REPEAT Function

• Since the REPEAT function matches based on fixed numeric values, changes to the length or structure of a data field can cause your recipe to fail to properly execute.
• The REPEAT function requires an integer value for the number of characters to match.

Basic Usage

String literal example:

derive type:single value:REPEAT('ha',3)

Output: The string hahaha is written to the new column.

Column reference example:

derive type:single value:REPEAT(MyString,4)

Output: The values of the MyString column value are written four times in a row to the new column. 

Syntax and Arguments

derive type:single value:REPEAT(column_string,rpt_count)

For more information on syntax standards, see Language Documentation Syntax Notes.

column_string

Name of the column or String literal to be repeated.

• Missing string or column values generate missing string results.
• String constants must be quoted ('Hello, World').
• Multiple columns and wildcards are not supported.

Usage Notes:

rpt_count

Count of times to repeat the string.

• If the value is not specified, the default is 1.
• Value must a non-negative integer. 
• References to columns of integer data type are not supported.

Usage Notes:

Examples

Example - REPEAT string function

Source:

Transform:

derive type:single value:REPEAT(myStr,repeat_count) as:'repeat_string'

Results:

Example - padding a string

In this example, the prodId values are supposed to be 8 characters in length. Somewhere in the analytics pipeline, the leading 0's were stripped. The following steps add them back.

Source:

Transform:

First, you must calculate how many leading 0's need to be added back for each line:

derive type:single value: 8 - LEN(prodId) as:'lenPad'

Build the pad string based on the above value:

derive type:single value:REPEAT('0',lenPad) as:'padString'

Combine the above string with the prodId value:

merge col: string,repeat_count as: 'column1'

Results:

After you remove the intermediate columns and rename column1 to prodId, you should have the following: