> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redivis.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/workflows/transforms/variable-creation-methods/other.md).

# Other

### Cast

Converts the type of a variable. Consider using the "retype" step for additional functionality. –> [learn more](https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/functions-and-operators#cast)

```sql
CASE WHEN @expression IS NULL THEN NULL ELSE COALESCE(SAFE_CAST(@expression AS @castType), ERROR(FORMAT('Could not cast @expression to @castType, encountered value: %t', @expression))) END
```

#### Return type

dynamic (input-dependent)

#### Parameters

| Name        | Type                                                                                                                       | Allowed values                                                                           | Required | Placeholder (in UI) |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------- |
| `@variable` | [variable](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#variable) | any [Redivis type](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/datasets/variables#variable-types) | true     | -                   |
| `@castType` | [enum](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#enum)         | any of: `INT64`, `FLOAT64`, `STRING`, `TIME`, `DATETIME`, `DATE`, `BOOLEAN`              | true     | *(Choose a type)*   |
| `@safe`     | [boolean](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#boolean)   | any [boolean](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/datasets/variables#boolean)             | true     | -                   |

### Coalesce

Takes the first non-null value of a set of values. –> [learn more](https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/functions-and-operators#coalesce)

```sql
COALESCE(@expression)
```

#### Return type

dynamic (input-dependent)

#### Parameters

| Name          | Type                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Allowed values                                                                           | Required | Placeholder (in UI) |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------- |
| `@expression` | [variable](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#variable)s or [literal](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#literal)s | any [Redivis type](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/datasets/variables#variable-types) | true     | -                   |

### Constant

Create a constant value as a variable –> [learn more](https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/functions-and-operators#constant)

```sql
undefined
```

#### Return type

dynamic (input-dependent)

#### Parameters

| Name       | Type                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Allowed values                                                                           | Required | Placeholder (in UI) |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------- |
| `@literal` | [variable](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#variable) or [literal](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#literal) | any [Redivis type](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/datasets/variables#variable-types) | true     | -                   |

### Hash

Returns an MD5 hash of all values as a base64 encoded string. Non-string values will be first coerced to strings. Note that order of inputs will affect the hash. –> [learn more](https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/functions-and-operators#md5)

```sql
TO_BASE64(MD5(CONCAT(@expression)))
```

#### Return type

string

#### Parameters

| Name          | Type                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Allowed values                                                                           | Required | Placeholder (in UI) |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------- |
| `@expression` | [variable](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#variable)s or [literal](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#literal)s | any [Redivis type](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/datasets/variables#variable-types) | true     | -                   |

### Sample

Create a random, deterministic value in the range of \[0, 1) based on a specific set of variable(s). –> [learn more](https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/functions-and-operators#sample)

```sql
(FARM_FINGERPRINT(CONCAT(@variable)) + POW(2, 63)) / POW(2, 64)
```

#### Return type

float

#### Parameters

| Name        | Type                                                                                                                        | Allowed values                                                                           | Required | Placeholder (in UI) |
| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------------- |
| `@variable` | [variable](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/projects/transform-nodes/variable-creation-methods/common-elements#variable)s | any [Redivis type](https://docs.redivis.com/reference/datasets/variables#variable-types) | true     | -                   |

### UUID

Generate a random universally unique identifier (UUID) –> [learn more](https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/reference/standard-sql/functions-and-operators#uuid)

```sql
GENERATE_UUID()
```

#### Return type

string

#### Parameters


---

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