ModernEDI

Docs / Mapper Text Lists

Split packed text into lists

When a partner packs several lot codes or references into one text field, use split(text, separator) to make those values available to the collection functions.

Choose a literal separator

toJson(split("LOT-A,LOT-B", ","))
// ["LOT-A","LOT-B"]

toJson(split("A||B||", "||"))
// ["A","B",""]

The separator must be a nonempty string. It is matched literally, including characters such as ., |, and *; it is not a regular expression. Multi-character separators are supported. Text before the first separator and after the last separator is retained.

The input can be a string or a list containing exactly one string or X12 element. For example, split(ST->BEG(03), "-") splits the purchase order number. X12 elements use their original text, retaining leading zeros and decimal formatting. The result is a new, mutable list of strings.

Preserve empty fields and whitespace

toJson(split(",A,,B,", ","))
// ["","A","","B",""]

toJson(split("", ","))
// [""]

toJson(trim(split("LOT-A, LOT-B", ",")))
// ["LOT-A","LOT-B"]

Leading, trailing, and consecutive separators produce empty fields. An empty string produces one empty field; text without the separator produces one unchanged field. Splitting does not trim whitespace or remove duplicates. Apply trim or a collection filter explicitly when those transformations are appropriate.

An empty selection is different from an empty text value. Guard optional data before splitting it, or supply a fallback such as split(firstNonEmpty(ST->N1?(02), ""), ",").

Combine values from several fields

packedLots = ["LOT-A, LOT-B", "LOT-A"]
lots = set(flatMap(text in packedLots => trim(split(text, ","))))
toJson(lots)
// ["LOT-A","LOT-B"]

flatMap combines each field's split results into one list; set removes duplicates while retaining the first occurrence. Use forEach(text in packedLots => split(text, ",")) when each field should keep its own nested list. Passing several fields directly to split reports an error instead of choosing a result shape implicitly.

The resulting values work with the other collection helpers:

values = split("B,A,B", ",")
print(join(orderBy(value in set(values) => value), "|"))
// A|B

Resolve input errors

  • E4801: The input is not text or a single text/X12 element. For example, split(123, ",") fails; use split("123", ",") for text.
  • E4802: An input list or element selection contains zero or multiple values. For split(["A,B","C,D"], ","), use flatMap or forEach to split each value explicitly.
  • E4803: The separator is empty or is not a string. Replace split("A,B", "") with split("A,B", ",").
  • E3205: The input is a segment selection. Select an element, such as ST->BEG(03), instead of passing ST->BEG.

The Mapper Built-ins reference contains the complete signature and examples. Save representative packed values as mapping test cases to preserve your partner's delimiter and empty-field rules.