Using standard transformations

Introduction

What are standard transformations and what can they do?

Standard transformations provide a user-friendly interface that you can use to tell Adverity how to transform your data. You can use standard transformations to add new columns to your data extracts, translate text, standardize location data, and much more.

How do I use standard transformations?

Create a transformation as described in this guide. Transformations can be assigned to multiple datastreams. Every time you fetch data using the datastream the transformation is assigned to, the collected data is transformed according to the instructions in the transformation.

Who can use a transformation that I create?

A transformation is available to all users with access to the workspace where the transformation was created. However, the transformation will only affect datastreams to which it is assigned.

What standard transformations are available?

The available standard transformations are:

• Create or Edit Columns

• Currency Conversion

• Join Datastream

• Match & Map

• Smart Naming Convention

• Translation

• Unify Location Data

What other transformation types are there in Adverity?

Adverity also offers custom script transformations. These give you the freedom to transform your data according to your needs using a wide range of custom script instructions. For more information, see Using custom script transformations.

Creating a transformation

The process of creating a transformation is made up of the following steps:

1. Type: Choose the type of transformation you want to create.

2. Assignments: Choose the datastreams to which you want to apply the transformation.

3. Configuration: Configure the transformation so that it transforms your data according to your needs.

4. Name: Give your transformation a name so it is easily identifiable.

Prerequisites

Depending on the transformation type, you have to perform additional actions before you can create the transformation. You will always need to create a datastream, fetch data and apply Data Mapping before creating a transformation. The prerequisites for each transformation type are listed in our individual transformation guides.

Creating a transformation

To get started creating a transformation, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Transformations page.

2. In the top right corner, click + Create transformation.

3. In the Type step, click the type of transformation that you want to create.

   This guide only explains how to create standard transformations. To create a custom script transformation, see Using custom script transformations.

4. In the Assignments step, select the datastreams to which you want to assign this transformation:

   • To assign the transformation to one or more specific datastreams, select Individual datastreams and then select your chosen datastreams from the drop-down menu.

   • To assign the transformation to all datastreams that fetch data from one or more specific data sources, select Datastream types and then select your chosen data sources from the drop down menu.

     (Optional) To exclude any datastreams that fetch data from your chosen data source, select the individual datastreams to exclude from the Do not assign to these individual datastreams drop-down menu.

5. Click Next.

6. In the Configuration step, configure the settings for the transformation as described in the corresponding guide:

   • Create or Edit Columns

   • Currency Conversion

   • Join Datastream

   • Match & Map

   • Smart Naming Convention

   • Translation

   • Unify Location Data

   You can preview your transformation in the Preview tab. Here, you can see how your current transformation instructions will transform the data you have previously collected using the selected datastream.

   Click Refresh Preview at the bottom of the Configuration tab to see the preview of your latest changes.

   For more information about the preview, see Previewing transformations.

7. Click Next.

8. In the Name step, enter a name and a description for your transformation.

9. Click Create.

As a result, you have created a transformation and assigned it to your chosen datastreams. From now on, every time you fetch data using these datastreams, the data extract will be transformed according to the instructions in your transformation.

You can also assign your transformations to a datastream from the datastream overview as well as manage the order in which the transformations are applied.

Editing a transformation

You can edit a transformation after it has been created. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Transformations page.

2. Click the transformation you want to edit.

3. You will automatically be taken to the Instructions page of the transformation overview. Make any required changes to the transformation configuration here.

4. To change the list of datastreams to which the transformation is assigned, go to the Used by tab.

5. Click Save.

As a result, you have edited your transformation. From now on, when you fetch data using a datastream to which this transformation is assigned, your data will be transformed according to the new instructions.