I strongly believe that the Functions course is one the most productive training that any ACL user can receive. As a stand alone course it lasts usually about a day. I never give any training that does not include some functions. A full day dealing almost exclusively with functions is an excellent par of any ACL skills training program or workshop.

Functions

1.   Basic Concepts

           1.1 The four data types in ACL

           1.2 Physical fields

                  1.2.1 Simple

                  1.2.2 Conditional

            1.3 Expressions

               1.3.1 The expression building window

               1.3.2 Computed field

                  1.3.2.1 Basic notions

                  1.3.2.2 Simple computed field

                  1.3.2.3 Conditional computed field

            1.4 Examples of uses of computed field

            1.5 Extract by field

            1.6 Useful shortcut key

2.   Elements of expressions

            2.1 Fields

            2.2 Variables

                2.2.1 Definition

                2.2.2 System Created Variables

                2.2.3 User Created Variables

            2.3 Operators

            2.4 Functions

3.   Functions

            3.1 Parts of a function

                3.1.1 Name

                3.1.2 Parameters

            4.1 Output of a function

            5.1 Nested Function

4.   Activities using various Functions:

     4.1 Complementary concepts:

          4.1.1 Using <AND>, <OR> and <NOT

          4.1.2 Setting Exact character comparison

    4.2 Basic projects
                    These projects give the occasion to practice many of the functions covered.

    4.3 Project: Social Security Number  
                    This project is a nice occasion to extend our repertoire of functions on as needed basis.

5.   Special emphasis on harmonization of data

6.   Using functions for data quality check

7.   Using functions for data cleansing