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Transform operations

Transform applies a short list of deterministic field operations. Geometry is always kept.

Build them by hand (Add transformation), with Output Fields, from a Recipe, or — if enabled — by describing the change with AI. AI only authors the operations. Run does not call AI again.

Operations you cannot pick in the Add dialog still exist when a Recipe, AI, or Output Fields emits them.

Operations you can add

Rename column

Purpose: Rename a field.

Required: From, To

Example: shape_lenperimeter

Limits: To must be a valid identifier and must not already exist. Geometry cannot be renamed.

Replace text

Purpose: Find and replace inside a text field.

Required: Column, Find ( Replace may be empty to delete the find text)

Example: Rd.Road in column name

Limits: The value is treated as text.

Trim whitespace

Purpose: Strip leading and trailing spaces.

Required: Column

Convert type

Purpose: Cast a field.

Required: Column, Target type (integer, float, or string)

Filter rows

Purpose: Keep rows that match a comparison.

Required: Column, Operator, Value (or Values for “is one of”)

Operators: =, !=, >, <, >=, <=, is one of, is not one of

Example: status = active

Limits: No geometry column. No raw SQL.

Compute column

Purpose: Create a new numeric field.

Required: Expression, Target column

Example: shape_area / 10000 into hectares

Limits: Only + - * / ( ), numbers, and existing field names. Target name must not already exist.

Output Fields (keep / drop)

Unchecked names are omitted. This is how you remove columns without an extra “Remove column” card.

Internally that is keep_columns / drop_column. You will not usually add those from the Add dialog.

Geometry is never listed and cannot be dropped.

Execution order

Operations run in list order, then Output Fields. A later step cannot use a field you already renamed or removed.

Recipes

A Recipe stores operations plus Output Fields. Apply it in Transform. Save as Recipe stores the current set. Recipes are not Jobs.

See also