Dodgeball offers the ability to leverage the open source Data Transformation Language (DTL) in order to transform data within a workflow.
What is data transformation?
Data Transformation refers to the process by which input data can be modified or used to generate new data predictably.
For example, adding one day to a list of dates, or adding a column that shows whether an item is late based on the due date and current date.
For the purpose of supporting Dodgeball customers, it is helpful to think of DTL as formulas in an Excel spreadsheet.
What is DTL?
DTL is an open source tool that lets people transform input data into output data. Think of it like the functions available in Excel formulas.
Using DTL in Dodgeball
DTL is available under the “Advanced” Tab of the Step Palette
In order to run a DTL Transformation, you will need a query that works with your input data. The DTL Step will calculate expected available data that you can use as input data for testing (see Checkpoints and Integrations)
Sometimes it is very easy to write a query that accomplishes what you need: feel free to try it out with the tools here:
- DTL Docs and Online Tester: https://getdtl.org/#TryDTL
If you are unable to write a query, a Dodgeball Engineer should be able to assist.
Once you have a working DTL Query, you are ready to set up the DTL Service Block in Dodgeball.
Given the example discussed in the “Event Data” section:
We have a customer phone number as a number (i.e., 1234567890), but we need it as a text string with "+1" in front
This query works:
You can replicate this transformation in Dodgeball like this:
Once this transformation runs, you will have a new variable called transformedPhoneNumber available throughout the checkpoint, which will be the output of whatever your DTL transformation outputs under the phoneAsString property.