---
alias: user-guide-using-automation-tasks-library-map-converter
description: "This documentation explains how to utilize converters within the Automation Task Library"
---

# Using Automation Tasks Library - Map a Converter

A Converter is controlled in a settings view, and that will be the main component defined in the **Automation Task Library**.

![atl_example_converter.png](../images/atl_example_converter.png)

Converters are an object defined under the array converters:

```json
{
  "converters": [],
  "tasks": []
}
```

## AutomationConverter Object

This subsection intends to describe the format of the Metadata portion that represents a single converter (Use CamelCase for the Properties/Keys).

| Property       | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Notes                                                                                                                                               |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Name           | Name of the converter, also used to identify the Runtime Class where the converter code can be located/executed.                                                                                                | Mandatory, String                                                                                                                                     |
| DisplayName    | Name of the converter that will be used to display in the GUI, defaults to Name if not defined.                                                                                                                 | Optional, String                                                                                                                                      |
| InputDataType  | Type of the input where this converter can act.                                                                                                                                                                 | Mandatory, from an enumeration:<br>• Any (Default)<br>• String<br>• Integer<br>• Long<br>• Decimal<br>• Boolean<br>• DateTime<br>• Object<br>• Buffer |
| OutputDataType | Type of the output this converter will emit.                                                                                                                                                                    | Mandatory, from an enumeration:<br>• Any (Default)<br>• String<br>• Integer<br>• Long<br>• Decimal<br>• Boolean<br>• DateTime<br>• Object<br>• Buffer |
| Parameters     | Json object containing the parameters available to configure the behavior of the converter, where:<br>Key: The name of the parameter.<br>Value: Type of parameter (use the same type as the Input/Output Type). | Optional, JsonObject                                                                                                                                  |

```json
"converters": [
    {
      "name": "anyToConstant",
      "inputDataType": "Any",
      "outputDataType": "Any",
      "displayName": "Any To Constant",
      "inputType": "Any",
      "outputType": "Any",
      "parameters": {
        "type": {
          "displayName": "type",
          "dataType": "Enum",
          "infoMessage": "Select the type to convert",
          "settings": {
            "enumValues": [
                "Boolean",
                "String",
                "Integer",
                "Long",
                "Decimal",
                "Object",
                "Date"
            ]
          }
        },
        "value": {
          "displayName": "value",
          "dataType": "String"
        }
      }
    }
]
```

Notice that the converters are very simple. They will have a root definition of what the input and output type they are converting between are, and then they allow for additional parameters to be added in the settings.