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5/5

split(): turn a CSV header and row into a record

Hard

A contacts file starts with a header line naming its columns, then one line per person. Given the header and one data line, return the person as a record whose field names come from the header.

"name,email" and "Ann,ann@example.com" give a!map(name: "Ann", email: "ann@example.com").

Rules

  • spaces around names and values are ignored
  • a blank column in the header, like the middle of "name,,city", is skipped, together with whatever value sits in that column
  • a data line that is too short gives "" for the missing values

Watch out

  • Each value belongs to the column at the same position.
  • Dropping a blank header on its own would shift every later value into the wrong field, so pick the positions to keep and read both lists at those positions.

Inputs

  • ri!header: Text
  • ri!row: Text

ri! Rule Inputs

ri!headerText
"name,email,city"
ri!rowText
"Ann,ann@example.com,Pune"

Example 1: A clean line

Input: ri!header
"name,email,city"
Input: ri!row
"Ann,ann@example.com,Pune"
Output:
a!map(name: "Ann", email: "ann@example.com", city: "Pune")

Example 2: Spaces everywhere

Input: ri!header
" name , email "
Input: ri!row
" Bo ,  bo@example.com "
Output:
a!map(name: "Bo", email: "bo@example.com")

Example 3: A blank column is skipped, not shifted

Input: ri!header
"name,,city"
Input: ri!row
"Cy,IGNORED,Delhi"
Output:
a!map(name: "Cy", city: "Delhi")

Example 4: A short data line

Input: ri!header
"name,email,city"
Input: ri!row
"Di"
Output:
a!map(name: "Di", email: "", city: "")

Example 5: A trailing comma in the header

Input: ri!header
"name,city,"
Input: ri!row
"Ed,Goa"
Output:
a!map(name: "Ed", city: "Goa")

Appian Expression Tips

  • • Use ri!variableName for rule inputs
  • • Use a!localVariables(local!x: …, body) for locals
  • • Use a!forEach(items: …, expression: fv!item) to iterate
  • • Use where() / reject(fn!isnull, list) to filter