In some integrations, it is helpful to add conditional processing to a mapping. For example, suppose that you are mapping a source zip code field to a target zip code field. If the source zip code field is empty, you might want to fill the target field with 99999. To do this, you would specify an expression that tests the zip code source field to determine if it is empty, and if it is empty, inserts 99999 into the zip code target field.

The data mapper supports expressions that are similar to a Microsoft Excel expressions, but does not support all Microsoft Excel expression syntax.

You can define zero or one condition for each mapping.

The following procedure gets you started with applying conditions to mappings. As you work with mappings and conditions, you can perform the required steps in the order that is most convenient for you.

Prerequisites

  • You are mapping fields in a the data mapper UI.

  • You are familiar with Microsoft Excel expressions or you have the conditional expression that you want to apply to a mapping.

Procedure

  1. If data types are not already visible, display them by clicking Show types icon.

    While this is not a requirement for specifying a condition, it is helpful to see the data types.

  2. Create the mapping that you want to apply a condition to, or ensure that the currently selected mapping is the mapping that you want to apply a condition to. For example, consider this mapping:

    lastName and firstName map to customerName

  3. In the upper right, click Add expression to display the conditional expression input field.

    In the expression field, the data mapper automatically displays the names of the source fields in the current mapping. For example:

    lastName + firstName

    In the expression input field, the order of the source fields is the order in which you selected them when you created the mapping. This is important because the default mapping behavior is that the data mapper concatenates the field values in this order to insert the result in the target field. In this example, to create this mapping, lastName was selected first and then firstName was selected.

  4. Edit the expression input field to specify the conditional expression that you want the data mapper to apply to the mapping. Details about supported conditional expressions follow this procedure.

    As you specify the expression, you can enter @ and start to enter the name of a field. The data mapper displays a list of the fields that match what you entered. Select the field that you want to specify in the expression.

    When you add a field name to the expression, the data mapper adds that field to the mapping. For example, consider this conditional expression:

    if(ISEMPTY(lastName)

During execution, if the data mapper determines that the lastName field is empty, it maps only the firstName field to the target customerName field. If the lastName field contains a value, that is, it is not empty, the data mapper concatenates the values in the source orderId and phone fields, and inserts the result in the customerName field. (This example shows how the logic works, but it is probably not a useful example because when there is a value in the lastName field, you most likely want the data mapper to simply perform the mapping and not map some other value into the target.)

+ For this example, after you complete entering the expression, the data mapping is:

+ lastName firstName orderId phone are mapped to customerName

+ In the conditional expression, if you remove a field name that is in the mapping that the expression applies to, the data mapper removes that field from the mapping. In other words, every field name in the mapping must be in the conditional expression.

  1. If mapping preview fields are not already visible, display them by clicking Show mapping preview.

  2. Enter sample data in the source preview input field(s) to ensure that the target field or target fields get(s) the correct value.

  3. Optionally, apply transformations to one or more source or target fields in the selected mapping by clicking Lightning bolt icon next to each field to which you want to apply a transformation and then selecting the desired transformation from the pull-down menu.

    For example, in the same mapping presented in this procedure, in the Mapping Details panel, you could apply the Uppercase transformation to the firstName field. You can test this by entering data in the firstName field’s preview input field.

  4. Edit the conditional expression as needed to obtain the desired result.

Supported functions in conditional expressions

  • ISEMPTY(source-field-name1 [+ source-field-name2])

    The result of the ISEMPTY() function is a Boolean value. Specify at least one argument, which is the name of a source field in the mapping that you want to apply the condition to. When the specified source field is empty, the ISEMPTY() function returns true.

    Optionally, add the + (concatenation) operator with an additional field, for example:

    ISEMPTY(lastName + firstName)

    This expression evaluates to true if both source fields, lastName and firstName, are empty.

    Often, the ISEMPTY() function is the first argument in an IF() function.

  • IF(boolean-expression, then, else)

    When boolean-expression evaluates to true, the data mapper returns then. When boolean-expression evaluates to false, the data mapper returns else. All three arguments are required. The last argument can be null, which means that nothing is mapped when boolean-expression evaluates to false.

    For example, consider the mapping that combines the lastName and firstName source fields in the target customerName field. You can specify this conditional expression:

    IF (ISEMPTY(lastName), firstName, lastName + ‘,’ + firstName )

    During execution, the data mapper evaluates the lastName field.

    • If the lastName field is empty, that is, ISEMPTY(lastName) returns true, the data mapper inserts only the firstName value into the target customerName field.

    • If the lastName field contains a value, that is, ISEMPTY(lastName) returns false, the data mapper maps the lastName value, followed by a comma, followed by the firstName value into the target customerName field.

      Now consider the behavior if the third argument in this expression is null:

      IF (ISEMPTY(lastName), firstName, null )

      During execution, the data mapper evaluates the lastName field.

    • As in the previous example, if the lastName field is empty, that is, ISEMPTY(lastName) returns true, the data mapper inserts only the firstName value into the target customerName field.

    • However, when the third argument is null, if the lastName field contains a value, that is, ISEMPTY(lastName) returns false, the data mapper does not map anything into the target customerName field.

Table 1. Supported operators in conditional expressions

Operator

Description

+

Add numeric values or concatenate string values.

-

Subtract a numeric value from another numeric value.

*

Multiply numeric values.

\

Divide numeric values.

&&
And

Return true if both the left and right operands are true. Each operand must return a Boolean value.

||
Or

Return true if the left operand is true, or if the right operand is true, or if both operands are true. Each operand must return a Boolean value.

!

Not

>
Greater than

Return true if the left numeric operand is greater than the right numeric operand.

<
Less than

Return true if the left numeric operand is less than the right numeric operand.

==
Equal

Return true if the left operand and the right operand are the same.