# Data Mapper formulas, functions and output types

*Omnistudio Consultant Study Guide · Data Mappers · Last updated October 27, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/omnistudio-consultant/data-mappers/data-mapper-formulas-functions-and-output-types*

How Data Mapper formulas reference nodes, which functions fit merging, filtering, sorting, counting and dynamic lookups (and their traps), how to build lists a Loop Block can iterate, and how output data types and locale settings standardize values.

- Certification: Salesforce Omnistudio Consultant
- Exam section: Data Mappers
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/omnistudio-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Explain the possibilities of complex mapping, filtering, and data manipulation rules, utilizing functions and formulas to ensure data accuracy and standardization.

## What the exam expects

- Explain how a formula references a node whose name has spaces, and where its result is mapped.
- Recommend the right function for a list need (merge, filter, sort, count) or a dynamic lookup, and explain the behaviours that trip designs up: IF evaluating both branches, case-insensitive FILTER, ascending SORTBY, LISTSIZE on an empty QUERY result.
- Recommend mappings that turn keyed values into a list a Loop Block can iterate.
- Standardize output with output data types (multi-select, decimals, currency, dates) and parse dates in each user's locale.
- Recommend the documented workaround when an Extract's null filter misbehaves.

Key terms: **formula** (logic whose result is stored at a Formula Result Path); **function** (a named operation such as FILTER or VALUELOOKUP); **output data type** (the type a mapping casts its value to); **list position index** (`|1`, `|2` in an output path); **Omni Interaction Configuration** (a Setup record that changes Omnistudio behaviour).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Node names with spaces | `var:"Node Name"` in formulas | [Use Formulas in Omnistudio Data Mappers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.os_use_formulas_in_dataraptors_47540.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| IF evaluation | Both branches are always evaluated | [Omnistudio Conditional Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_conditional_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| LISTMERGEPRIMARY | Returns only the primary (first) list's nodes, augmented | [Omnistudio List Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_list_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| FILTER | Case-insensitive string matching | [Omnistudio List Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_list_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| SORTBY | Ascending by default; `'[:DSC]'` descending; Data Mappers only | [Omnistudio List Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_list_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Empty QUERY result | Returns `{}`; LISTSIZE gives 1; use ISBLANK or COUNTQUERY | [Omnistudio Invocation Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_invocation_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| VALUELOOKUP | Reads a node named by other nodes' values | [Omnistudio JSON Object Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_json_object_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Loop Block input | A list node with the same key in every item | [Transforming Lists with Data Mappers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_list_input_for_dataraptors_47431.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| CurrencyRounded | Rounds and removes the decimals | [Omnistudio Data Mapper Output Data Types](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_dataraptor_output_data_types_47661.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| List cast to a primitive | Only the first element is output | [Omnistudio Data Mapper Output Data Types](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_dataraptor_output_data_types_47661.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Locale date parsing | Omni Interaction Configuration UserLocaleDateTime = true | [Configure Date and Time Settings in Data Mappers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omni_interaction_config.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Null Equals filter | Add a != filter to work around the limitation | [Omnistudio Data Mapper Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.os_dataraptor_best_practices_47412.htm&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- When is the false branch of an IF formula evaluated on Standard Runtime?
- When is LISTMERGEPRIMARY the right choice over LISTMERGE?
- When does ISNOTBLANK return true?
- What does the QUERY function run, and what does it return when rows match?

## Sources

- [Use Formulas in Omnistudio Data Mappers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.os_use_formulas_in_dataraptors_47540.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio Formulas and Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_formulas_and_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio Conditional Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_conditional_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio List Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_list_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio Invocation Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_invocation_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio JSON Object Functions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_json_object_functions.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Transforming Lists with Data Mappers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_list_input_for_dataraptors_47431.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio Data Mapper Output Data Types](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_dataraptor_output_data_types_47661.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Map Inputs and Outputs for Transformations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_dataraptor_transform_data_mappings_46630.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Configure Date and Time Settings in Data Mappers](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omni_interaction_config.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Omnistudio Data Mapper Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=xcloud.os_dataraptor_best_practices_47412.htm&type=5)
- [Configure an Omnistudio Data Mapper Extract](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_define_the_initial_extraction_45906.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 11 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Omnistudio Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams