# tChangeFileEncoding

Transforms the character encoding of a given file and generates a new file with the transformed character encoding.

tChangeFileEncoding changes the encoding of a given file.

This component is not shipped with your Talend Studio by default. You need to install it using the Feature Manager. For more information, see [Installing features using the Feature Manager](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/install-features-to-talend-studio).

## tChangeFileEncoding Standard properties

These properties are used to configure tChangeFileEncoding running in the Standard Job framework.

The Standard tChangeFileEncoding component belongs to the Data Quality and the File families.

The component in this framework is available in all Talend products.

## Basic settings

| Properties | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Use Custom Input Encoding | Select this check box to customize input<br>encoding type. When it is selected, a list of input encoding types<br>appears, allowing you to select an input encoding type or specify an<br>input encoding type by selecting CUSTOM. |
| Encoding | From this list of character encoding<br>types, you can select one of the offered options or customize the<br>character encoding by selecting CUSTOM and specifying a character<br>encoding type. |
| Input File Name | Path of the input file. |
| Output File Name | Path of the output file. |
| Buffer Size | Specify the buffer size (in bytes) for changing the file<br>encoding. A proper buffer size improves the changing performance.<br><br>This field defaults to 8192. |

## Advanced settings

| Properties | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Create directory if does not<br>exist | This check box is selected by default. It creates a<br>directory to hold the output table if required. |
| tStatCatcher<br>Statistics | Select this check box to collect log data at the<br>component level. |

## Global Variables

| Variables | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Global Variables | EXISTS: the result of whether a specified file exists.<br>This is a Flow variable and it returns a Boolean.<br><br><br>FILENAME: the name<br>of the file processed. This is an After variable and it returns a string.<br><br><br>ERROR\_MESSAGE: the error message generated by the<br>component when an error occurs. This is an After variable and it returns a string. This<br>variable functions only if the Die on error checkbox is<br>cleared, if the component has this checkbox.<br><br>A Flow variable functions during the execution of a component<br>while an After variable functions after the execution of the component.<br><br>To fill up a field or expression with a variable, press Ctrl+Space to access the variable list and choose the variable to use from<br>it.<br><br>For more information about variables, see [Using contexts and variables](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/contexts-and-variables). |

## Usage

| Usage guidance | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Usage rule** | This component can be used as standalone<br>component. |

**Related concepts**

* [Transforming the character encoding of a file](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tchangefileencoding/tchangefileencoding-transforming-character-encoding-of-file-standard-component "This Java scenario describes a very simple Job that transforms the character encoding of a text file and generates a new file with the new character encoding.")