Type coercion

8min

This document describes how  behaves in situations when it receives values in expected and unexpected data formats.
When array is expected:
Received
Description
array
The value is handed over unchanged.
other
If the received value is not of the array type,  will create an array and the first (and the only) element will be the received value.
When Boolean is expected:
Received
Description
boolean
The value is handed over unchanged.
number
The value is converted to logical Yes, even if the value is 0
text
If the value is equal to false or the value is empty, it is converted to logical No. If not, it is converted to logical Yes
other
The value is converted to logical Yes whenever the received value exists (is not null).
When Buffer is expected:
Received
Description
buffer
The value is handed over unchanged only if the codepage is as expected. If the codepage differs,  will try to convert the received value to the requested codepage. If this conversion is not supported,  will return a validation error.
boolean
The value is converted to text (true/false) and then to binary data following the steps mentioned above for converting to text.
date
The value is converted to ISO 8601 text and then to binary data following the steps mentioned for converting to text.
number
The value is converted to text and then to binary data following the steps mentioned above for converting to text.
text
The value is converted to binary data and encoded as expected. If the expected encoding is not specified, utf8 encoding will be used.
other
﻿ returns a validation error.
When Collection is expected:
Received
Description
collection
The value is handed over unchanged.
other
﻿ returns a validation error.
When Date is expected:
Received
Description
date
The value is handed over unchanged.
text
﻿ will try to convert the text to a date. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error. Date must contain day, month and year. Date may contain time and time zone. Default time zone is based on your settings. See these examples﻿.
number
﻿ will treat the number as milliseconds since Jan 01 1970 (UTC) and convert it to a corresponding date.
other
﻿ returns a validation error.
When Number is expected:
Received
Description
number
The value is handed over unchanged.
text
﻿ will try to convert the text to a number. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error.
other
﻿ returns a validation error.
When Text is expected:
Received
Description
text
The value is handed over unchanged.
array
If the given array supports conversion to text, the value will be converted. If not,  will return a validation error.
boolean
The value is converted to text (true/false).
buffer
If text encoding is specified for binary data, the value will be converted to text. If not,  will return a validation error
date
The value is converted to ISO 8601 text.
number
The value is converted to text.
other
﻿ returns a validation error.
When Time is expected:
Received
Description
time
The value is handed over unchanged.
text
﻿ will try to convert time to the hours:minutes:seconds format. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error.
other
﻿ returns a validation error.
﻿

Received	Description
array	The value is handed over unchanged.
other	If the received value is not of the array type, will create an array and the first (and the only) element will be the received value.

Received	Description
boolean	The value is handed over unchanged.
number	The value is converted to logical Yes, even if the value is 0
text	If the value is equal to false or the value is empty, it is converted to logical No. If not, it is converted to logical Yes
other	The value is converted to logical Yes whenever the received value exists (is not null).

Received	Description
buffer	The value is handed over unchanged only if the codepage is as expected. If the codepage differs, will try to convert the received value to the requested codepage. If this conversion is not supported, will return a validation error.
boolean	The value is converted to text (true/false) and then to binary data following the steps mentioned above for converting to text.
date	The value is converted to ISO 8601 text and then to binary data following the steps mentioned for converting to text.
number	The value is converted to text and then to binary data following the steps mentioned above for converting to text.
text	The value is converted to binary data and encoded as expected. If the expected encoding is not specified, utf8 encoding will be used.
other	returns a validation error.

Received	Description
collection	The value is handed over unchanged.
other	returns a validation error.

Received	Description
date	The value is handed over unchanged.
text	will try to convert the text to a date. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error. Date must contain day, month and year. Date may contain time and time zone. Default time zone is based on your settings. See these examples.
number	will treat the number as milliseconds since Jan 01 1970 (UTC) and convert it to a corresponding date.
other	returns a validation error.

Received	Description
number	The value is handed over unchanged.
text	will try to convert the text to a number. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error.
other	returns a validation error.

Received	Description
text	The value is handed over unchanged.
array	If the given array supports conversion to text, the value will be converted. If not, will return a validation error.
boolean	The value is converted to text (true/false).
buffer	If text encoding is specified for binary data, the value will be converted to text. If not, will return a validation error
date	The value is converted to ISO 8601 text.
number	The value is converted to text.
other	returns a validation error.

Received	Description
time	The value is handed over unchanged.
text	will try to convert time to the hours:minutes:seconds format. If the conversion fails, it will return a validation error.
other	returns a validation error.

Item data types

Mapping