Convert

Goal

Use convert to parse the values of an input source, using a java method, before it enters the anonymization logic described in the .ano file.

The difference between a convert and a transform is that a convert is done on an input source and a transform is done on the output of the anonymization rule , i.e., the output of the format string.

Use cases for convert

Use convert when writing

• randomize rules, because the input source values are read as strings by default
• mask rules, when you want to convert an input source before doing the anonymization operation
  • This may be required by your business logic
    • E.g., converting a date field to an int field giving current age since date

For simple conversions, use the built-in conversion functions described below. For business specific logic, you will need to write your own conversion function.

Ano Structure and Examples

Structure

    update <table>
        mask <column>
            format %s
            column <column>
                convert <conversion-function>
        ...
        randomize <colummn>
            type <type>
            format <format>
            convert <conversion-function>
            offset <offset>
            flat-noise <flat-noise>
            percentage-noise <percentage-noise>

String2Decimal Randomize Example

        ...
        randomize INITIALPRICE
            type decimal
            format %.2f
            convert String2Decimal
            offset 0.0
            flat-noise 0.0
            percentage-noise 1.0
        ...

Custom ParseDigits Example

// importing custom conversion function
conversion example.anonymizer.conversions.ParseDigits

task <task-name> {
    update ADDRESS
        mask POSTALCODE
            format %s
            column POSTALCODE
                convert ParseDigits
}

Built-in Conversion functions

All input to the randomize function is read as a string. Replace <conversion-function> with the correct conversion function, defined by the input source type and desired format:

Type	Conversion Function	Return type	Expected format from conversion
Date	String2Date	java.time.LocalDate	yyyy-MM-dd
DateTime	String2DateTime	java.time.LocalDateTime	yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss
Time	String2Time	java.time.Time	HH:mm:ss
Integer	String2Integer	java.lang.Integer	Decimal integer with or without sign
Decimal	String2Decimal	java.lang.Double	Decimal number as accepted by the valueOf method in class Double

Custom Conversions

If you want to write your own conversions, see Custom Conversions for details.