# Function Transformations

*Function Transformations* apply built-in expressions on the incoming data to transform it according to the expression’s logic.

There are several built-in functions in Astera that help in string manipulation, data conversion, time manipulation, calculations, comparisons, and data parsing.

## **Name and Address**

*Name and Address Parser* is a collection of built-in functions in the *Function Transformations* section. The functions in this category process the input stream of *Name* and *Address* data and give elements such as *Suffix, First Name, Last Name, City, Country, Street, Zip code,* etc. as parsed outputs.

In this section, we will learn how to parse name and address strings using built-in function transformations in Astera.

In this case, we have sample data coming in from a Fixed-Length File Source.

![](/files/xeUNGX3B8j0ANlCtHvg1)

The source file contains the Name, Contact, and Address details of customers.

Preview data by right-clicking on the source object’s header > *Preview Output.*

![](/files/YvPhwkejPrFbsFF3GrN1)

A *Data Preview* window opens up displaying the information in each field.

![](/files/qmR2xKC3NXztPGUkh93h)

## **Using Name Parser**

Now, we want to parse the *Name* field into Suffix, First Name, Last Name, etc.

For this purpose, we will use the *Name Parser Function Transformation*.

1. To get a *Name Parser Function Transformation*, go to *Toolbox > Function Transformations > Name and Address > ParseName(String name) - ParsedName.*

![](/files/ACbsqp5rOI8Jhcn7TyaG)

2. Drag and drop the *Parse Name* object onto the designer.

![](/files/0QAl62U0nRUwDflH9n2w)

You can see that the dragged transformation object has two sub-nodes - *Input* and *Output*.

3. Expand the *Input* node and map the *Name* field from the *Sample Data* object to the *name* field inside the *Parse Name* object.

![](/files/XP6hUa7H5kCbAqxYm0lD)

4. Right-click on the *Parse Name* object’s header and select *Preview Output* from the context menu.

![](/files/HSiYafY2PuRVFzxqZbIh)

A *Data Preview* window will open, displaying parsed data for the *Name* field.

![](/files/WSZ5XvAXb0FnXoe6nmbb)

To store this output, write it to a destination file.

5. Right-click on the *Output* sub-node inside the *Parse Name* object and go to *Write to > Excel Workbook Destination*.

![](/files/HFd4tbyMaVkXIcnq5qEP)

An *Excel Workbook Destination* object is added to the dataflow designer with auto-mapped fields.

![](/files/mkTV8jSPyuBTyWYnJckZ)

6. Configure settings for the [*Excel Workbook Destination*](https://documentation.astera.com/v/astera-data-stack-v7/dataflows/destinations/excel-workbook-destination) object.
7. Click on the *Start Dataflow* button placed in the toolbar at the top to create this destination file.

![](/files/bpokGCOzGR7HtOAOH0El)

## **Using Address Parser**

Now, we want to parse the *Address* field into Country, City, Street, Zip Code, etc.

For this purpose, we will use *Address Parser Function Transformation*.

1. To get an *Address Parser Function Transformation*, go to *Toolbox > Function Transformations > Name and Address > ParseAddressUS(String fullAddress, String outputCase) - ParsedAddress*.

![](/files/XF8G93ApN2YlJSU5qCD2)

2. Drag and drop the *Parse Address US* object onto the designer.

![](/files/UYCxZb6dr53TjgWTVJXV)

You can see that the dragged transformation object has two sub-nodes - *Input* and *Output*.

3. Expand the *Input* node and map the *Address* field from the *Sample Data* object to the *fullAddress* field inside the *Parse Address US* object.

![](/files/OoViuC6dPtatK6uYD70j)

4. Right-click on the *Parse Address US* object’s header and select *Preview Output* from the context menu.

![](/files/vUXDNddGXy3mWPz5png5)

A *Data Preview* window will open, displaying parsed data for the *Address* field.

![](/files/APSPdgoVnonakYXUY2Gm)

To store this output, write the parsed data to a destination file.

5. Right-click on the *Output* sub-node inside the *Parse Address US* object, and go to *Write to > Excel Workbook Destination*.

![](/files/Ph40QZHfTo8w3t8rVigt)

An *Excel Workbook Destination* object is added to the dataflow designer with auto-mapped fields.

![](/files/N691B2ooOSUUg9ysTBH0)

6. Configure settings for the [*Excel Workbook Destination*](https://documentation.astera.com/v/astera-data-stack-v7/dataflows/destinations/excel-workbook-destination) object.
7. Click on the *Start Dataflow* button placed in the toolbar at the top to create this destination file.

![](/files/OAlmBLM5wj4vO3E82TTy)


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