list. Default Value : Either enter a specific date, a field, or an interval. 30 Minute Increments : If selected, a time picklist displays hours and half hours. If it isn't selected, the user can type in any time value (for example, 10:37). The output time is in UTC, and the output date and time are in the ISO 8601 format. For example, if you enter an input date of 2016-03-29, and use the currentTime XQuery function to get date and time values, you see the following output: Date: 2016-03-29Z dateTime: 2016-03-29T06:00:48.525Z Time: 06:00:48.525Z Some sample valid dateTime values are as follows: 2001-10-26T21:32:52 2001-10-26T21:32:52+02:00 2001-10-26T19:32:52Z 2001-10-26T19:32:52+00:00 -2001-10-26T21:32:52 2001-10-26T21:32:52.12679 If you do not pass a time zone, Informatica Process designers assumes the time to be in UTC. If you want to pass a date and time as a query parameter in the endpoint URL and the date and time contains special characters, you must encode the date. For example, encode 2001-10-26T19:32:52+00:00 to 2001-10-26T19%3A32%3A52%2B00%3A00. If you need to format the way in which the date and time appears, see Formatting Dates, Times, and Numbers . You can also set the list of date time data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of date and time values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of date time, select a field of type Simple Types > Date Time , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
Email	The content of this field is an email address. Display # chars : The number of characters that are displayed within the process for this address. Max # chars : The largest number of characters that can be entered for this address.
Formatted Text	The format is a representation of the kind of character a user can type within the text being entered. Format : A pattern for text that the user types. You can use the following characters when defining a format: a : A lowercase letter; that is a through z. 9 : A number. * : Any letter, number, or symbol Note : the "-" is not listed. If you can type this character, it is displayed when the user sees the step.
Image	A field that will contain an image. This is most often used when an automated action retrieves an image. Show preview : Displays a preview of the image. Max width : The maximum width of the area in which the image is displayed. Max height : The maximum height of the area in which the image is displayed. Display # chars : The number of characters that are displayed within the process for this address.
Integer	A positive or negative whole number. Use the Digits field to enter the maximum amount of numbers the user can type. Numeric values display using the format of the user's locale. If you need to format the way in which the number appears, see Formatting Dates, Times, and Numbers . You can also set the list of integer data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of integer values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of integer, select a field of type Simple Types > Integer , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
Multi-Select Picklist	A picklist field from which the user can select one or more rows. To select multiple items, the user clicks each one while pressing the CTRL key. Height (rows) : The number of rows, each containing one list item that displays in the process . Comma Separated List : The list of items within the list. Separate each item in the list with a comma. Each item specified is available in the list at runtime. Usage Notes If you declare the data type of an input field as a Multi-Select Picklist or a Picklist and you do not enter values for the settings, you must use a semi-colon ";" as a separator instead of a comma. Be sure to use a semi-colon for an Equals condition and a comma for a Contains condition. If the available values are not specified in the Properties for a Multi-Select Picklist or a Picklist and you receive a list of values from a search service, you must: Specify the search service; and Populate the list from a Screen step or Input options in other steps. Note that the list of available values exists only in the current step. To use the same list in other steps, specify the search service again. You can also assign values to an undefined Multi-Select Picklist or Picklist in the Assignment step. In that case, use Formula as the Source and the value(s) of the Picklist or Multi-Select Picklist as the Content. When you enter a formula, be sure to enclose the values in quotes, for example: "value" for a Picklist and "value1;value2" for a Multi-Select Picklist.
Number	A positive or negative decimal number. Use the Length/Decimal places field to specify how many numbers can be entered (the left box). Use the right box to enter the maximum number of digits to the right of the decimal point. If you enter 0, there are no digits to the right of the decimal point. Numeric values display using the format of the user's locale. If you need to format the way in which the number appears, see Formatting Dates, Times, and Numbers . You can also set the list of number data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of numeric values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of number, select a field of type Simple Types > Number , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
Object ID	The object ID is the ID of the object instance. For example, it identifies one of your leads. (This value is assigned to the object by your application.) The unique parts of this dialog are discussed after this table. . Fields that are used here and in Field Properties dialogs are discussed at the top of this topic.
Object List	An object list is a set of object IDs. An object ID is the ID of an object instance. For example, it identifies one of your leads. Reference To : The type of object that can be contained in the list. You must enter the object type's official name, not its label. If the list can contain more than one object types, you can enter a comma-separated list of object types. However, you should avoid doing this as there are query and table capabilities that can't be provided for fields unless they only have one Reference To type. Display Fields : The columns (they must be manually entered) from the data associated with the object ID. Height (rows ): The number of rows, each containing one list item, that displays in the process . Width (%): The percent of the area in the used to display information. A read-only object list has a limit of 100 rows, even if the query associated with uses a LIMIT clause, asking for more rows to be returned. Other fields are discussed at the top of this topic.
Percent	A number expressed as a per cent. Precision : The maximum number of digits in the number. Scale : The maximum number of digits to the right of the decimal point. If you enter 0, there are no digits to the right of the decimal point. Numeric values display using the format of the user's locale. Here are some examples--each of these examples shows a number greater than 100%: Precision 5, scale 2: 123.45 or 123.4 or 123. or 123 Precision 5, scale 0: 12345 or 12 or 12,345 If you need to format the way in which the percent appears, see Formatting Dates, Times, and Numbers .
Phone	A field into which you can type a phone number. Format : Enter the character that represents a number, which is 9 and any other display characters. For example, 99-999 will display as "_ _ - _ _ _" in the process . If you enter the format in any display character other than the number 9, the value becomes static, and you can't edit the field value further when you use the field in the subsequent process steps.
Picklist	A picklist field from which the user can select one row. Comma Separated List : The list of items within the list. Separate each item in the list with a comma. Within the process , each item displays in its own row. Usage Notes If you want to display text to the user and assign a different value to the field, separate the label from the value with an equals ("=") sign. For example, if you type Red, White, Blue as the values, the user sees these three strings and the selected string is assigned to the field. However, if you enter Red=1, White=2, Blue=3 , the user sees the same three strings but the number value for the selected item is assigned to the field. See also the Usage Notes for Multi-Select Picklists for information on receiving a list of values from a search service.
Rich Text Area	A field that will contain HTML commands as well as text. Enter this text using the HTML editor. Height (rows) : The number of rows within the area the process displays into which the user can type text. Width (%) : The width of the text area relative to the process width. You cannot enter JavaScript into a Rich Text Area.
Text	A control that changes the size and number of characters that the user can type text. Max # chars : The maximum number of characters that can be typed when entering text. Display # chars : The number of characters that are displayed within the process . As the process size is limited, use this field to show how much of what the user types is displayed. You can also set the list of text data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of text values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of text, select a field of type Simple Types > Text , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
Text Area	A control into which the user can enter text. This can display as one or more rows. Width (%) : The width of the text area relative to the process width. Height (rows) : The number of rows within the area the process displays into which the user can type text.
Time	Select the Time field to select time from a picklist. The field properties dialogs that are displayed are: The output time is in UTC, and output data and time are in ISO 8601 format. For example, if you enter an input date of 2016-03-29, and use the currentTime XQuery function to get date and time values, you see the following output: Date: 2016-03-29Z dateTime: 2016-03-29T06:00:48.525Z Time: 06:00:48.525Z Some sample valid time values are as follows: 21:32:52 21:32:52+02:00 19:32:52Z 19:32:52+00:00 21:32:52.12679 If you do not pass a time zone, Informatica Process designers assumes the time to be in UTC. If you check 30 Minute Increments , you see a time picklist that displays hours and half hours. If it is not checked, you can enter any time value. For example, you can enter 10:37. If you want to pass a time as a query parameter in the endpoint URL and the time contains special characters, you must encode the time. For example, encode 21:32:52+02:00 to 21%3A32%3A52%2B02%3A00. If you want to format the way in which the time appears, see Formatting Dates, Times, and Numbers . You can also set the list of time data type for input fields, output fields, temp fields, and messages in a process and guide. You can enter a comma-separated list of time values. Messages are applicable only for processes. To set the type as list of time, select a field of type Simple Types > Time , and then in the Edit Type dialog box, select the Allow a list of objects of this type check box. For more information about using a list of simple type, see Creating a field with the list of simple type.
URL	A field that will contain a URL. For Read-only Display : Your choices are Link , Button , or IFrame . For Read-only Label : Text that identifies the contents of the field. Height : The height of the area in which the URL is displayed. Width : The width of the area in which the URL is displayed. Display # chars : The number of characters that are displayed within the process . As the process size is limited, use this field to show how much of what the user types is displayed. A URL can be an input, output or temporary process field or even a field from. The field's data is assumed to be a valid URL. To create a button in a screen step: Create a field by using the Fields tab in the process properties. Use an Assignment step to assign it data to the URL being linked to. This data, which will be a content, can contain references to other fields such as ID fields by using {!FieldName} syntax. Process Designer automatically inserts the data using the button to the right of the text entry area. This is very useful when linking to other pages or other data dependent hyperlinks. On any screen following the Assignment step, place the field within a step by selecting the file from the Read-Only fields picklist. Select the field's ... button to specify its properties. Change For Read-only Display to Button and enter the text you would like to appear in the button in the For Read-only Label .
XML	You can use the XML data type in a process and service connector. Choose one of the following ways to use the XML data type in a process: Use the XML data type in the Assignment step of a process. Use the XML data type with JMS or AMQP. Here, the payload can be XML data and you can design a process that sends or receives a message. If you use XML data with JMS or AMQP, wrap the payload within a root element. To map simple XML data elements to other fields, use formula and XQuery functions. For example, consider the following XML: <o:order xmlns:o="urn:purchasing:system"> <o:number>123</o:number> <o:amount>9213.32</o:amount> </o:order> You can use this XQuery function to search for the order number: $input.myInboundOrder/:number/text() When you query XML data with namespaces, you must use the asterisk () character. To use the XML data type in a service connector, select the type as XML for the input fields and output fields on the Actions tab.

Object ID

The object ID is the ID of the object instance. For example, it identifies one of your leads. (This value is assigned to the object by your application.)

Reference To
: The type of object that the field refers to. You must enter the object's official name, not its label. If the object can refer to more than one type, you can enter a comma-separated list of object types. However, you should avoid doing this as there are query and table capabilities that can't be provided for fields unless they only have one Reference To
type.

A polymorphic relationship is a relationship where the referenced objects can be one of several different object types. If the object ID can refer to more than one object, check the Polymorphic field. A picklist is now available for choosing these objects. For example, while the Account object was selected, objects that could also be referenced are "Accepted Event Relation", "Account Contact", and so on. In this list

Display Fields
: The columns (they must be manually entered) from the data associated with the object ID.

When you are using this field in other steps, the information displayed differs. Here's a

Process

Designer example. When inserting the field, you have two choices.

If you insert the first (PolymorphicID), and click on the "..." in inserted field, the Field Properties
dialog that displays shows all of the items selected in the Properties dialog:

However, when you select the item from within the Polymorphic section of the Insert Field for Update picklist, what you see are the individual items that were named. You will need to click again to get to the item that you actually want.

Object ID Notes and Comments

When an Object ID is placed in a canvas as a read-only field or put into a column in a table, it displays as a link to the object. If you want to show the Object ID as a number, insert it into a text field as "

{!Id}

". However, when an ID field is included in a result from a Lookup
dialog, the ID's value displays.

When an object ID is displayed in a column or picklist, Process Designer displays with a meaningful name. For example,

b6f0f0b2-9f38-4771-8365-58eb4f7b7d41

might display as "Acme". However, when an object ID field is included in the results from a Lookup Dialog, it displays using the value of the ID; for example, it might display as

b6f0f0b2-9f38-4771-8365-58eb4f7b7d41

If you use a content field to enter an object ID and are using a sandbox, you will need to adjust the ID when you move the

process

to your production environment. Rather than using a content, you could use a query to load the object ID by name for the object.

Understanding Data Types and Field Properties

Download Guide

Watch

Comments

Cloud Application Integration Homepage

Free Trial

Communities

Knowledge Base