Introduction

At the time of writing, the Convert XML to RecordsetClosed The Convert XML to Recordset tool is used to convert XML data into a flat-format BPA Platform recordset, allowing the data to be used by recordset-only consuming tools. This could then be used to power alerts via fax, email, or SMS, create reports, power a workflow, perform FTP transfer, and so on. tool outputs all recordset columns as a string data type. Format as HTML ProClosed The Format as HTML Pro tool is used to create a task step that produces single or multiple HTML documents. You can choose to create the HTML template from scratch or import a pre-existing template. Recordsets and other task step properties can also be used to populate the HTML document to product dynamic content documents. These documents can then be consumed and then delivered by Output or Execute task steps. cannot aggregate non-numerical data types. You must manually set the data type of the relevant fields in your Format as HTML Pro step:

This article guides you through the necessary steps to aggregate string columns.

Adjusting the Data Type

The following procedure assumes you have already started a task where a Convert XML to Recordset is outputting a recordset to be consumed by a Format as HTML Pro step:

  1. Add a Format as HTML Pro step and go to the Data tab.
  2. From the Input Recordsets pane on the left, expand the relevant Results from ... node.
  3. Right-click the field you want to aggregate and select Properties.
  4. Change Default to be False — This tells the Format as HTML Pro step to not use the default data type as dictated by the recordset, but instead to use the settings configured here.
  5. Choose the correct Data Type from the drop-down.
  6. To use the numerical cultural settings of the host computer leave Culture as (Default), else choose from the drop-down.
  7. Specify the number of Decimal Places expected in the consumed recordset.

    Format as HTML Pro - Data Tab - Adjust Data Types

  8. Click OK.
  9. Add the Results from ... node to the Structure and apply templates as required.
  10. Complete the rest of the Format as HTML Pro step and the task.
  11. Queue the task and ensure the aggregation totals are correct.