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In Batch workflows, the Encoder agent's configuration contains four tabs:

  • Encoder
  • Header
  • Trailer
  • Thread Buffer

Encoder

The Encoder tab contains the following settings:

SettingDescription

Suppress Encoding

If you select this option, the agent will not encode the incoming data. It will expect a raw bytearray as the input type and will pass it through untouched. This mode is used only when a header and/or a trailer is added to a data batch.

Encoder

Select which encoder to use in the list of available encoders either created in the Ultra Format Editor, or one of the default built-in encoders:

  • CSV Format
  • JSON Format
  • MZ Tagged Format
  • MZ Tagged Format (compressed)
CSV Format Specific Settings
UDR TypeSelect the UDR type you want the Decoder to send out. You can either select one of the predefined UDRs or the DynamicCsvUDR if the CSV format is not known.
Format

Select the CSV format you want to use: 

  • Unix
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Excel
  • Custom

If you select Custom, the following four settings will be enabled:

  • Delimiter
  • Use Quote
  • Quote
  • Line Break
DelimiterSpecify the delimiter character(s) for the fields in the CSV.
Use QuoteSelect this option if you want to use quotes in the CSV. The Quote field is enabled.
QuoteIf Use Quote is selected, enter the type of quote you want to use in the format.
Line BreakSpecify how line breaks are stated in the CSV.
JSON Format Specific Settings
Indented OutputSelect this option if you want the output to be indented.
Inline Map Field

Select this option if you want to process the dynamic field values from the Unmapped Fields setting in the Decoder. If you select Inline Map Field, you must specify:

  • UDR Type
  • Field
UDR TypeSpecify the UDR Type that is sent out by the Decoder. Click Browse to view the available UDR Types.
FieldSelect the UDR Field that you want to include.

Header/Trailer

The batch Encoder agent uses two specialized services that allows you to add header and trailer information into each data batch.

...

SettingDescription

Suppress On No Data

Select this option to avoid adding header or trailer to batches that do not contain any data (UDRs or bytearrays).

Value

Click on the Add button to add MIMs and their respective configurations into the Value section. They will be added in the order they are specified.

Add Header Content Settings

MIM Defined

Select this option to add a MIM value as part of the header.  Size and Padding must be entered as well.

Note
titleNote!

For data batch headers, the MIM values are gathered at beginBatch .


Size

Specify a fixed length of the item. It can only be omitted if the User Defined option is selected, in which case it will be calculated automatically.

Padding

Select which character to pad any remaining space with. You can either specify a user defined character or select from the following characters:

  • Carriage return
  • Line feed
  • Space
  • Tabulator

User Defined

Select this option if you want to enter a user defined constant. If the value defined in the Size field is empty or less than the number of characters in the constant, the value of Size is set to the number of characters in the constant. If  Size  is greater than the length of the constant,  Padding must be entered as well.

Pad Only

Select this option if you want to add a string according to the value entered in the Size field, filled with characters defined in the Padding field.

Alignment

Left or right alignment within the allocated field size.

Date Format

Enabled when a MIM of type date is selected. A Date Format Chooser dialog is opened, where a date format may be entered.

Thread Buffer

By default, a batch workflow uses one active thread at a time. By configuring a buffer storage for an agent, it will be possible for yet another thread to be created, this is also called multithreading. One thread will be populating the buffer, and another pulling it for data. Adding yet another buffer for another agent will add yet another thread, and so on.

...

The percentage values for Empty and Full must be as low as possible, and as equal as possible. The latter may be hard to achieve, since the agents may differ too much in processing complexity. If possible, add and configure another agent to take over some of the processing steps from the most complex agent.

Input/Output Data

Input Data

Selected predefined UDRs or bytarrays (if Suppress Encoding is selected).

Output Data

bytearrays

Transaction Behavior

The transaction behavior describes what commands the Encoder agent emits and retrieves that will alter the state of the file that is being processed.

Emits

The Encoder agent does not emit any commands.

Retrieves

The Encoder agent retrieves the following commands from other agents:

...

  • Encoder
  • Header
  • Trailer
  • Thread Buffer

Encoder

The Encoder tab contains the following settings:

SettingDescription

Suppress Encoding

If you select this option, the agent will not encode the incoming data. It will expect a raw bytearray as the input type and will pass it through untouched. This mode is used only when a header and/or a trailer is added to a data batch.

Encoder

Select which encoder to use in the list of available encoders either created in the Ultra Format Editor, or one of the default built-in encoders:

  • CSV Format
  • JSON Format
  • MZ Tagged Format
  • MZ Tagged Format (compressed)
CSV Format Specific Settings
UDR TypeSelect the UDR type you want the Decoder to send out. You can either select one of the predefined UDRs or the DynamicCsvUDR if the CSV format is not known.
Format

Select the CSV format you want to use: 

  • Unix
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Excel
  • Custom

If you select Custom, the following four settings will be enabled:

  • Delimiter
  • Use Quote
  • Quote
  • Line Break
DelimiterSpecify the delimiter character(s) for the fields in the CSV.
Use QuoteSelect this option if you want to use quotes in the CSV. The Quote field is enabled.
QuoteIf Use Quote is selected, enter the type of quote you want to use in the format.
Line BreakSpecify how line breaks are stated in the CSV.
JSON Format Specific Settings
Indented OutputSelect this option if you want the output to be indented.
Inline Map Field

Select this option if you want to process the dynamic field values from the Unmapped Fields setting in the Decoder. If you select Inline Map Field, you must specify:

  • UDR Type
  • Field
UDR TypeSpecify the UDR Type that is sent out by the Decoder. Click Browse to view the available UDR Types.
FieldSelect the UDR Field that you want to include.

Header/Trailer

The batch Encoder agent uses two specialized services that allows you to add header and trailer information into each data batch.

...

SettingDescription

Suppress On No Data

Select this option to avoid adding header or trailer to batches that do not contain any data (UDRs or bytearrays).

Value

Click on the Add button to add MIMs and their respective configurations into the Value section. They will be added in the order they are specified.

Add Header Content Settings

MIM Defined

Select this option to add a MIM value as part of the header.  Size and Padding must be entered as well.

Note
titleNote!

For data batch headers, the MIM values are gathered at beginBatch .


Size

Specify a fixed length of the item. It can only be omitted if the User Defined option is selected, in which case it will be calculated automatically.

Padding

Select which character to pad any remaining space with. You can either specify a user defined character or select from the following characters:

  • Carriage return
  • Line feed
  • Space
  • Tabulator

User Defined

Select this option if you want to enter a user defined constant. If the value defined in the Size field is empty or less than the number of characters in the constant, the value of Size is set to the number of characters in the constant. If  Size  is greater than the length of the constant,  Padding must be entered as well.

Pad Only

Select this option if you want to add a string according to the value entered in the Size field, filled with characters defined in the Padding field.

Alignment

Left or right alignment within the allocated field size.

Date Format

Enabled when a MIM of type date is selected. A Date Format Chooser dialog is opened, where a date format may be entered.

Thread Buffer

By default, a batch workflow uses one active thread at a time. By configuring a buffer storage for an agent, it will be possible for yet another thread to be created, this is also called multithreading. One thread will be populating the buffer, and another pulling it for data. Adding yet another buffer for another agent will add yet another thread, and so on.

...

The percentage values for Empty and Full must be as low as possible, and as equal as possible. The latter may be hard to achieve, since the agents may differ too much in processing complexity. If possible, add and configure another agent to take over some of the processing steps from the most complex agent.

Input/Output Data

Input Data

Selected predefined UDRs or bytarrays (if Suppress Encoding is selected).

Output Data

bytearrays

Transaction Behavior

The transaction behavior describes what commands the Encoder agent emits and retrieves that will alter the state of the file that is being processed.

Emits

The Encoder agent does not emit any commands.

Retrieves

The Encoder agent retrieves the following commands from other agents:

...