# TalendDataGenerator routine

The TalendDataGenerator routine contains several functions which allow you to generate sets of test data. These functions are based on fictitious lists of first names, second names, addresses, towns and States provided by Talend. They are generally used when developing Jobs, using a tRowGenerator component, for example, to avoid using production or company data.

You can access these functions by double-clicking the TalendDataGenerator node under the system routines folder in the Repository tree view.

Functions of the TalendDataGenerator routineFunctions of the TalendDataGeneratorTalendDataGenerator routine

| Function | Description | Syntax |
| --- | --- | --- |
| getFirstName | returns a first name taken randomly from a fictitious list. | TalendDataGenerator.getFirstName() |
| getLastName | returns a random surname from a fictitious list. | TalendDataGenerator.getLastName() |
| getUsStreet | returns an address taken randomly from a list of common American street<br>names. | TalendDataGenerator.getUsStreet() |
| getUsCity | returns the name of a town taken randomly from a list of American towns. | TalendDataGenerator.getUsCity() |
| getUsState | returns the name of a State taken randomly from a list of American<br>States. | TalendDataGenerator.getUsState() |
| getUsStateId | returns an ID randomly taken from a list of IDs attributed to American<br>States. | TalendDataGenerator.getUsStateId() |

Information noteNote: No entry parameter is required as Talend provides the list of fictitious data.

## Generating fictitious data

It is easy to use the different functions to generate data randomly. Using a tJava component, you can, for example, create a list of fictitious client data using functions such as getFirstName(), getLastName(), getUSCity():

```
System.out.println(TalendDataGenerator.getFirstName()); 
               System.out.println(TalendDataGenerator.getLastName()); 
               System.out.println(TalendDataGenerator.getUsCity()); 
               System.out.println(TalendDataGenerator.getUsState());
               System.out.println(TalendDataGenerator.getUsStateId());
               System.out.println(TalendDataGenerator.getUsStreet());
```

The set of data taken randomly from the list of fictitious data is displayed in the Run view:

![The result is a list of strings made of a name, last name, city, state, state ID, and street in the Run view.](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/studio-user-guide/Resources/images/Routines12.png)