Convert Process

You may want to convert data to assure data privacy or to systematically transform data to meet your application testing requirements. You can import converted data into a spreadsheet program, insert it into a testing database, or restore it to a reporting database.

Use the Convert Process to transform data in an Extract or Archive File. Specifications for the Convert Process can be stored as a Convert Request.

When you convert data in an Extract File, you can save the converted data to the same file or as a different Extract File, with some restrictions (refer to Destination File). Depending upon circumstances, it may be useful to retain the original file to maintain a consistent starting point. For example, you can create a set of Extract Files that contain the same data, aged to different dates, by saving the output of each conversion as a separate Extract File. Conversely, you can overwrite the original Extract File in order to mask sensitive data. For details on creating an Extract File, see Create an Extract Request .

Convert File Formats

Additionally, you can convert an Extract or Archive File into one of several output formats, which you can then import into a spreadsheet program or a database. These file formats are:
  • Extract File
  • Business Objects (CSV)
    Note: In releases prior to Optim 8.1, Business Objects (CSV) format was known as Comma Separated Value (CSV).
  • Comma Separated Value (CSV)
  • XML
  • Business Objects (XML)
  • Enterprise Content Management (CSV) - for Archive Files only
For details on these formats see File Format Types.

Table Maps

Specify a Table Map in a Convert Request to match tables in the Source File to tables in the Destination File or to exclude tables from the process. For detailed information on using Table Maps, see the Common Elements Manual.

Column Maps

Use Column Maps in the Table Map to specify which data to convert and how it is to be converted. For complete details on using Column Maps, see the Common Elements Manual.

Run or Schedule

You can process a Convert Request immediately (by clicking File > Run), or you can save and schedule the request for processing at a later time (by clicking File > Schedule). You must save the request before it is scheduled, but it is not necessary to save the request before it is run.

Naming Conventions

Note: The fully qualified name of a Convert Request consists of the following: identifier.name.
identifier
Identifier that serves as the prefix for the Convert Request name (1 to 8 characters).
name
Name assigned to the Convert Request (1 to 12 characters).

When you create Convert Requests, it is helpful to use a logical set of naming conventions to identify the use for each and to organize them for easy access.

Chapter Contents

This chapter explains how to create, maintain, and process a Convert Request, including how to: