How do I convert a string into a checkbox with Data Exchange Framework?

Question

Sitecore 9.0.2, DEF 2.0.1

As part of my data import, I need to bring in a Status column that contains two possible values:

• Active
• Inactive

I want to represent these as a checkbox field in Sitecore, but I can't figure out how to convert them.

I found this question from an older version of DEF, but the interface for IValueReaders has changed requires a different return value for the conversion process.

Is there an easy way to accomplish this?

Answer 1

There is actually a built-in value reader for this: the Description to Code Value Reader. It works by defining a set of code definitions which map a "code" (int) to a "description" (string). To use it:

Create your code definition set and code definitions

1. In your Data Exchange tenant under the Tenant Settings/Common folder, add a new Code Definition Sets Root folder
   • Template Path: /sitecore/templates/Data Exchange/Framework/Code Definitions/Code Definition Sets Root
   • Template ID: {88A5FB53-E56B-404F-BA17-8F55013A03CC}
2. Add a Code Definition Set to that folder
3. Add Code Definitions to the Code Definition Set
   • Active
     • Item Name: Active
     • Value: 1
   • Inactive
     • Item Name: Inactive
     • Value: 0

Add the value reader and use it

1. In your Data Exchange tenant under the Data Access/Value Readers/Common folder, add a new Description to Code Value Reader
2. In the Code Definition Set field, select your recently-created Code Definition Set
3. In the Value Mapping item for the field, set the Source Value Transformer field to your new value reader