Manage dynamic outputs for a command

To create a variable from a command's output, use dynamic outputs. Dynamic outputs are rules to extract a value or list of values from a command's output, such as for use later in the chain. You can add multiple dynamic outputs to a command using:

• An exact match, based on specific text at the start or end of values to extract
• Regular expression (regex), to match values based on a specific pattern or sequence

For example, if a command outputs a text file with values used with commands later in the chain, extract those values via a dynamic output for the File Utils connector's List File Content command.

Note: Dynamic outputs have a max string match size of 1024 characters. If the match exceeds this length then nothing is returned.

Test a dynamic output

To help ensure a dynamic output creates the desired result, test its criteria with sample values before you create it. For example, you can test a dynamic output with phone number data:

(381) 782-5259
(511) 545-6132
(220) 476-8339
(837) 516-4312

1. In the chain, select the command with the output to extract from, and click Edit  create.
2. Select Dynamic Outputs  flash_on, and click Test.
3. In Value to test, enter sample content indicative of the command output used with the dynamic output.
4. Enter the regex or exact match criteria to use with the dynamic output. For example, to extract the area codes from the sample phone numbers:
   • As Exact match:
     • In Start and End, enter the opening and closing parentheses, ( and ), respectively.
     • To include the parentheses in the extracted value, select Include start and Include End.
   • As Regular Expression (regex) match:
     • In Match type, enter the regular expression \(([0-9]*)\), which matches digits between parentheses.
     • In Match result, enter $0 to display the whole matched value including the parentheses, or $1 for only the matched digits without the parentheses.
5. Click Submit, and verify the results match the desired output.

Create a dynamic output based on an exact match

1. In the chain, select the command with the output to extract from, and click Edit  create.
2. Select Dynamic Outputs  flash_on, and click Add Dynamic Output.
3. Enter a unique name to help identify the dynamic output.
4. In Original output, select which of the command's outputs to extract from.
5. In Match type, select Exact.
6. Enter the text that indicates the start or end of the strings to extract, and select whether to include the matched text in the extracted value.
7. To match text in only specific strings of the output, enter the lines to check.
   • To include a range of lines, use a dash -, such as 1-10 for lines 1 through 10.
   • To separate lines or ranges, use a comma ,, such as 1-10,13 for lines 1 through 10 and line 13.
8. In Output type, select whether to extract a single value or multiple values.

   Note: An output type of Multiple creates a JSON array of up to 1,000 items, which you can use with command or command group iterations.

9. To consider character casing when matching text, select Case sensitive.
10. To trim leading or trailing white space from matched text, select Trim matches.
11. Click Save.

Create a dynamic output based on regular expression

1. In the chain, select the command with the output to extract from, and click Edit  create.
2. Select Dynamic Outputs  flash_on, and click Add Dynamic Output.
3. Enter a unique name to help identify the dynamic output.
4. In Original output, select which of the command's outputs to extract from.
5. In Match type, select Regular Expression (regex).
   
6. In Match text, enter the regex syntax to use to match values to extract.
7. In Match result, enter the syntax for how to display the matched value. For example:
   • For the whole matched value, enter $0.
   • For the parenthesized matched value, enter $1.
8. To match text in only specific strings of the output, enter the lines to check.
   • To include a range of lines, use a dash -, such as 1-10 for lines 1 through 10.
   • To separate lines or ranges, use a comma ,, such as 1-10, 13 for lines 1 through 10 and line 13.
9. In Output type, select whether to extract a single value or multiple values.

   Note: An output type of Multiple creates a JSON array of up to 1,000 items, which you can use with command or command group iterations.

10. Click Save.

Delete a dynamic output

To remove a dynamic output from a command:

1. In the chain, select the command with the output to extract from, click Edit  create, and select Dynamic Outputs  flash_on.
2. For the dynamic output to remove, click Delete delete.