Append Operator

The Append operator lets you combine values from two different fields. But the Append operator does not add the values as the Aggregate operator does. Instead, the Append operator combines your values into one value. Suppose you want to create a unique username from a first name and last name. If you enter the first name of Willow and the last name of Kusko in separate fields, the Append operator combines the values as WillowKusko.

The Append operator is not limited to input fields. It also lets you append data tables. Let's say you collected names and birth dates in two different parts of your application. You can use the Append operator to combine them.

Similar Data Workflow Operators

The Append operator is like the Extend and Aggregate operators. Here are the operators compared:

• Append operator: Combines strings or arrays together. It appends strings using concatenation and appends two arrays into one.

• Extend operator: Combines two objects into a single object. The Extend operator is typically used with Group Input operators to create objects with more than six fields.

• Aggregate operator: Performs calculations on two or more numbers. This operator supports the Sum By, Count By, Mean By, Max By, and Min By operations.

About the Info Window

Here's a breakdown of each setting in the Append operator's Info window:

Adding an Append Operator

In this example, you'll configure a Data Workflow and an Append operator to combine two values. First, you'll configure Text Field components to serve as your inputs. Then, you'll use a Data Workflow to append the values.

Configure the Text Field Components

Configure two Text Field components to serve as your input fields. Then, configure a third to serve as the output for your Data Workflow.

1. In the Module Builder, drag and drop three Text Field components onto your canvas.

2. In the Property ID and Label Text fields for each component, enter the following:

   #	Property ID	Label Text
   1	firstString	First String
   2	secondString	Second String
   3	appendedValue	Appended Value

3. In the appendedValue Text Field component,  from the Input Behavior drop-down, select Disable User Input.

   

4. Click Save Component for each component as you add it.

Configure the Data Workflow Component

Next, configure a Data Workflow component with two Input operators that are used to bring data from the input Text Field components into the Data Workflow. Then, you'll configure an Append operator to combine the values and pass the result to an Output operator.

1. Drag and drop a Data Workflow component onto your canvas, placing it above your appendedValue Text Field component.

2. In the Property ID and Canvas Label Text fields, enter dwfAppendStrings.

3. Set the Trigger Type to Watch.

Configure the First Input Operator

1. Drag and drop an Input operator onto your Data Workflow canvas.

2. Configure the operator's Info window as follows:

   Info
   Category	Input
   Component	firstString
   Required	Yes
   Source	Default

Configure the Second Input Operator

1. Drag and drop another Input operator onto your Data Workflow canvas.

2. Configure the operator's Info window as follows:

   Info
   Category	Input
   Component	secondString
   Required	Yes
   Source	Default

Configure the Append Operator

1. Drag and drop an Append operator onto your Data Workflow canvas.

2. Configure the operator's Info window as follows:

   Info
   Category	Append
   Label	Append Strings

3. Connect the output port (right) of the firstString Input operator to the upper input port (left) of the Append Strings Append operator.

4. Connect the output port (right) of the secondString Input operator to the lower input port (left) of the Append Strings Append operator.

Configure the Output Operator

1. Drag and drop an Output operator onto your Data Workflow canvas.

2. Configure the operator's Info window as follows:

   Info
   Category	Output
   Component	appendedValue
   Action	value

3. Connect the output port (right) of the Append Strings Append operator to the input port (left) of the appendedValueOutput operator.

4. Click Save Component.

5. Save your module.

Here's how the completed Data Workflow looks:

Here's how the completed example looks in the Module Builder:

Preview your module in Express View and enter values into your Text Field components. As you enter your values, you can view them combined in the Appended Value field.