[HIVE-658] Allow conversions from string to complex types

• Type: New Feature
• Status: Open
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Unresolved
• Component/s: Serializers/Deserializers
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Zheng Shao
• Created: 21/Jul/09 00:56
• Updated: 21/Jul/09 00:57

Description

Assuming the format of representing complex types in string, we should be able to convert strings to complex types.

This can happen in several cases:

1. Serializing a string into a column of a table which is complex-typed.
2. Sending a string into a UDF/GenericUDF which accepts complex types.
3. User explicitly do type casting using syntax like CAST(mystring AS array<int>)

We should assume a default format (maybe JSON, or maybe ^A, ^B, ^C format).

This makes it easier for people to produce complex types from their transform scripts.

Issue Links

• relates to: HIVE-51 Generate and accept JSON as the input-output format from mappers and reducers