Academy
Transformation

Search Step

The Search step searches for a key value in a database and brings the corresponding columns to the output, similar to VLOOKUP. Use it when you need to enrich a dataset with information from another source. Search is located in the Combination category of the toolbar.

How to configure

The step requires two input transitions: the base where the search is performed (Port B) and the source with the value to be searched (Port P). Define the search rule and choose the columns that should appear in the output.

  • Search Rule: defines how the value is searched by combining three fields. You can create more than one rule using the + button and remove a rule using the trash icon. The key status can be Valid or Invalid.

  • Base Field Value: field containing all columns from the input transition that serve as a reference for the search.

  • Operator: defines the comparison criteria, including Equal, Contains, Greater than or Equal, Less than, and Less than or Equal.

  • Search Field: indicates the searched column. It must have the same data type as the Base Field Value.

  • Select Result Columns: defines and, if desired, renames the columns that will be part of the step's output.

  • Select: chooses one or more columns that will be part of the search rule. By default, all columns are selected.

  • Column Status: indicates whether the column is Valid or Invalid. The status becomes Invalid when the column used in the configuration is deleted in the input step, or when its data type is changed in the input step. In this status, the platform allows deleting the column.

  • Input: identifies which port the column belongs to, B (base data) or P (search data).

  • Source Name: shows all columns from the input step of each port. The values in this column are not editable.

  • Rename Column: allows changing the name the column will have in the step's output.

  • Close Button: closes the screen without saving and returns to the Designer.

  • Save Button: saves the settings.

Duplicate names: if there are columns with the same name in both input sources, rename one of them. The platform does not allow two columns with the same name.

Usage example

Consider two input sources. The base (Port B) has columns Business, Date, Account, Value, and Description, with four records (two for business A and two for business B). The search source (Port P) has columns Business, Description, and Department, with two records for business A (Expenses 1 and Credits 1).

The goal is to search Port P for information that matches the base. To do this, configure two rules using the Equal operator: Business compared with Business, and Description compared with Description. Then, select the result columns Business, Date, Account, Value, Description, and Department.

The output repeats the four records from the base, now including the Department column whenever there was a match: business A records receive Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, while business B records remain without a department because there was no match.

  • Merge Step

  • Consolidate Step

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