Mapping and Transforming Fields

Transformations refer to the conversion of the fields in an API provider's resource to match the fields in a virtual data resource. Transformations are the result of the process of creating a virtual data resource, and then mapping fields in an element instance resources to the virtual data resource. See Creating Virtual Data Resources for the steps to set up resources for transformation.

Map Fields to a Virtual Data Resource

Before you can transform fields, you need to map the fields for each element instance to a virtual data resource. The virtual data resource fields are on the left and the element instance resource fields are on the right.

You can map fields one at a time, or you can add several fields to the virtual data resource at once, and then map them later. These instructions describe mapping a single field at a time.

This section describes mapping to a virtual data resource at the organization level using the UI. You must be an organization level user to map to organization level fields. Go here for instructions about using the APIs.

To map fields:

1. Navigate to the Transformations page.
2. On the Transformations page, click Create New Transformation.

   

3. Select the Element Instance, and then select the Element Instance Resource.

   The Resources available to that Element Instance appear in the Element Instance Resources column after you select a resource.

   

   Tip: Use the search fields to find what you are looking for in long lists.
4. Beginning with the default field id, select a field on the right to map to id.

   

   Note: If you do not see the fields that you expect, switch on Load metadata by id, and use the id of an actual object in the resource. We'll then use the metadata associated with that object to populate the list of fields. See Transforming Custom Objects for details. 
5. Click  next to the Organization Level Fields to add another field.
   Note: You can add fields at the account and instance level also, but these steps focus on creating an organization level virtual data resource. 
6. Enter a name for the field, and then choose the data type if the field is something other than a string.
7. Optionally add a Display Name to more clearly identify a field with how it appears in an API provider's UI.
8. Select the corresponding field on the right to map to the new field.
   Note: You can type in the field to filter.
9. Continue adding resources until you finish, and then click Save.
10. To map the resource to another instance, click Transformations in the breadcrumbs at the top of the page.

Tips

• If a VDR has organization-level fields overridden by instance-level fields, the instance-level overrides will appear in the Organization Level Fields list, although they apply only to the specific instance they're mapped to.

  After you add an instance level field and click Save, the new instance level field will also appear in the above Organization Level Fields list, mirroring what you just added in Instance Level Fields. The new instance level field's place in the Organization Level Fields section indicates that it is applied in the particular instance, as the instance level overrides a corresponding organization-level field.

• If you made a mistake and don't want to include a field in a virtual data resource, click  . If you still want the field but want to remove the mapping, click .
• If you need to map a custom field, click , and then type a name. See Transforming Custom Objects for details.
• We use dot notation to show sub-objects in the element instance resources. If you need to create sub-objects in your virtual data resource, use dot notation. Examples include address.city, address.state, and address.street. See Working With Nested Objects for details.
• Use Javascript to Manage Complex Objects. See Javascript in Transformations for details.

Map and Transform Fields with the APIs

Map Fields to Create a Default Transformation

You can use several APIs to map resources depending on the level at which you want to map them. This section describes mapping fields for an organization-level default transformation. The result is a default transformation for all instances of a specific element.

To map fields:

1. Construct a JSON body as shown below. For descriptions of each parameter, see Transformation JSON Parameters.

    {
     "level":"organization",
     "vendorName":"<VENDOR_RESOURCE>",
     "fields":[
       {
         "path":"<VDR_FIELD>",
         "type":"<VDR_TYPE>",
         "vendorPath":"<VENDOR_FIELD>",
         "vendorType":"<VENDOR_TYPE>"
       }
     ]
   }

2. Call the following, including the JSON body from the previous step:

     POST /organizations/elements/{keyOrId}/transformations/{objectName}

   Note: Replace {keyOrId} with the element key or id and replace {objectName} with the name of the virtual data resource.

Transformation JSON Parameters

cURL Example

curl -X POST \
  https://api.cloud-elements.com/elements/api-v2/organizations/elements/sfdc/transformations/myContacts \
  -H 'authorization: User sAfK7LJGNz5ZHcNrvdJvLI=f03WbTbH6aRKc0HJ3oOIi, Organization 58168435e3b9959a929eb04b6218b9a2' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '
  {
  "level":"organization",
  "vendorName":"Contact",
  "fields":[
    {
      "type":"string",
      "path":"FirstName",
      "vendorPath":"FirstName"
    },
    {
      "type":"string",
      "path":"id",
      "vendorPath":"Id"
    },
    {
      "type":"string",
      "path":"LastName",
      "vendorPath":"LastName"
    },
    {
      "type":"date",
      "path":"birthdate",
      "vendorPath":"Birthdate",
      "vendorType":"date",
      "configuration":[

      ]
    }
  ]
}'

curl -X POST \
  https://api.cloud-elements.com/elements/api-v2/instances/{id}/objects/{objectName}/definitions \
  -H 'authorization: User sAfK7LJGNz5ZHcNrvdJvLI=f03WbTbH6aRKc0HJ3oOIi, Organization 58168435e3b9959a929eb04b6218b9a2' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '
  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "type": "string",
        "path": "title"
      }
    ]
  }'

curl -X POST \
  https://api.cloud-elements.com/elements/api-v2/instances/{id}/transformations/{objectName} \
  -H 'authorization: User sAfK7LJGNz5ZHcNrvdJvLI=f03WbTbH6aRKc0HJ3oOIi, Organization 58168435e3b9959a929eb04b6218b9a2' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '
  {
    "vendorName": "Contact",
    "level": "instance",
    "fields": [
      {
        "path": "title",
        "type":"string",
        "vendorPath": "Title"
      }
    ]
  }'

curl -X POST \
  https://api.cloud-elements.com/elements/api-v2/accounts/objects/{objectName}/definitions \
  -H 'authorization: User sAfK7LJGNz5ZHcNrvdJvLI=f03WbTbH6aRKc0HJ3oOIi, Organization 58168435e3b9959a929eb04b6218b9a2' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '
  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "type": "string",
        "path": "title"
      }
    ]
  }'

curl -X POST \
  https://api.cloud-elements.com/elements/api-v2/api-v2/accounts/{id}/objects/{objectName}/definitions \
  -H 'authorization: User sAfK7LJGNz5ZHcNrvdJvLI=f03WbTbH6aRKc0HJ3oOIi, Organization 58168435e3b9959a929eb04b6218b9a2' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '
  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "type": "string",
        "path": "title"
      }
    ]
  }'

curl -X POST \
  https://api.cloud-elements.com/elements/api-v2/accounts/{id}/elements/{keyOrIdtransformations}/{objectName} \
  -H 'authorization: User sAfK7LJGNz5ZHcNrvdJvLI=f03WbTbH6aRKc0HJ3oOIi, Organization 58168435e3b9959a929eb04b6218b9a2' \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "vendorName": "Contact",
    "level": "account",
    "fields": [
      {
        "path": "title",
        "type":"string",
        "vendorPath": "Title"
      }

  }'

Javascript in Transformations

You can use custom Javascript when the basic object mapping does not meet your needs. For example, you might need to break a single address object into its component parts (address.city, address.state, address.street, and address.zip).

To access the custom Javascript functionality:

• Click .

Virtual data resource functions include the parameters and functions in the following table:

Virtual Data Resource Custom JS Parameters and Functions

Libraries

• CE: Our custom library that provides some common functionality. It is not necessary to require this library, it is available by default.
  • CE.randomString(): Generate a random string (approx. 10 characters long).
  • CE.randomEmail(): Generate a random email address.
  • CE.md5(str): Create an MD5 hash from a string value. Takes a string as a parameter. Returns a string.
  • CE.b64(str): Encode a string in base64. Takes a string as a parameter. Returns a string.
  • CE.decode64(str): Decode a string from base64, using UTF-8 encoding. Takes a string as a parameter. Returns a string.
  • CE.hmac(algo)(enc)(secret, str): HMAC hash a string (str) using the provided secret (secret), algorithm (algo), and encoding (enc). See https://nodejs.org/api/crypto.html#crypto_class_hmac for more information about the algorithm and encoding parameters.
  • CE.hmac[algo][enc](secret, str): This is a set of convenience functions that allow HMAC hashing using some common algorithms and encodings. For example, CE.hmacSha1Hex(secret, str) will create an HMAC SHA1 hash of the provided string, using the provided secret, and return a hex string. You can replace algo and enc with the following values: algo: Sha1, Sha256, Md5 enc: Hex, base64
• Lodash: The popular lodash library. To use this library, simply require it in your script. It is possible to use the library modules, as well, such as lodash/fp.
• Util: The standard Node util library. To use, require it in your script.

Examples

• Adding fields to a resource when a certain endpoint does not provide them:

  function (originalObject, transformedObject, fromVendor, done) {
  transformedObject.isCreatedThisYear = (fromVendor && transformedObject.createdDt > '2016-01-01');
  done(transformedObject);
  }

• Two endpoints identify priority differently: one users numbers (1 or 2) and the other descriptions (low or high).

  function (originalObject, transformedObject, fromVendor, done) {
  if (!fromVendor) done(transformedObject); // only care when returning data from the vendor
  
  transformedObject.priority = transformedObject.priorityNumber === 1 ? 'low' : 'high'; // we prefer our priority to be the string representation, so we convert the endpoints "priorityNumber" field to the appropriate string representation here.
  
  done(transformedObject);
  }

• Combining FirstName and LastName fields.

  function (originalObject, transformedObject, fromVendor, done) {
  if transformedObject.Name = originalObject.FirstName + '  ' + originalObject.LastName;
  done(transformedObject);
  }

Transforming Custom Objects

If you do not see an object that you expect in the instance resources you can either use an id of an actual object to load its metadata or manually enter the object name. This sometime happens for custom objects you created at the endpoint.

To load object metadata:

1. Switch on Load metadata by id.
2. Enter an actual id associated with an object in the resource.
3. Click Load.

We'll use the metadata associated with that object to populate the list of fields.

To manually map a custom object:

1. Click  next to the field.

   The list becomes a text entry field.

2. Enter the name of the object.

   
   

Removing Fields During Transformation

We pass through all fields in the JSON on both requests and responses. However, you can choose to remove all unmapped fields or specific fields from requests or responses.

To remove unmapped fields:

1. On the Transformations page, click  next to your element instance. 
2. Switch Remove Unmapped Fields to on.
3. Click Save.

To remove fields from requests or responses:

1. On the Transformations page, click  next to the field. 

2. Switch on or off the sliders for the requests or responses.

   For example, in the following configuration, we remove the data.id field from the response.

   

Transforming Data Types

You can transform the data types on vendor objects. In most cases, you only need to select a new data type, but for dates you also provide a mask, or date format.

To change data types:

1. On the Transformations page, click  next to the field.
2. Select a type from the list.
3. If you select date, add a date format to the Date Mask.

Setting Default Values

If no values exist for a specific field, but you do not want to remove it, you can set a default value on both the response and request.

To set a default value:

1. On the Transformations page, click  next to the field.
2. Click Default Request Value or Default Response Value, and then type the value.
3. Click Save.

Testing Your Transformations

After you set up your mapping, you can test your transformations.

To test a transformation:

1. On the Transformations page, click .
2. Enter required information such as the object's Id.
3. Review the transformed response body. This is the response containing only the fields in your virtual data resource.
4. Click Original to see the entire response JSON payload.
5. Test a Put or Patch by selecting the appropriate method, and then entering the JSON request.
   Tip: Copy the JSON payload from Transformed.

6. Click Run.

Adding Your Virtual Data Resource to the API Docs

You can add the virtual data resource you create to the instances of each affected element.

To add a virtual data resource to API docs:

1. On the Transformations page, click  next to your element instance.
2. Switch Add to API Docs on.
3. Click Save.

To confirm that the virtual data resource is added to your API docs:

1. Go to an element instance.
2. Hover over the instance card, and the click API Docs.
3. Scroll to your virtual data resource.

Working with Nested Objects

We display sub-objects in dot notation. You can also use dot notation to nest objects in your virtual data resource. For example, you might want to create nested address fields like those shown in the example below:

The JSON result of this nested object:

{
  "Address":{
    "city":"Cambridge",
    "state":"MA",
    "street":"1234567 Elm St",
    "zip":"99999"
  }
}

Map Complex Objects

You can use regular expressions as values for the JSON body parameters.

Examples:

• Get the value of the name field from the Products array where id = 4.

  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "path": "AppleIpadName",
        "vendorPath": "Products[id=4].name"
      }
    ]
  }

• Get the value of the name field from the Products array where id = 2.

  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "path": "AppleNewProductName",
        "vendorPath": "details.Products[?(@.id==2)].name"
      }
    ]
  }

• Get the touchId value from the Products array with id=2 which is inside the features object.

  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "path": "AppleTouchProductId",
        "vendorPath": "Products[?(@.features.touchId==true)].id"
      }
    ]
  }

• Get the Id value of the Products array at index 0.

  {
    "fields": [
      {
        "path": "AppleProductId",
        "vendorPath": "Products[0].id"
      }
    ]
  }

• Get a count of the Products array.

{
  "fields": [
    {
      "path": "AppleProductsCount",
      "vendorPath": "Products[*].size()"
    }
  ]
}

Using the CEQL Query Override Field

Cloud Elements provides a query override field for any elements whose native search specifications are different from the standard fields implemented on the resource in Cloud Elements. For example, if you are using the Hubspot Marketing element and want to search for a customer's email, you would query on person.email, as opposed to simply "email," a more commonly used field. This means that when mapping Hubspot Marketing fields in a transformation, you must override the EMAIL field with PERSON.EMAIL in order to successfully use the search; otherwise, you will receive an invalid expression type error.

If the Query Field Name is left blank, the mapped field value will be used. 

To use the query override field with a VDR, complete these steps:

1. Log in to Cloud Elements and click Virtual Data Resources.
2. On the My Resources tab, hover over the VDR and click Mappings.
3. On the Mappings tab, find the field whose name you want to override and click the Field Settings button.
4. On the Field Settings drawer, enter the overriding value to query at the endpoint in the Query Field Name field, and then click Save.
5. To test the query override, click the Try It Out button.

Known Elements

All elements support the CEQL query override field. However, some elements may need to use it more frequently than others based on the naming of their fields. See the element's documentation for additional information.

• Marketo
• Hubspot Marketing