How to search and replace when importing

Overview of the search and replace function

In the import module in Axis you have the option to set up a search and replace function that will search through your import data for certain terms and replace with the correct terms of strings. Functions are saved to mappings and can be used on subsequent imports.



Follow these steps to create a new search and replace function


To set up a function follow these steps.
  1. When editing a mapping in the third column select the drop down list to Add a new function and give the function a name.
  2. In the column labeled Search For select the terms that are in your import data that you would like to replace. Then in the adjacent column labeled Replace With, type in the term that you would like to replace with, you can have multiple search and replace terms.
  3. Click OK and the function will be saved to that mapping. When done you will return to the preview pane the function will replace any matching terms prior to import.


Note:
  • Search terms use case sensitive matching (ie use of Capitals and lowercase characters) so please make sure you match the case exactly  (ie Smith and smith search terms are different)
  • Need to replace a search term with an empty value or search on a empty value and replace with a term, that feature has been added to V15

Managing large sets of search and replace terms

Introduced in the V2023 version of Zed Axis is the feature to manage large sets of search and replace terms.  This is done through exporting and importing the search and replace terms to and from an Excel sheet.  Once the terms are in Excel it is easier to use the data processing features of Excel to manage large data sets.
  1. To create the Excel sheet template edit a search and replace function in Axis and on the menu click the Export button and Axis will create a new Excel sheet that you can save a copy.
  2. You can then edit this sheet in Excel to bulk update Search and Replace terms.  (note:  It is important to not change the Headers, format or structure of the Excel Template
  3. To import the updated Search and Replace terms back into Axis in the Edit Function screen click on the Import button and browse to the Excel file and then import it back in.

Feedback

The function feature should be expanded/enhanced to truncate numbers/characters so that imported numbers that exceed field length can be truncated to fit in the allowed space.
MICHAEL ESPARZA (8/16/2017 at 3:28 AM)
Hi Michael, thanks for the feedback - we have a new Trim type function coming in V15 that will do that.
Steve (12/7/2020 at 5:38 AM)