Create an Obfuscator configuration
An Obfuscator Configuration saves the Rules that Obfuscator will apply during a Run.
The quality of your result depends on the quality of the Configuration. A good Configuration is focused, easy to review, and clear about which Fields are changed.
Before you begin
Make sure you have:
- an Import Config for the File format you want to use
- a clear name for the Obfuscator Configuration
- at least one Field you want to change
- a decision about how each changed Field should look in the output
- a practical way to review the output before sharing it
Obfuscator uses the selected Import Config to show available Fields. If the selected Import Config has no current revision, has no enabled supported Fields, or is not supported for Obfuscator Field selection, the page shows a warning and you may not be able to save until the issue is corrected.
Typical workflow
A practical way to build an Obfuscator Configuration is:
- Open Obfuscator and go to Obfuscator Configurations.
- Select Create New Config or + New Obfuscator Config.
- Enter an Obfuscator name.
- Open Quick Setup.
- Choose an Import configuration or Import Config.
- Open Rules.
- Select Add rule.
- Choose the Column to protect.
- Choose the obfuscation method or variation.
- Enter any required settings.
- Review Blocking issues and Warnings.
- Open Advanced and add a Description if it will help others choose the Configuration.
- Select Save, Save draft, or Save Obfuscator Config.
When you edit an existing Configuration, use Save to create a new revision and set it as current.
Screen overview
The Obfuscator create and edit screens are organized around setup, Rules, and review.
| Area | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Quick Setup | Name the Configuration and choose the Import Config that contains the Fields you want to change. |
| Rules | Add, order, enable, disable, and configure obfuscation Rules. |
| Advanced | Add a description and review current limits. |
| History | On existing Configurations, opens the Configuration history. |
Fields and settings
| Field or setting | What it means | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Obfuscator name | The name users see when choosing the Configuration. | Required. Use a clear business name. |
| Import configuration or Import Config | The import setup that defines the Fields Obfuscator can use. | Required. Changing it refreshes the available Field choices. |
| Description | Optional business context for the Configuration. | Limited to 400 characters. |
| Use this rule | Turns the selected Rule on or off without deleting it. | Disabled Rules are ignored during a Run. |
| Column to protect | The Field this Rule changes. | The UI uses "Column"; in this guide, Field means the same kind of spreadsheet column. |
| Obfuscation value type | For Text source Fields, chooses the kind of generated value you want. | Options include Text, Whole number, Decimal number, Date, and Date and time. |
| How should values change? | The method used for number, date, and date/time Fields. | Available options depend on the selected Field type. |
| Text obfuscation variation | The method used for Text output. | Options are grouped as masking, replacement, and placeholder data. |
Rules
Rules run from top to bottom. If more than one enabled Rule affects the same Field, the later Rule works with the value produced by earlier Rules.
Each Rule includes these main controls:
| Control | What it means |
|---|---|
| Add rule | Adds a new enabled Rule. |
| Rule name | A friendly name for the Rule. New Rules are named automatically, but you can rename them. |
| Move up and Move down | Change the order in which Rules run. |
| Delete | Removes the Rule from the Configuration. |
| Use this rule | Enables or disables the Rule. |
Supported Field types
Obfuscator shows enabled Fields from the selected Import Config when their types are supported.
Supported Field types include:
- Text
- whole numbers
- decimal numbers
- dates
- date and time values
If a selected Import Config includes unsupported enabled Fields, Obfuscator may show a warning that some Fields were skipped.
Rule options
The available options depend on the Field type and selected value type.
| Field or value type | Option shown | What it does | Main settings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole number | Pick a random number in a range | Replaces values that are not NULL with random whole numbers. | Minimum value, Maximum value. |
| Whole number | Remap each value to a unique number | Maps each distinct input value to a distinct whole number in the selected range. | Minimum value, Maximum value. |
| Decimal number | Pick a random decimal in a range | Replaces values that are not NULL with random decimal numbers. | Minimum value, Maximum value. Leaving both blank uses the screen's default range. |
| Date | Shift dates by a number of days | Moves date values earlier or later by the entered number of days. | Days to shift. Use a negative number to move dates earlier. |
| Date | Pick a random date in a range | Replaces values that are not NULL with dates within the selected range. | Earliest date, Latest date. |
| Date and time | Shift dates by a number of days | Moves date/time values earlier or later by the entered number of days. | Days to shift. Use a negative number to move date/time values earlier. |
| Date and time | Pick a random date and time in a range | Replaces values that are not NULL with date/time values within the selected range. | Start date/time (ISO), End date/time (ISO). |
| Text | Mask while keeping first and last | Masks the middle of a text value while preserving characters at the start and end. | Characters to keep at the start, Characters to keep at the end, Mask character. |
| Text | Mask full value | Masks the full value. | Mask character. |
| Text | Keep first characters | Keeps the beginning of the value and masks the rest. | Characters to keep at the start, Mask character. |
| Text | Keep last characters | Keeps the end of the value and masks the rest. | Characters to keep at the end, Mask character. |
| Text | Generate random characters | Replaces text with random characters. | Generated value length, Fixed character count, Characters to use, Custom character set when selected. |
| Text | Replace with fixed text | Replaces values that are not NULL with the same value. | Replacement value. Empty text is allowed and blanks values that are not NULL. |
| Text | Generate fake first name | Replaces values that are not NULL with placeholder first names. | No additional settings. |
| Text | Generate fake last name | Replaces values that are not NULL with placeholder last names. | No additional settings. |
| Text | Generate fake full name | Replaces values that are not NULL with placeholder full names. | No additional settings. |
| Text | Generate fake email | Replaces values that are not NULL with placeholder email addresses. | Email domain, Replacement domain when using a replacement domain. |
Validation and warnings
Obfuscator blocks saving when required setup is missing. Confirm these items before saving:
- Obfuscator name is filled in.
- An Import configuration or Import Config is selected.
- At least one Rule is enabled.
- Each enabled Rule has a selected Column to protect.
- Each enabled Rule has a compatible method or text variation.
- Required range, date, date/time, mask, fixed text, or email domain settings are valid.
Obfuscator may also show warnings that do not block saving, such as duplicate Rule names or a mask setup that masks the entire value. Review warnings before saving because they often point to Rules that need extra care.
Current limits shown on the screen
The Advanced tab shows two important limits:
- Output replaces the selected dataset.
- Changes cannot be reversed after obfuscation runs.
For user workflow purposes, this means the output contains the selected Fields after obfuscation. Keep your original input File if you will need the original values later.
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoid these patterns:
- changing only obvious identifier Fields while leaving other sensitive Fields unchanged
- using a random range that is too narrow for the number of distinct whole-number values
- assuming a preview will match the final Run exactly when random methods are used
- saving a Configuration before reviewing Blocking issues and Warnings
- using a Configuration with a File whose Field names do not match the selected Import Config
- sharing output before checking representative Records and Fields
After the Configuration is ready
Once the Configuration is saved, continue to Run Obfuscator to preview and apply it to a File or compatible dataset.