Splice

The Splice tool splits field values, and then pieces them together into new field values. This tool is useful for creating "soft keys" formed by assembling portions of other fields. Such soft keys can be useful for attaching a "persistent" soft key to external data sources lacking a persistent hard key.

For example, suppose you get a monthly update from a list vendor. Every month, you process some portion of the entire list (such as a mailing or telemarketing effort). When you get an update, you want to match the old and new lists together so that you can avoid processing the same records again. Creating a "soft key" on the old and new lists using pieces of unique information from the records will help you perform this match.

Note that the Splice tool functionality is duplicated by the text-processing abilities of the Calculate tool. However, Splice may be easier to use.

Splice tool configuration parameters

The Splice tool has a single set of configuration parameters in addition to the standard execution options:

Configure the Splice tool

1. Double-click the Splice tool, then go to the Configuration tab.

2. To add a field to be created by splicing input fields, select a row in the Field name grid and type the name of the new field.

3. If the new output field is fixed-length text, clear the Variable length box. Note that output field must be either fixed or variable-length text. If you need the new field to be a different type, use the Change Field Type tool later, or use the Calculate tool instead.

4. For each component of the constructed output field:

   • Select a row from the Fields column and select an input field.

   • Optionally, you can change the Offset (column or position) and Size (length) values to define the input field fragment.

   • Repeat for each field component desired.

5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to add more output fields.

6. Optionally, go to the Execution tab, and then set Web service options.