OIC - How to Add Blank Spaces When Creating Fixed-Length Files using javascript

Use Case:

When building integrations in Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC), you might need to generate fixed-length flat files. In such files, each field must occupy a specific number of characters—even if the data is shorter or sometimes missing.

Let’s say a field requires 10 characters, but the actual value is only 6 characters. In this case, you need to add 4 blank spaces to maintain the correct file structure.

To solve this, you can use a custom JavaScript function to generate blank spaces and pad the fields properly.

Solution: How to Add Blank Spaces (Padding) in Fixed-Length Output

You can write a small JavaScript function that returns a string of spaces based on a given length.

Here’s a sample function:

function clp_getSpaces(length) {
    var spaces = ' '.repeat(length);
    return spaces;
}

What This Does:

• Takes a number (length) as input.
• Uses the .repeat() method to return that many blank spaces.

Steps to Use in Integration:

Step 1: Create the JavaScript Function

Use the function above in your utility library or directly in your integration if scripting is allowed.

Step 2: Use It While Constructing the Flat File Line

For example:

var employeeName = 'John';
var paddedName = employeeName + clp_getSpaces(10 - string-length(employeeName));

This ensures that even if employeeName is short, the total field length is still 10 characters.

Step 3: Write to File Using Stage Activity

Use this padded string as input to your stage file write operation. This will ensure correct alignment of all fields in your fixed-length file.

Why This Is Important:

Fixed-length files are strict in formatting. If the alignment is off, downstream systems might reject the file or misread the data. Padding with spaces ensures compliance with the required structure.