Function Name	CharToCode
Category	String
Icon
Description	Convert character data to Unicode
Inputs	String String containing character
Outputs	Result Input character represented in Unicode
Properties	None -

Usage

The Data Mapper String CharToCode function returns the Unicode representation of a single character input String, or the first character in a longer String. Often, XML data is mapped for use between differing Web and desktop applications, so the ability to convert data to different formats is essential. Converting character data to Unicode is therefore a useful facility. To apply the String ChartoCode transform function, use the following process:

Create a new Data Mapper file, dragging your XML data source and targets into the editor area. For this example we are using document_source.xsd, an XML Schema Definition inferred from the following source:

<docs>
 <document>
  <title>My Data File</title>
  <content>Here is my content</content>
  <type>b</type>
 </document>
 <document>
  <title>Another File</title>
  <content>Here is some more content</content>
  <type>r</type>
 </document>
</docs>

For our target schema we will be using document_target.xsd, inferred from the following XML:

<data_files>
 <file type="99" name="My File">Here is my content</file>
 <file type="115" name="His File">Here is his content</file>
</data_files>

The data models documents, with the "type" item using a single character. Here is the Data Mapper with Source and Target imported:

Drag the String CharToCode function from the Component Palette into the mapping area:

The String CharToCode function takes a single input and gives a single output. The input should be connected to the source text String item to retrieve the Unicode representation of. The output should be connected to the target item, whether an item in the XML Writer or another component in the Mapper. In this case we are mapping from an element in the source to an attribute in the target, converting to Unicode at the same time. Connect the XML Reader "type" output to the CharToCode input:

Now connect the CharToCode output to the "type" item in the XML Writer:

Finally, connect the remaining inputs and outputs:

We can now execute the transform by pressing Shift-F5 or the Execute button (). The transform is applied and the file we selected as output opens in the editor:

<data_files>
 <file type="98" name="My Data File">Here is my content</file>
 <file type="114" name="Another File">Here is some more content</file>
</data_files>

The "type" items have been converted from character to Unicode data as part of the mapping process. The result is that the characters are now represented numerically.