Graphql: Conflicting Field Types when using excel-transformer

[pgegenfurtner]

Summary

I have an excel sheet with a column "number". The cell's content varies form e.g. S-123-1 to 1234.
When the nodes are created, two different field types are interpreted. A string and a number. With this conflict, graphql omits those fields.
Is there now any way I can define these fields as strings? Changing the Cellformatting in excel does nothing.

Relevant information

In gatsby-node.js inonCreateNode I can use the fields fine. However in createPages, where I want to query this data, I get the warning about the conflicting field types.

Environment (if relevant)

• Gatsby version: 1.9.270
• gatsby-transfromer-excel: 1.0.7
• gatsby-cli version: 1.1.40
• Node.js version: 8.9.4
• Operating System: macOS 10.13.5

[pieh]

You have 2 options:

• locally in your project in gatsby-node.js do some post-processing:

exports.onCreateNode = ({ node, getNode, boundActionCreators }) => {
  const { createNodeField } = boundActionCreators
  if (node.internal.type === `NameOfYourSheetType`) {
    createNodeField({
      node,
      name: `columnNameWithMixedTypes`,
      value: node.columnNameWithMixedTypes.toString(),
    })
  }
};

and then access your processed fields with using node.fields.columnNameWithMixedTypes (and update queries accordingly)

• or look into adding feature like that that force types in excel transformer itself - I'm happy to provide help with getting you going if You are up for it.

[pgegenfurtner]

Option 1 is my current workaround. Option 2 would be my preferred solution - as soon as the next field with mixed types the same problem comes along.

I will have a look at adding the feature to the excel transformer, as soon as I have time next week.

Thanks!