# Meta-data tab

![Meta-data tab in Select values](/files/T4IJQ0NDTZ85fY1h89jF)

The table in this tab contains the following columns for fields you want to rename input fields, convert them to different data types, and alter their length, and precision.

| Column                        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Fieldname**                 | <p>The name of the imported field.</p><p>If you renamed a field on the <strong>Select & Alter</strong> tab, the name here must match the renamed value.</p>                                                                                                                                                   |
| **Rename to**                 | The new name of the field. Leave blank if you do not wish to rename the field.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **Type**                      | The data type for this field.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Length**                    | The length of the field.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Precision**                 | The number of floating point digits for number-type fields.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **Binary to Normal?**         | Specify **Y** or **N** to convert a string to a numeric data type, when appropriate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| **Format**                    | The format mask. See [Common Formats](/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview/common-formats.md) for information on common valid date and numeric formats you can use in this step.                                                                           |
| **Date Format Lenient?**      | Specifies whether the date parser is strict or lenient. Set to **N** to accept only strictly valid date values. When set to **Y**, the parser attempts to determine the intention of an incorrect date, if possible, and correct it.                                                                          |
| **Date Locale**               | The date locale to use for date conversions and calculations. Leave blank to use the default encoding on your system.                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Date Time Zone**            | The date time zone to use for date conversions and calculations. Leave blank to use the default encoding on your system.                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Lenient number conversion** | Specifies whether to report an error when parsing numbers. When set to **Y**, numbers are parsed until a non-numeric value such as a dash or slash is found. The parsing then stops without reporting an error. When set to **N**, the parser reports an error in case when invalid numbers are in the input. |
| **Encoding**                  | The text file encoding to use. Leave blank to use the default encoding on your system. The list is populated from the available encodings on your system.                                                                                                                                                     |
| **Decimal**                   | The decimal point as either a period or a comma.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **Grouping**                  | The separator for units of thousands as either a dot or a comma.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **Currency**                  | The currency symbol.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

Use \*\*Get fields to change\*\* to import fields from previous steps.

See [Understanding PDI data types and field metadata](/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/data-integration-perspective-in-the-pdi-client/advanced-topics-pdi-perspective/understanding-pdi-data-types-and-field-metadata.md) to maximize the efficiency of your transformation and job results.


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