Removing non-alphanumeric characters using Convert function

[abc123]

I am trying to remove all non-alphanumeric characters from a string. Two questions:
1)How do you do:

Convert("""", MyString)?
This does not compile. Gives a validation error.

2)Is there any way to do it in PX without writing a routine? I went through all the posts here but I don't see a PX solution.

[DSguru2B]

Convert() requires three arguments.
Try something like

Code: Select all

Convert("~!@#$%^&*()_+=-`,./;[]\|}{:?>< ", "", in.Col)

That should be close.

[abc123]

DSGuru2B, thank you for your response. Yes, I am aware that Convert requires 3 arguments. I made a mistake in my first post. I was already doing the exact same thing that you posted. The error happens because of the 2 double quotes.

If I put in a double quote as follows:

Convert("~!@#$%^&*()_+=-`,./;[]\|}{:?>< "", "", MyString)

it gives a validation error. I tried putting in 2 double quotes together so that the compiler translates into one but it also gives the same validation error.

Also, I was looking for a solution that would also take care of all non-alphanumeric characters including non-printable characters.

[ray.wurlod]

There are three quote characters available. Surround the string with one of the others. Concatenate if you must.

Code: Select all

Convert('"':"'", "", InLink.TheString)

The first piece is a double quote character surrounded by single quote characters, the second piece is a single quote character surrounded by double quote characters.

[abc123]

Thanks Ray. It worked. Can you tell me if there is a way in PX jobs to only keep alphanumeric characters and strip everything else including non-printable characters without using a routine and Ascii codes?

[DSguru2B]

The Convert() function will work to retain only alphanumeric characters. But for non-printable characters, I think you will have to go the routine route.

[ray.wurlod]

You will need a routine or a BASIC Transformer stage.

[ady]

You will need a routine or a BASIC Transformer stage.

Ray , How can we do it in basic transformer without a routine ?

[JoshGeorge]

Try this: Put an external filter and use unix command in your job to strip non alphanumeric characters

[DSguru2B]

Ray , How can we do it in basic transformer without a routine ?

Use OCONV/ICONV with MCP format to convert all nonprintable characters to a dot. Then use the above convert statement to extract only alphabets and numers.