The Data Format resource contains the specification for parsing or rendering a text string using the Parse

Data and Render

Data activities. This shared configuration resource specifies the type of formatting for the text (delimited columns or fixedwidth columns), the column separator for delimited columns, the line separator, and the fill character and field offsets for
fixed-width columns. You must also specify the data schema to use for parsing or rendering the text.
delimited columns

fixed-width columns

Treat all characters as entered as a

single column separator string
The characters entered into the Col
Separator field are treated as a single
string that acts as a separator. For
example, if the specified Col Separator
is ":;", then Apple:;Orange:;Pear is
treated as three columns.
Treat each character entered as a
potential column separator
Any of the characters will act as a
column separator. For example, if the
specified Col Separator is ":;", then
Apple;Orange:Pear is treated as three
columns.

Treat all characters as entered as a single column separator string

The characters entered into the Col
Separator field are treated as a single
string that acts as a separator. For
example, if the specified Col Separator
is ":;", then Apple:;Orange:;Pear is
treated as three columns.
Treat each character entered as a potential
column separator
Any of the characters will act as a
column separator. For example, if the
specified Col Separator is ":;", then
Apple;Orange:Pear is treated as three
columns.

The Parse Data activity takes a text string or input from a file and processes it, turning it into a
schema tree based on the specified Data Format shared configuration.
Skip Blank Lines Skips any empty records when parsing the text input. When this field is unchecked,
parsing stops at the first blank line encountered in the input.

Allows you to specify the record in the input where you wish to start parsing. This is useful if you
have a large number of records and you wish to read the input in parts (to minimize memory usage).
Strict Validation: Validates every input line for the specified number of fields for the "Fixed Format"
text. For example, if the format states that there are three fields per line and this field is checked, all
lines in the input must contain three fields.
Example of Parse and Render data: conversion of fixed file into CSV file using parse and render
data. Parse data activity has used to process 2 records per iteration and accumulate o/p is
converted to CSV using render file.