DataFieldMetadata: possible to overwrite programatically??

achan

• September 17, 2008 00:00

• Answered

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Hi,

In my Transform java class, is it possible to overwrite the metadata of a field? something like this:

public boolean transform(DataRecord[] _source, DataRecord[] _target) {

DataRecord newRec = target.duplicate();

System.out.println("old metadata : " + newRec.getMetadata());

newRec.getField("REF").getMetadata().setSize(10);
newRec.getField("REF").getMetadata().setType(LocalField.STRING);
newRec.getField("REF").getMetadata().setNullable(true);

System.out.println("new metadata : " + newRec.getMetadata());


... perform data conversions and save the non-numeric value to "REF" ...

}


and my system output is:

old metadata : DataRecordMetadata[fields = [org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53, org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@4e, org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53, org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53], fieldNames = {REF=0}, fieldTypes = {0=N}, name = achan_output_1_txt_, recType = D, localeStr = null, skipFirstLine = false, recordProperties = {}, DELIMITED_RECORD = D, FIXEDLEN_RECORD = F]

new metadata : DataRecordMetadata[fields = [org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53, org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53, org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53, org.jetel.metadata.DataFieldMetadata@53], fieldNames = {REF=0}, fieldTypes = {0=N}, name = achan_output_1_txt_, recType = D, localeStr = null, skipFirstLine = false, recordProperties = {}, DELIMITED_RECORD = D, FIXEDLEN_RECORD = F]


so the metadata was not changed (from Numeric to String, etc)...

any ideas on how to change the metadata of a field inside my java class so that i can save non-numeric value to "REF"?

thanks,
al

• 

  avackova

  • December 17, 2009 10:07

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  Hello,
  what you are trying to do is very unconventional and danger. But if you want to change record metadata you have to call init() method:
  

  newRec.init()

  
  But why are you trying to do this? Rather create temporary record in init method of your transformation:

  
  	public boolean init(Properties parameters,
  			DataRecordMetadata[] sourceRecordsMetadata,
  			DataRecordMetadata[] targetRecordsMetadata)
  			throws ComponentNotReadyException {
  		tMetadata = targetRecordsMetadata[0].duplicate();
  		tMetadata.getField("REF").setSize((short) 10);
  		tMetadata.getField("REF").setType(DataFieldMetadata.STRING_FIELD);
  		tMetadata.getField("REF").setNullable(true);
  		tmpRecord = new DataRecord(tMetadata);
  		tmpRecord.init();
  		return super.init(parameters, sourceRecordsMetadata, targetRecordsMetadata);
  	}
  

  
  Then you can store anything in such temporary record.

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