Is Modify Stage can be a alternate for Transformer

The Modify stage is a processing stage. It can have a single input link and

a single output link. It can also be used to modify schema, Keep or Drop the input columns.If you are using transformer just to drop or change schema of columns then it is better we use modify stage.

Below is the syntax of each of the operation possible in modify stage and below mentioned syntax can be used in specification box of modify stage..

Keeping and Dropping Fields :

'keep field1, field2, ... fieldn; '

'drop field1, field2, ... fieldn;' 

 Renaming Fields:

 ‘newField1=oldField1; newField2=oldField2;...newFieldn=oldFieldn;’

Duplicating a Field and Giving It a New Name:

a_1 = a

Date field conversions:

dateField = date_from_days_since[date](int32Field)

dateField = date_from_julian_day(uint32Field)

dateField = date_from_string[date_format | date_uformat] (stringField)

dateField = date_from_timestamp(tsField

int8Field = month_day_from_date(dateField)

int8Field = weekday_from_date[originDay](dateField)

int16Field = year_day_from_date(dateField)

int32Field = days_since_from_date[source_date]

uint32Field = julian_day_from_date(dateField)

int8Field = month_from_date(dateField)

dateField = next_weekday_from_date[day](dateField)

dateField= previous_weekday_from_date[day]

stringField = string_from_date [date_format | ufornat] (dateField)

tsField = timestamp_from_date[time](dateField)

int16Field = year_from_date(dateField)

int8Field=year_week_from_date(dateField)

Decimal Field Conversions:

decimal from decimal decimalField = decimal_from_decimal[r_type](decimalField)

decimal from dfloat decimalField = decimal_from_dfloat[r_type](dfloatField)decimal from string decimalField = decimal_from_string[r_type](stringField)

dfloat from decimal dfloatField = dfloat_from_decimal[fix_zero](decimalField)

dfloat from decimal dfloatField = mantissa_from_decimal(decimalField)

dfloat from dfloat dfloatField = mantissa_from_dfloat(dfloatField)

int32 from decimal int32Field = int32_from_decimal[r_type, fix_zero](decimalField)

int64 from decimal int64Field = int64_from_decimal[r_type, fix_zero](decimalField)

string from decimal stringField = string_from_decimal[fix_zero][suppress_zero](decimalField)

uint64 from decimal uint64Field = uint64_from_decimal[r_type, fix_zero](decimalField)

string Conversions:

hue:string[10] = string_trim['Z', end, begin](color)

stringField=substring(string, starting_position, length)

decimalField = decimal_from_string(stringField) Converts strings to decimals.

stringField = string_from_decimal[fix_zero] [suppress_zero] (decimalField) Converts decimals to strings

dateField = date_from_string [date_format | date_uformat] (stringField)

stringField = string_from_date [date_format | date_uformat] (dateField)

int32Field=string_length(stringField)stringField=lowercase_string (stringField)

stringField=uppercase_string (stringField)

stringField = string_from_time [time_format | time_uformat ] (timeField)

int8Field = hours_from_time(timeField) hours from time

int32Field = microseconds_from_time(timeField) microseconds from time

int8Field = minutes_from_time(timeField) minutes from time

dfloatField = seconds_from_time(timeField) seconds from time

dfloatField = midnight_seconds_from_time(timeField) seconds-from-midnight from time

stringField = string_from_time [time_format | time_uformat] (timeField)