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Default Values

This article provides information about setting default attribute values in Nexla.

1. Default Value Uses​

Sometimes, an expected value is not present in a lookup or transformation. Default values can be used to tell Nexla how to note these missing values in an output Nexset; otherwise, no record will be written for any missing attribute values. Default values can be set as Null or as a custom string or number.

Default values can be useful, for example, when missing records can cause errors in downstream data processes or when missing values need to be noted and called out with an alert.

2. Setting Default Values in the Nexset Designer​

  1. To set a default value when constructing a transform in the Nexset Designer, click Add_Rule_Group.png in the Nexset Rules panel, and select Default_Values_Rule.png. This will create a new Default Values rule group.

    Default values can only be set for attributes included in the output Nexset according to previously added Nexset Rules.

      Select_Default_Values.png

  2. Use the left pulldown menu to select the output attribute for which a default value should be set.

      Select_Attribute.png

  3. Select the type of default value that should be set from the right pulldown menu.

      Select_Default.png

    • To set a string-type default value, select "String" and enter the desired default string in the text field to the right.

        String_Default.png

    • To set a numeric default value, select "Number", and enter the desired default numeric value in the text field to the right.

        Number_Default.png

  4. Click Run_Nexset_Rules.png to apply the current Nexset rules and preview the output Nexset content in the Nexset Output panel.

    To preview default value rule outputs when no absent records are contained in the input samples, see the article Edit Input Samples to learn how to temporarily modify incoming samples.

  5. Click Save.png in the top right corner of the screen to save the current transform construction progress. Once transform construction is complete, click Save_Close.png to save the transform and close the Nexset Designer.

3. Setting Default Values During Lookup Creation​

Default values for key columns can also be set when creating a static or dynamic lookup. Instructions can be found in the below documents.

  1. Static Lookups

    To set a default value when creating a lookup by entering text in a table, see Section 2, Step 7.

    To set a default value when creating a lookup by entering raw text, see Section 3, Step 6.

    To set a default value when creating a lookup from a local file, see Section 4, Step 5.

  2. Dynamic Lookups

    To set a default value when creating a dynamic lookup, see Section 3, Step 4.