By default, nested arrays are returned as strings of XML. The FlattenArrays property can be used to flatten the elements of nested arrays into columns of their own. Set FlattenArrays to the number of elements you want to return from nested arrays.

Data Type

string

Default Value

""

Remarks

In XML, arrays are identified as repeating value elements. By default, nested arrays are returned as strings of XML. The FlattenArrays property can be used to flatten the elements of nested arrays into columns of their own. This is only recommended for arrays that are expected to be short.

Set FlattenArrays to the number of elements you want to return from nested arrays. The specified elements are returned as columns. The zero-based index is concatenated to the column name. Other elements are ignored.

For example, you can return an arbitrary number of elements from an array of strings:

<languages>FLOW-MATIC</languages>
<languages>LISP</languages>
<languages>COBOL</languages>

Setting FlattenArrays to -1 will flatten all the elements of nested arrays.