Masking strings and dates

[Paul_s_Moody]

I'm trying to use the multi-field tool in order to mask certain columns of my data so that I can share with external developers.

Some are columns are strings, such as Pension provider, others are dates.

I'm using the Expression: LEFT(MD5_UNICODE([_CurrentField_]), LENGTH([_CurrentField_])) which is fine for strings, but not for dates.

Looking in the various community quesitons, there doesn't seem to be a way to mask dates other than adding/subtracting a number.

Has anyone found a way to do with without changing the underlying data?

I've therefore tried using the Expression: DateTimeAdd([_CurrentField_],9,"days"), as I would in a formula tool, but I get the following syntax error:

 Argument 1 of DATETIMEADD is not a string.

How do I use the multi-field tool to mask dates, as I'd rather not repeat formula for all of my date fields...

[binuacs · Accepted solution]

@Paul_s_Moody Try the below formula

DateTimeAdd(toDate([_CurrentField_]),9,'days')

[Paul_s_Moody]

Thank you!

[jdminton]

You can use the formula DateTimeAdd([_CurrentField_],9,"days"). You may still get a message that it is not a string, but it does run correctly.