topic Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers in Community Chat

Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:49:33 GMT

Is there a formula that can be used to convert list of String variables to a list of integers ?

I/P is ["1","100","50", "4"]
O/P [1,100,50,4]

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

Prudvi — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:10:54 GMT

Hi @shefali,
You can do it using Execute Python Action:
input variable : num_list = list with string values
output variable : int_list = list with integer values

def main(input):
string_list = input["num_list"]
int_list = [int(x) for x in string_list]
return {"int_list": int_list}

Regards,
Prudvi

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:39:54 GMT

Hi Prudvi,

I was wondering if this can be achieved using native formulas/functions, like List or String functions, instead of writing custom Python code?

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:52:01 GMT

Anyone has an idea if this can be done with help of existing functions/formulas in Workato?

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shivakumara — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:42:27 GMT

Hi @shefali ,
Here is my answer to your question. What would be your next step after receiving the required response?
Please let me know so that I can refine my answers.

Thanks and Regards,
Shivakumara K A

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 08:09:06 GMT

Hi Shivakumara,

Thanks for the response. The function you've used appears to return a string variable containing integers. However, I need to first extract a list of integers. Then, I can use existing list functions to determine the minimum and maximum values from the list.

I am able to perform this operation on a list of numeric strings. However, the issue is that the min and max functions are returning values based on ASCII character order rather than numerical values.

If you feel there is an alternate way to handle this using existing functions, please guide me

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shivakumara — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:38:58 GMT

Hi @shefali ,
I found another way doing it is
1. when the input is "List of String" pass it to another variable where it should of data type "Integer"
2. Workato will take care of your "List_of_String" to "List_of_Integer"
3. Apply formulae "MAX" or "MIN" whichever you needed as per your requirement

Here are some screenshots for your reference:

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

Prudvi — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:45:29 GMT

Thanks @shivakumara

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shivakumara — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:47:05 GMT

Happy to help. @Prudvi 🤗

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

HI Shiva,

I tried passing a list of string to a new variable of type integer. O/P is still a list of string. The auto -conversion is not working for me.

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

Prudvi — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:13:04 GMT

Hi @shefali,
Can you check this schema
[
{
"control_type": "text",
"label": "list_num",
"parse_output": "integer_conversion",
"name": "list_num",
"type": "integer",
"of": "integer",
"optional": true,
"details": {
"real_name": "list_num"
},
"initially_expanded": true,
"hint": "Defaults to nil if not supplied.",
"sticky": true
}
]
Regards,
Prudvi

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:23:29 GMT

Hi Prudvi,

I tried updating my int variable schema exactly like yours. Still, the auto-conversion from List String to List Num is not working. Here is my update schema for reference " -

[ { "control_type": "text", "label": "v_tempInt", "parse_output": "integer_conversion", "name": "v_tempInt", "type": "integer", "of": "integer", "optional": true, "details": { "real_name": "v_tempInt" }, "initially_expanded": true, "hint": "Defaults to nil if not supplied.", "sticky": true } ]

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

Prudvi — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:27:17 GMT

Hi @shefali,
This is the schema of previous step variable
[
{
"name": "list_str",
"type": "array",
"of": "string",
"label": "list_str",
"optional": true,
"details": {
"real_name": "num"
},
"initially_expanded": true,
"hint": "Defaults to nil if not supplied.",
"sticky": true
}
]
Regards,
Prudvi

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:40:47 GMT

Hi Prudvi,

I tried updating the source List String schema as yours. Still no luck. Here is a snippet schema code. Please let me know if you guys need any more info from me to debug this issue.

[ { "label": "v_StringTemp", "name": "v_StringTemp", "type": "array", "of": "string", "optional": true, "details": { "real_name": "v_StringTemp" }, "initially_expanded": true, "hint": "Defaults to nil if not supplied.", "sticky": true } ]

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

Prudvi — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:53:21 GMT

Hi @shefali,
is it possible to share the JSON which you are passing to the variable.
Regards,
Prudvi

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:06:05 GMT

Hi Prudvi,

Here is my sample JSON that needs to be parsed. I am first parsing the given JSON. Then, I use TestValueSampleList.pluck("v") to extract a list of strings, which I then convert into a list of integers using native functions and formulas.

{ "TestValueSample": [ { "k1": "t1", "v": "9" }, { "k1": "t2", "v": "11" }, { "k1": "t3", "v": "21" }, { "k1": "t4", "v": "7" } ] }

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shivakumara — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:27:07 GMT

Hi @shefali ,

Here, I am adding a screenshot after parsing the provided JSON.

- 2nd Image: The input hasn’t been explicitly converted to an integer, yet the output is a list of integers.
- 4th Image: If this doesn't work on your end, you can use another variable of type "Integer" and pass the output from the `pluck("v")` formula.

Thanks and Regards,
Shivakumar

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:00:23 GMT

Thanks, Shiva! Your solution worked perfectly for me—I really appreciate it.

I do have a small curiosity: Why do we need to create two variables of integer or number data type to parse a number list? For example, after the JSON parse step, I attempted to create a list of numbers, and the output appeared as expected—a list of numbers. However, when using list functions, it still treats the variable as a list. Shouldn't it actually be recognized as a number instead?

Is this the expected behavior of the function, or could it be a bug? It feels a bit misleading and requires a lot of trial and error to get right

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shivakumara — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 14:09:39 GMT

Hi @shefali,
If you observe my screenshots:

1️⃣ In the 2nd and 3rd images,
I used Variable_name: List and Datatype: String. When applying the pluck("v") formula, it automatically converts to List_of_Numbers, so there's no need to explicitly set the data type as List.

2️⃣ I have a small curiosity: Why do we need to create two variables with Integer or Number data types to parse a number list?
Answer: There's no need to use two variables. As I suggested, when we apply the pluck("v") formula, it automatically takes care of converting to List_of_Numbers.

3️⃣ However, when using list functions, it still treats the variable as a list. Shouldn't it actually be recognized as a number instead?
Could you please share a screenshot? I didn’t fully understand your point here.

Looking forward to your insights! 😊

Thanks and Regards,
Shivakumar K A

Re: Convert list of string to list of numbers

shefali — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 14:23:59 GMT

Hi Shiva,

Sure. My previous comment was about whether it's possible to apply pluck and min on the same list. For example: TestSample.pluck('v').min(). Currently, this operation works based on ASCII character calculation when applied to strings. To get the maximum integer value, we first need to create a list of strings/integers and then use a variable of type integer to extract the maximum value.

Thanks for your help anyway. Appreciate it

That was the reason for my question. We can mark this as resolved if there’s no way to apply pluck and max on integers in the same step.