Transformation expressions allow you to examine and modify values within Service or Salary Definitions.  Basically the expressions “transform” the values of raw and/or computed array data into essential Measurement Period values by using Data Dictionary fields and ProAdmin's Expression Operators. 

When transformation expressions are used, ProAdmin constructs a table, available in the Detailed Results of an Estimated, Final or Dates/Age/Service calculation, to document the computations in the expression. The first two columns of the table are always the values of #DATE and #THIS. Afterward, each variable within the expression is represented by its own column, where each value is the value at the corresponding date in #DATE.  The final column of the table contains the result of the expression.  Values computed during the execution of transformation expressions can be examined, after a calculation has been run, in the Detailed Results  under:

• Service Definition Set – Transformation Expression 
• Salary Definition Set – Transformation Expression

There are two important distinctions:

1. The results of a salary transformation expression must be cumulative values within each measurement period as related to a year. Monthly results represent 1/12 of a year. 

2. The results of a service transformation expression must be cumulative service or service at each date in #DATE.

Here is a little more detail on the calculation and display process:

• The first column, #DATE, is the collection of Calculation Dates from oldest to newest. 

• The second column, #THIS, is the collection of starting values, based on the parameters that correlate to each date in the date column. The values are developed by first examining the data field array specified in the definition and then applying the parameters in the definition.

• The third and subsequent columns are developed through the expressions.

• The final column of the table, called Expression Result, contains the results of the expression and is  used instead of the original values created through #THIS.

Example of a Service Transformation:  

Suppose the company recorded annual hours prior to 2004 incorrectly. They want to grant 1000 hours for years prior to 2004 when the participant worked more than 350 hours, but less than 1000. Otherwise annual hours should be divided by 2000 to determine the amount of service earned in a calendar year. The hours-transformation expression might be:

Code	Comments
A := (#date < 1/1/2004)	&   ; 1 if date is before 2004; 0 if date after 2003
B := (#this > 350 )	&   ; 1 if hours are over 350; 0 if less
C := (#this < 1000 )	&   ; 1 if hours are less than 1000; 0 if more
D := (A x B x C x 1000) #max #this	&   ; hours that will be used
D/2000	; annual service

The first two columns in the Transformation Expression table, “Date (#DATE)” and “#THIS,” are provided by ProAdmin using the rules of the Service Definitions. Columns “A,” “B,” “C” and “D” hold the values of the temporary variables. Column “Expression Result” contains the results of the expression and will be inserted as Transformed Hours in the “Expanded Dates” tables of the Service Definition Set.  

 

Date						Expression
(#DATE)	#THIS	A	B	C	D	Results
12/31/2001	1500	1	1	0	1500	0.75
12/31/2002	300	1	0	1	0	0.15
12/31/2003	400	1	1	1	1000	0.50
12/31/2004	1700	0	1	0	1700	0.85
12/31/2005	2080	0	1	0	1000	1.04
12/31/2006	400	0	1	1	400	0.20
12/31/2007	2080	0	1	0	2080	1.04

 Example of a Salary Transformation:

The company includes participants' bonuses in Pensionable Earnings.  In 2012, they made a mistake and included participants' bonuses twice. They need to have Pensionable earnings for 2012 be like all the other years.  The data includes two fields: Pensionable Earnings and Bonus.  The salary transformation expression might be: 

Code	Comments
A:= (#year #date) = 2012	&   ; 1 if date is in 2012; 0 if date is not in 2012
Pay:= #this	&   ; the computed accumulated values of Pensionable Earnings
B:= Bonus	&   ; the annual bonus
Pay #zminus (A * B)	; Pay if the year is not 2012, pay - bonus if year is 2012

The first two columns, “Date (#DATE)” and “#THIS,” are provided by ProAdmin using the rules of the Salary Definition. Columns “A,” “Pay,” and “B” hold the values of the temporary variables. Column “Expression Result” contains the results of the expression and will be inserted as Transformed Salary in the “Expanded Dates” tables of the Salary Definition Set.

Date					Expression
(#DATE)	#THIS	a	Pay	Bon	Result
12/31/2010	25000	0	25000	1000	25000
12/31/2011	26000	0	26000	1000	26000
12/31/2012	28000	1	28000	1000	27000
12/31/2013	28000	0	28000	1000	28000
12/31/2014	29000	0	29000	1000	29000