Unified masking function without hash column across the application database

Products

• CA Test Data Manager (Data Finder / Grid Tools)

Issue/Introduction

 

We are performing masking in different applications, and to make uniform masking in all the applications, we are using a hash column across the application.
However, one of the applications uses flat files for masking. So while entering the same hash column value for the flat file data, it is not updating the same data as of the other application (database tables).

For example:
Participant ID is the common key between the application, and while masking the Names, we are updating the hash column value as Participant ID across the application database.
The applications having database masking, it is updating the same value for Names, but the application which uses flat file masking, it is updating with a different value.

 

 

Environment

 

FDM 4.9.1+

Cause

 

The field names in the flat file had non-alphanumeric characters, which caused a problem.

Resolution

 

In the example provided, the layout.txt had a field called "PARTICIPANT'S SSN"
This was changed to "PARTICIPANT-SSN"

The ' character and space character in the name caused the problem. 
Once these were removed, the masking then worked as expected.

 

Additional Information