Conversion Functions

Sometimes you need to convert values from one data type to another.

In the functions that convert one data type to another, sometimes a format pattern of a date or any number must be defined. Also locale and time zone can have an influence on their formatting.

For detailed information about date formatting and/or parsing, see Date and Time Format in Data Formats.

For detailed information about formatting and/or parsing of any numeric data type, see Numeric Format in Data Formats.

For detailed information about locale, see Locale.

For detailed information about time zones, see Time Zone.

Remember that numeric and date formats are displayed using system value Locale or Locale specified in the defaultProperties file, unless other Locale is explicitly specified. Similarly for Time zone.
For more information on how Locale and Time zone may be changed in the defaultProperties, see Engine Configuration.

Here we provide the list of these functions:

base64byte

byte base64byte( string input );

The base64byte() function converts the input string in base64 representation to an array of bytes.
Its counterpart is the function byte2base64 (see below).
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 82. Usage of base64byte
The function base64byte("YWJj") returns abc.

See also: byte2base64

bits2str

string bits2str( byte input );

The bits2str() function converts an array of bytes to a string consisting of two characters: "0" or "1".
Each byte is represented by eight characters ("0" or "1"). For each byte, the lowest bit is at the beginning of these eight characters. The counterpart is the function str2bits (see below).
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 83. Usage of bits2str
The function bits2str(str2byte("ab")) returns 1000011001000110. Let’s display the result for better legibility as 1000 0110 0100 0110The first eight bits are taken from a (code 0x61) and following bits are taken from b (code 0x62).

See also: str2bits

bool2num

integer bool2num( boolean input );

The bool2num() function converts the boolean input to either integer 1 (if the argument is true) or integer 0 (if the argument is false).
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 84. Usage of bool2num

• The function bool2num(true) returns 1.
• The function bool2num(false) returns 0.

See also: num2bool

byte2base64

string byte2base64( byte input );
string byte2base64( byte input, boolean wrap );

The byte2base64() function converts an array of bytes to a string in base64 representation.
The function with one input parameter wraps the encoded lines after 76 characters. The ability of the function with 2 parameters to wrap lines is affected by the second parameter. If the wrap parameter is set to true, the encoded lines are wrapped after 76 characters.
If the input byte array is null, the function returns null.

Example 85. Usage of byte2base64
The function byte2base64(str2byte("abc", "utf-8")) returns YWJj. The function str2byte used in the example is needed for conversion of abc from string to bytes as the function byte2base64 needs to have bytes as an argument.

See also: base64byte, byte2hex, byte2str

byte2hex

string byte2hex( byte input );
string byte2hex( byte input, string escapeChars );

The byte2hex() function converts an array of bytes to a string in hexadecimal representation.
If the input is null, the function returns null.
The escapeChars are prepended before hexadecimal characters of each byte. If the escapeChars is null, empty string, or the function has only one argument, nothing is escaped.

Example 86. Usage of byte2hex

• The function byte2hex(str2byte("abc", "utf-8")) returns 616263.
• The function byte2hex(str2byte("abc", "utf-8"),null) returns 616263.
• The function byte2hex(str2byte("abc", "utf-8"),"") returns 616263.
• The function byte2hex(str2byte("abc", "utf-8"),"\") returns \61\62\63.
• The function byte2hex(str2byte("abc", "utf-8"),"hello") returns hello61hello62hello63.

See also: byte2base64, byte2str, hex2byte

byte2str

string byte2str( byte payload, string charset );

The byte2str() function converts an array of bytes to a string using given charset.
If the charset is null, the function fails with an error. If the payload is null, the function returns null.

Example 87. Usage of byte2str
The function byte2str(hex2byte("616263"), "utf-8") returns string abc.

See also: byte2base64, byte2hex, str2byte

date2long

long date2long( date input );

The date2long() function converts a date argument to the long data type.
The return value is the number of milliseconds elapsed from January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT to the date specified as the argument.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 88. Usage of date2long
The function date2long(str2date("2009-02-13 23:31:30", "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss", "en.GB", "GMT+0")) returns 1234567890000.

See also: date2num, date2str, long2date

date2num

integer date2num( date input, unit timeunit );
integer date2num( date input, unit timeunit, string locale );

The date2num() returns the number of specified time units from the date using system or specified locale.
The date parameter is a date to be converted. If the input date is null, the function returns null.
The unit of field timeunit can be one of the following: year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second or millisec. The unit must be specified as a constant. It can neither be received through an edge nor set as a variable.
If the function takes two arguments, it returns an integer using the system locale. If the parameter locale is used, the function uses the locale from the locale parameter instead of the system locale.
If the time unit is contained in the date, it is returned as an integer number. If it is not contained, the function returns 0.
Remember that months are numbered starting from 1 unlike in CTL1.
The default time zone is used in the conversion.

Example 89. Usage of date2num

• The function date2num(2008-06-12, month) returns 6.
• The function date2num(2008-06-12, hour) returns 0.
• The function date2num(long2date(1234567890000L), year, "en.US") returns 2009.
• The function date2num(long2date(1234567890000L), year, "th.TH") returns 2552.

See also: date2long, date2str, getYear, getMonth, getDay, getHour, getMinute, getSecond, getMillisecond

date2str

string date2str( date input, string pattern );
string date2str( date input, string pattern, string locale );
string date2str( date input, string pattern, string locale, string timeZone );

The date2str() function converts the input date to the string data type according to the specified pattern, locale and target timeZone.
The input contains date to be converted to the string. If the input date is null, the function returns null.
The pattern describes date and time format. If the pattern is null, default value is used (see DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT = yyyy-MM-dd in Engine Configuration).
The locale parameter defines what date format symbols should be used. If the locale is null, an empty string, or the function does not have the locale parameter, the respective default value is used.
If the timeZone parameter is null, an empty string, or the function does not have the locale parameter, the default time zone value is used.

Example 90. Usage of date2str

• The function date2str(2008-06-12, "dd.MM.yyyy") returns the following string: "12.6.2008".
• The function date2str(2009-01-04, "yyyy-MMM-d", "fr.CA") returns 2009-janv.-4.
• The function date2str(2009-01-04 12:38:06, "yyyy-MMM-d HH:mm:ss z", "fr.CA", "GMT-5") returns "2009-janv.-4 06:38:06 GMT-05:00" (assuming that the default time zone is GMT+1).

See also: date2long, date2num, str2date, getYear, getMonth, getDay, getHour, getMinute, getSecond, getMillisecond

decimal2double

number decimal2double( decimal arg );

The decimal2double() function converts a decimal argument to a double value.
The conversion is narrowing, and if the decimal value cannot be converted into double (as the range of the double data type does not cover all decimal values), the function fails with an error.
On the other hand, any doublecan be converted into decimal. Both Length and Scale of a decimal can be adjusted for it.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 91. Usage of decimal2double

• The function decimal2double(9007199254740991D) returns 9.007199254740991E15. The input decimal number fit into double precisely.
• The function decimal2double(92378352147483647.23D) returns 9.2378352147483648E16.
• The function decimal2double(9007199254740993D) returns 9.007199254740992E15. The input number is too big to fit into the double data type precisely. Narrowing conversion is used and input decimal number is rounded.

See also: decimal2integer, decimal2long, round, roundHalfToEven

decimal2integer

integer decimal2integer( decimal arg );

The decimal2integer() function converts a decimal argument to an integer.
The conversion is narrowing, and if the decimal value cannot be converted into integer (as the range of the integer data type does not cover the range of decimal values), the function fails with an error.
On the other hand, any integer can be converted into decimal without a loss of precision. Length of decimal can be adjusted for it.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Capt. Eddie to ground control:

"There is no function decimal2integer(double). You can use double parameter of the function due to implicit conversion of double to decimal. If you need conversion from double to integer, use the function double2integer."

Example 92. Usage of decimal2integer

• The function decimal2integer(352147483647.23D) fails with an error as the input decimal number is out of range of the integer data type.
• The function decimal2integer(25.95D) returns 25.
• The function decimal2integer(-123.45D) returns -123.

See also: decimal2double, decimal2long, round, roundHalfToEven

decimal2long

long decimal2long( decimal arg );

The decimal2long() function converts a decimal argument to a long value.
The conversion is narrowing, and if the decimal value cannot be converted into long (as the range of long data type does not cover all decimal values), the function fails with an error.
On the other hand, any long can be converted into decimal without loss of precision. Length of a decimal can be adjusted for it.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Capt. Eddie to ground control:

"There is no function decimal2long(double). You can use double parameter of the function due to implicit conversion of double to decimal. If you need conversion from double to long, use the function double2long."

Example 93. Usage of decimal2long

• The function decimal2long(9759223372036854775807.25D) fails with an error as the input decimal number is out of range of data type long.
• The function decimal2long(72036854775807.79D) returns 72036854775807.

See also: decimal2double, decimal2integer, round, roundHalfToEven

double2integer

integer double2integer( number arg );

The double2integer() function converts a number argument to an integer.
The conversion is narrowing and if a double value cannot be converted into integer (as the range of double data type does not cover all integer values), the function fails with an error.
On the other hand, any integer can be converted into double without loss of precision.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 94. Usage of double2integer

• The function double2integer(352147483647.1) fails with an error as the input does not fit into integer data type.
• The function double2integer(25.757197) returns 25.

See also: round, roundHalfToEven

double2long

long double2long( number arg );

The double2long() function converts a number argument to long.
The conversion is narrowing, and if a double value cannot be converted into long (as the range of double data type does not cover all long values), the function fails with an error.
On the other hand, any long can always be converted into double; however, the user should take into account that a loss of precision may occur.
If the input argument is null, the function returns null.

Example 95. Usage of double2long

• The function double2long(1.3759739E23) fails with an error.
• The function double2long(25.8579) returns 25.

See also: double2integer, round, roundHalfToEven

getAvroSchema

string getAvroSchema( variant object );

Converts variant data type to Avro schema. Resulted string contains JSON representation of Avro schema.

This function should be used for one-time operations only. Using it together with parseAvro or writeAvro to generate schema for each processed record would reduce performance.

See also: parseAvro, writeAvro

hex2byte

byte hex2byte( string arg );

The hex2byte() function converts a string argument in hexadecimal representation to an array of bytes. Its counterpart is the byte2hex function.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 96. Usage of hex2byte
The function hex2byte("616263") returns bytes 0x61, 0x62, 0x63.

See also: byte2hex, str2byte

json2xml

string json2xml( string arg );

The json2xml() function takes one string argument that is JSON formatted and converts it to an XML formatted string. Its counterpart is the function xml2json.

Parsing of an input does not have to result in a valid XML structure. For example, if the root element of input JSON contained array, the XML document with more than one root element would be created.

If the input is an invalid JSON formatted string or null, the function fails with an error.

Example 97. Usage of json2xml
The function json2xml('{ "element1" : { "id" : "0", "date" : "2011-11-07" }, "element0" : { "id" : "1", "date" : "2012-10-12" }}') returns <element0><id>1</id><date>2012-10-12</date></element0><element1><id>0</id><date>2011-11-07</date></element1>.

See also: xml2json.

long2date

date long2date( long arg );

The long2date() function converts a long argument to a date.
It adds the argument number of milliseconds to January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT and returns the result as a date. Its counterpart is function date2long.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 98. Usage of long2date
The function long2date(1234567890000L) returns 2013-02-13 23:31:30.

See also: date2long

long2integer

integer long2integer( long arg );

The long2integer() function converts a long argument to an integer value.
The conversion is successful only if it is possible without any loss of information, otherwise the function fails with an error.
On the other hand, any integer value can be converted into a long number without a loss of precision.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 99. Usage of long2integer

• The function long2integer(352147483647L) fails with an error.
• The function long2integer(25) returns 25.

long2packDecimal

byte long2packDecimal( long arg );

The long2packDecimal() function converts a long data type argument to the representation of packed decimal number. It is the counterpart of the function packDecimal2long.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 100. Usage of long2packDecimal
The function long2packDecimal(256L) returns bytes %l. The result can be seen as 256C using hexadecimal notation.

See also: packDecimal2long

md5

byte md5( byte arg );
byte md5( string arg );

The md5() function calculates an MD5 hash value of the argument.
If the input is null, the function fails with an error.
If the input string may contain a non-ASCII character, it is recommended to convert the input string to an array of byte manually using the function str2byte to the bytes and than use the function md5.

Example 101. Usage of md5
Use byte2hex() to convert MD5 hash from a byte array to a usual string representation of 32 hexadecimal digits. For example, byte2hex(md5sum("abcd")) returns e2fc714c4727ee9395f324cd2e7f331f.

See also: byte2hex, sha, sha256, str2byte

num2bool

boolean num2bool( <numeric type> arg );

The num2bool() function converts a numeric type to boolean.
The function takes one argument of any numeric data type (integer, long, number or decimal) and returns boolean falsefor 0 and truefor any other value.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 102. Usage of num2bool

• The function num2bool(0) returns false.
• The function num2bool(3.1) returns true.

See also: bool2num

num2str

string num2str( <numeric type> arg );
string num2str( integer | long | double arg, integer radix );
string num2str( <numeric type> arg, string format );
string num2str( <numeric type> arg, string format, string locale );

The num2str() converts any numeric type to the string decimal representation.
The function takes one argument of any numeric data type (integer, long, number or decimal) and converts it to a string in decimal representation.
If the input is null, the function returns null.
The radix enables to convert the input number to a different radix-based numerical system, e.g. to the octal numerical system. For both integer and longdata types, any integer number can be used as radix. For the data type double (number) only 10 or 16 can be used as radix.
The format describes format of number. If the parameter is missing, the Numeric Format is used.
If the localeparameter is missing, the locale has system value.

Example 103. Usage of num2str

• The function num2str(123456) returns 123456
• The function num2str(123456L) returns 123456
• The function num2str(123456.45) returns 123456.45
• The function num2str(123456.67D) returns 123456.67
• The function num2str(123, 8) returns 173
• The function num2str(123L, 8) returns 173
• The function num2str(123.75, 8) fails. Double as first argument works with base = 10 and base = 16 only
• The function num2str(4.0, 16) returns 0x1.0p2
• The function num2str(123456, "###,###") returns 123,456
• The function num2str(123456L, "###,###") returns 123,456
• The function num2str(123456.25, "###,###.#") returns 123,456.2
• The function num2str(123456.75D "###,###.##") returns 123,456.75
• The function num2str(123456, "###,###", "fr.FR") returns 123 456
• The function num2str(123456L, "###,###", "fr.FR") returns 123 456
• The function num2str(123456.75, "###,###.##", "fr.FR") returns 123 456,75
• The function num2str(123456.25D, "###,###.##", "fr.FR") returns 123 456,25

See also: str2double, toString

packDecimal2long

long packDecimal2long( byte arg );

The packDecimal2long() function converts an array of bytes whose meaning is the packed decimal representation of a long number to a long number.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 104. Usage of packDecimal2long
The function packDecimal2long(hex2byte("256C12")) returns 256.

See also: long2packDecimal

parseAvro

variant parseAvro( byte avroData, string schema );

Converts bytes containing Avro data serialized with the Binary encoding to a variant using the specified Avro schema in JSON. Avro data have to match Avro schema supplemented as the second parameter. The Avro data bytes are not regular Avro file, but the data only without Avro schema. The Avro data can be received for example from a messaging system (JMS) or events streaming system (Kafka).
If the data input is null, the function returns null.
If the Avro schema is null, the function fails with an error.
Its counterpart is the function writeAvro.

See also: writeAvro, getAvroSchema

parseBson

variant parseBson( byte bson );

Converts bytes containing BSON serialized data to a tree data structure composed of CTL lists and maps. Note that the return type is always variant, regardless of the actual returned value.
If the input is null, the function returns null.
Its counterpart is the function writeBson. The function can also read data written by writeExtendedBson.

Example 105. Usage of parseBson

// simulates data from an input port, $in.0.bson
byte bson = hex2byte("30000000106e756d62657200" +
                     "0100000008626f6f6c65616e" +
                     "000102737472696e67000900" +
                     "0000436c6f76657244580000");
// returns map as variant {"number" -> 1, "boolean" -> true, "string" -> "CloverDX"}
variant v = parseBson(bson);

See also: writeBson, writeExtendedBson

parseJson

variant parseJson( string json );

Converts a JSON formatted string to a tree data structure composed of CTL lists and maps. Note that the return type is always variant, regardless of the actual returned value.
If the input is null, the function returns null.
Its counterpart is the function writeJson.

Example 106. Usage of parseJson

variant var;

// returns the map { "a" -> 1, "b" -> true, "c" -> "d" }
var = parseJson('{ "number" : 1.1, "boolean" : true, "string" : "CloverDX" }');

// returns the list [1, 2, 3];
var = parseJson('[1, 2, 3]');

// returns the boolean value true
var = parseJson('true');

// returns the integer 1
var = parseJson('1');

See also: writeJson, parseBson

record2map

variant record2map( record record );

Converts a data record into a map. Field names and values become the keys and values in the map, respectively.
This can be used to convert records into JSON as there is no direct record2json function.
Returns null if the record is null.

Example 107. Usage of record2map

// metadata Person contains two fields: string 'Name' and integer 'Age':
Person person; // creates a new record with metadata 'Person'
person.Name = "Joe";
person.Age = 17;

variant myMap = record2map(person); // returns the map {"Name" -> "Joe", "Age" -> 17}
string json = writeJson(myMap); // returns the JSON string '{"Name":"Joe","Age":17}'

See also: toMap, writeJson

sha

byte sha( byte arg );
byte sha( string arg );

The sha() function calculates SHA-1 hash value of a given byte array or for a given string argument.
If the input is null, the function fails with an error.
If the input string may contain a non-ASCII character, it is recommended to convert the input string to an array of bytes manually using the function str2byte.

Example 108. Usage of sha
Use byte2hex() to convert SHA-1 hash from a byte array to a string representation of 40 hexadecimal digits. For example byte2hex(sha("abcd")) returns 81fe8bfe87576c3ecb22426f8e57847382917acf.

See also: byte2hex, md5, sha256, str2byte

sha256

byte sha256( byte arg );
byte sha256( string arg );

The sha256() function calculates a SHA-256 hash value of a given array of bytes or of a given string argument.
If the input is null, the function fails with an error.
If the input string may contain a non-ASCII character, it is recommended to convert the input string to an array of bytes manually using the function str2byte.

Example 109. Usage of sha256
Use the byte2hex() function to convert SHA-256 hash from a byte array to the usual string representation of 64 hexadecimal digits. For example byte2hex(sha256("abcd")) returns 88d4266fd4e6338d13b845fcf289579d209c897823b9217da3e161936f031589.

See also: byte2hex, md5, sha, str2byte.

str2bits

byte str2bits( string arg );

The str2bits() function converts a given string argument to an array of bytes.
The string can contain only characters: "1" and "0". Each character "1" of a string is converted to the bit 1, each character "0" is converted to the bit 0. If the number of characters in the string is not an integral multiple of eight, the string is completed by "0" characters from the right. Then, the string is converted to an array of bytes as if the number of its characters were integral multiple of eight.
The first character represents the lowest bit.
If the input is null, the function returns null.
If the input contains any other character, the function str2bits()fails.

Example 110. Usage of str2bits

• The function str2bits("0010011001100110") returns bytes containing df.
• The function str2bits("0A10011001100110") fails with an error. See compatibility notice.

See also: bits2str

str2bool

boolean str2bool( string arg );

The str2bool() function converts a given string argument to the corresponding boolean value.
The string can be one of the following: "TRUE", "true", "T", "t", "YES", "yes", "Y", "y", "1", "FALSE", "false", "F", "f", "NO", "no", "N", "n", "0". The strings are converted to boolean true or boolean false.
If the input is null, the function returns null.

Example 111. Usage of str2bool

• The function str2bool("true") returns true.
• The function str2bool("True") fails. The string True (with uppercase T and lowercase rest of the letters) is not allowed as a value.
• The function str2bool("NO") returns false.

See also: str2bits, str2bool, str2date, str2decimal, str2double, str2integer, str2long

str2byte

byte str2byte( string payload, string charset  );

The str2byte() function converts a string payload to an array of bytes using a given charset encoder.
If the charset is null, the function fails with an error. If the payload is null, the function returns null.

Example 112. Usage of str2byte

• The function str2byte("grep", "utf-8") returns bytes 0x67, 0x72, 0x65 and 0x70.
• The function str2byte("voilà", "utf-8") returns bytes 0x76, 0x6f, 0x69, 0x6c, c3 and a0.

See also: byte2str, hex2byte

str2date

date str2date( string input, string pattern );
date str2date( string input, string pattern, boolean strict );
date str2date( string input, string pattern, string locale );
date str2date( string input, string pattern, string locale, boolean strict );
date str2date( string input, string pattern, string locale, string timeZone );
date str2date( string input, string pattern, string locale, string timeZone, boolean strict );

The str2date() function converts the input to the date data type using the specified pattern, locale and timeZone.
The input must correspond with the pattern. Otherwise the function fails. If the input is null, the function returns null.
If the pattern is null or an empty string, the default date format is used.
If the locale is null or an empty string, the respective default value is used instead.
If the timeZone is null or an empty string, the respective default value is used instead.
If strict is true, date format is checked using a conversion from string to date, conversion from date to string and subsequent comparison of an input string and result string. If the input string and result string differ, the function fails. This way you can enforce required number of digits in date.
If strict is null or the function does not have the argument strict, it works in the same way as if it was set to false - the format is not checked in the strict way.

Example 113. Usage of str2date

• The function str2date("12.6.2008", "dd.MM.yyyy") returns the date 2008-06-12 in a local time zone.
• The function str2date("12.6.2008", "dd.MM.yyyy", "cs.CZ") returns the date 2008-06-12 in a local time zone.
• The function str2date("12.6.2008 13:55:06", "dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss", "cs.CZ", "GMT+5") returns the date 2008-06-12 13:55:06 in the "GMT+5" time zone.
• The function str2date("15-Dezember-2010","dd-MMMM-yyyy", "de.DE") returns 15 December 2010 in a local time zone, interpreting the month name using the German locale.
• The function str2date("6.007.2015", "dd.MM.yyyy", false) returns 6 July 2015 whereas the function str2date("6.007.2015", "dd.MM.yyyy", true) fails.

ISO-8601

• The function str2date("2015-10-04", "iso-8601:yyyy-MM-dd") returns 2015-10-04 in a local time zone.
• The function str2date("2015-10-04", "iso-8601:date") returns 2015-10-04 in a local time zone.
• The function str2date("2015-10-05T06:07:02.123+00:00", "iso-8601:yyyy-MM-dd’T’HⓂ️sZZZ") returns 2015-10-05 06:07:02.123 in the time zone +00:00.
• The function str2date("2015-10-05T06:07:02.123+00:00", "iso-8601:dateTime") returns 2015-10-05 06:07:02.123 in the time zone +00:00.
• The function str2date("2015-10-05T06:07:02.234Z", "iso-8601:yyyy-MM-dd’T’HⓂ️sZZZ") returns 2015-10-05 06:07:02.234 in the time zone +00:00.

Joda

• The function str2date("2015-06-15 00:00:10 America/New_York","joda:yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ZZZ") returns 2015-06-15 00:00:10 in time zone America/New_York that corresponds to 2015-06-15 04:00:10 in UTC.

See also: date2str, isDate

str2decimal

decimal str2decimal( string arg );
decimal str2decimal( string arg, string format );
decimal str2decimal( string arg, string format, string locale );

The str2decimal() function converts a given string argument to a decimal value.
The conversion can be determined by the format specified as the second argument and the locale specified as the third argument.
The arg is a numeric value to be converted to the decimal. If the argument is null, the function returns null.
The format determines the data conversion. See Numeric Format.
The locale parameter is described in Locale. If the function is called without the locale parameter, the default locale is used.

Example 114. Usage of str2decimal

• The function str2decimal("23") returns 23.
• The function str2decimal("23.45") returns 23.45.
• The function str2decimal("123.456789") returns 123.45.
• The function str2decimal("2.147483648e9") returns 2147483648.00.
• The function str2decimal("123,456.78", "###,###.##") returns 123456.78.
• The function str2decimal("123 456,78", "###,###.##", "fr.FR") returns 123456.78. There should be a hard space (character 160) between 3 and 4.

See also: str2double, str2integer, str2long, toString

str2double

number str2double( string arg );
number str2double( string arg, string format );
number str2double( string arg, string format, string locale );

The str2double() function converts a given string argument to the corresponding double value. The conversion can be determined by a format specified as the second argument and a locale specified as the third argument.
The arg is string to be converted to double. If the argument is null, the function returns null.
The format is described in Data Formats.
The locale parameter is described in Locale. If the function is called without the locale parameter, the default locale is used.

Example 115. Usage of str2double

• The function str2double("123.25") returns 123.25.
• The function str2double("123,456", "###,###") returns 123456.0.
• The function str2double("123 456,25", "###,###.##", "fr.FR"") returns 123456.25. There must must be a hard space between 3 and 4.

See also: num2str, toString

str2integer

integer str2integer( string arg );
integer str2integer( string arg, integer radix );
integer str2integer( string arg, string format );
integer str2integer( string arg, string format, string locale );

The str2integer() function converts a given string argument to the corresponding integer value. The conversion can be determined by a numeral system, format or locale.
The parameter arg is a numeric value to be converted to integer. If the argument is null, the function returns null.
The parameter radix enables to convert a given string argument to integer using specified radix based numeric system representation.
The format is described in Numeric Format.
The locale parameter is described in Locale.

Example 116. Usage of str2integer

• The function str2integer("123") returns 123.
• The function str2integer("123.45") fails as argument in not an integer.
• The function str2integer("12345678901") fails as argument does not fit into the integer data type. The value is too big.
• The function str2integer("101", 8) returns 65. Value 101 in the octal numeral system is same as 65 in the decimal numeral system.
• The function str2integer("123,456", "###,###") returns 123456.
• The function str2integer("123.456", "###,###", "de.DE") returns 123456.
• The function str2integer("123 456", "###,###", "fr.FR") returns 123456. There must be a hard space between digits 3 and 4.

Space as group separator

If locale with space as group separator is used, there should be a hard space (char 160) between digits to parse the number correctly.

See also: toString

str2long

long str2long( string arg );
long str2long( string arg, integer radix );
long str2long( string arg, string format );
long str2long( string arg, string format, string locale );

The str2long() function converts a given string argument to a long value.
If the value is expressed in the radix based numeric system, the representation is specified by the second argument.
The conversion can be affected using a format specified as the second argument and the system locale.
The arg is the value to be converted to long. If the argument is null, the function returns null.
The radix is radix of numeral system.
The format is a format of the number to be converted. For details, see Numeric Format.
The locale parameter is described in Locale.

Example 117. Usage of str2long

• The function str2long("123456789012") returns 123456789012.
• The function str2long("123.45") fails as argument is not a long number.
• The function str2long("101", 8) returns 65.
• The function str2long("123,456,789,012", "###.###") returns 123456789012.
• The function str2long("123.456.789.012", "###,###", "de.DE") returns 123456789012.

See also: toString

toString

string toString( <any type> arg );

Converts the given argument to its string representation.
If the input is null, the function returns the string "null".
The function should be used for logging or similar purposes, not for application logic. The output format is unspecified and may change in future versions.

Example 118. Usage of toString

toString(34); // returns "34"
toString(1234567890123L); // returns "1234567890123"
toString(1234.567); // returns "1234.567"
toString(1234.567D); // returns "1234.567"
toString(true); // returns "true"
toString(["John Doe", true, 5, null, {1 -> 2}]);
     // returns "[John Doe, true, 5, null, {1=2}]"

See also: str2decimal, str2double, str2integer, str2long

writeAvro

byte writeAvro( variant object, string schema );

Converts variant data type to bytes containing Avro data serialized with the Binary encoding using the specified Avro schema in JSON. Converted data have to match Avro schema supplemented as the second parameter. The resulted Avro data bytes are not regular Avro file, but the data only without Avro schema. The resulted Avro data can be used for example for a messaging system (JMS) or events streaming system (Kafka).
If the data input is code>null, the function returns code>null.
If the Avro schema is code>null, the function fails with an error.
Its counterpart is the function parseAvro.

Example 119. Usage of writeAvro

byte avro;

variant varMap = {"number" -> 1, "boolean" -> true, "string" -> "CloverDX"};
string varSchema = getAvroSchema(varMap);
byte varData = writeAvro(varMap, varSchema);
variant varMapCopy = parseAvro(varData, varSchema);
// varMap == varMapCopy

integer varInteger = 1;
//Avro schema for primitive type
string varSchema = "\"int\"";
byte varData = writeAvro(varInteger, varSchema);

See also: parseAvro, getAvroSchema

writeBson

byte writeBson( map[<type of key>,<type of valuey>] object );
byte writeBson( variant object );

Converts a map to BSON binary data format. Note that map keys at any level of the argument must be strings, otherwise the function fails.
The top-level object must be a map. Unlike writeExtendedBson, this function cannot write top-level lists and single values, such as numbers or strings. Lists and primitive values are only allowed inside the top-level map.
The advantage over writeJson is that BSON preserves data types. For example, dates are written as strings in JSON and you need to convert them manually back to dates.
On the other hand, JSON is a text-based format, so it is human readable. It is also more commonly used than BSON, especially in REST APIs.
To sum it up:

• Use
  writeJson to call REST APIs.
• Use
  writeBson to communicate with third-party applications that support BSON.

If the input is null, the function returns null.
Its counterpart is the function parseBson.

Example 120. Usage of writeBson

byte bson;

variant varMap = {"number" -> 1, "boolean" -> true, "string" -> "CloverDX"};
bson = writeBson(varMap);
variant varMapCopy = parseBson(bson);
// varMap == varMapCopy

variant varInteger = 1;
// fails, writeBson can only handle maps
bson = writeBson(varInteger);

See also: parseBson, writeExtendedBson, writeJson

writeExtendedBson

The function writeExtendedBson is deprecated. It was used for passing variant values between components. Variant values can be passed on edges directly and the function writeExtendedBsonis no longer necessary.

writeJson

string writeJson( variant object );

Converts CTL lists, maps or primitive values to a JSON string. Dates are written as strings in ISO 8601 format in UTC time zone, e.g. "2020-03-24T18:45:34.853Z". Keys in all maps at any level of the object are converted to strings.
If the input is null, the function returns null.
There are two similar functions:

• writeBson produces BSON, a binary format that preserves data types better than JSON.
• writeExtendedBson is a way of encoding variant into proprietary extension of the BSON format and it is incompatible with third-party applications.
  The counterpart of writeJson is the function parseJson.

Example 122. Usage of writeJson

string json;

variant varMap = {"number" -> 1, "boolean" -> true, "string" -> "CloverDX"}; // map
// returns '{"number":1,"number":true,"string":"CloverDX"}'
json = writeJson(varMap);

variant varList = [1, 2, 3]; // list
// returns '[1,2,3]'
json = writeJson(varList);

date d = str2date("12.6.2020 13:55:06", "dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss", "en.US", "UTC+5");
// returns '2020-06-12T13:55:06.000Z'
json = writeJson(d);

boolean b = true;
// returns 'true'
writeJson(b);

// returns '1'
json = writeJson(1);

See also: parseJson, record2map, writeBson, writeExtendedBson

xml2json

string xml2json( string arg );

The xml2json() function converts a string XMLformatted argument to a JSONformatted string. Its counterpart is the function json2xml.
If the input is null, the function fails with an error.

Example 123. Usage of xml2json
The function xml2json('<element0><id>1</id><date>2012-10-12</date></element0><element1><id>0</id><date>2011-11-07</date></element1>') returns { "element1" : { "id" : "0", "date" : "2011-11-07" }, "element0" : { "id" : "1", "date" : "2012-10-12" }}.

See also: json2xml