Functions node

Execute reusable JavaScript functions for data transformation, array operations, encryption, and custom logic

The Functions node executes reusable JavaScript functions within your workflows. Instead of writing the same code in multiple Custom Code nodes, create functions once and call them across any workflow. Functions can be organization-specific custom functions you create, or pre-defined library functions provided by Refold.

When to use

• Execute reusable logic across multiple workflows without duplicating code
• Find specific elements in arrays from API responses
• Group data by key values for organization and reporting
• Encrypt sensitive data before sending to external systems
• Convert data formats (EDI, X12, cXML) for enterprise integrations
• Perform common operations without writing custom code each time

Functions are organization-specific. Create and manage functions under More > Functions in your dashboard.

Input parameters

Select internal function · dropdown · required

Choose the function to execute from your organization’s Functions Library. Functions are created and managed in More > Functions. After selecting a function, input fields are dynamically generated based on the function’s parameter requirements.

Custom Output · dynamic fields

Map function output to custom field names. Click + Add Field to define additional output fields that will be included in the node’s response alongside the function result.

Dynamic input fields

When you select a function, input fields are automatically generated based on that function’s parameters. For example, selecting “Find element in array” displays:

Field	Description
array	The array to search through
element	The element to find

Refer to the function’s code in More > Functions to understand which parameters are required and which are optional.

Pre-defined library functions

Refold provides several pre-defined library functions that are available by default. These functions cannot be edited but can be used immediately in any workflow.

Array Operations

Function	Parameters	Description
Find element in array	array, element	Searches through an array to locate a specific element. Returns the index of the element, or -1 if not found.
Group objects by a key	array, key	Groups an array of objects by a specified key field. Returns an object with grouped arrays.

Encryption

Function	Parameters	Description
Encrypt a string	string, password	Encrypts sensitive text data and returns the encrypted string. Provide an optional password to key the encryption.

Date Helper

Function	Parameters	Description
Get current date	format	Retrieves the current date and time in the requested format. Useful for timestamping records or calculating relative dates.
Convert date from one format to another	date, from_format, to_format	Transforms a date between format patterns. Supports patterns such as yyyy-MM-dd, MM/dd/yyyy, dd-MM-yyyy, dd MMM yyyy, and date-time patterns like yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ssXXX and hh:mm a.
Extract date units	date	Parses a date to extract components like year, month, day, and hour. Accepts ISO, time-zone, JS, timestamp, and date-only formats.
Add/Subtract time	date, amount, unit	Adds or subtracts time from an ISO date. Supported units: seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years.

Miscellaneous

Function	Parameters	Description
Generate UUID	none	Creates unique identifiers (UUIDs) for tracking, record linking, or external system integration.

Math Helper

Function	Parameters	Description
Math Operations	numbers, operation	Performs sequential arithmetic on a list of numbers. Supported operations: add, subtract, multiply, divide, modulus.

Your organization may have additional custom functions created for specific use cases. Check More > Functions to see all available functions.

Creating custom functions

Create reusable functions for your organization that can be called from any workflow.

1. Navigate to Functions

   In the Refold dashboard, go to More > Functions.

2. Create a new function

   Click + Create Function and provide a name for your function.

3. Write your function

   Define your function code, input parameters, and output fields. You can use supported JavaScript libraries in your function code.

4. Save the function

   Click Create to save. The function is now available in the Functions node dropdown across all workflows.

Supported JavaScript libraries

The following npm modules can be used in your custom function code:

Library	Description
axios	HTTP client for API requests
cheerio	HTML parsing and manipulation
date-fns	Date utility functions
fast-xml-parser	XML parsing and building
fuse.js	Fuzzy search library
lodash	Utility functions for arrays, objects, strings
mime	MIME type detection
number-to-words	Number to text conversion
url	URL parsing utilities
uuid	UUID generation
danfo	Data analysis and manipulation

Need a library that’s not listed? Contact support to request additional libraries.

Library usage examples

Using axios for HTTP requests

    const axios = require('axios');

    async function yourFunction(params) {
      const res = await axios.get("https://api.example.com/data");
      return {
        data: res.data
      }
    }

Using lodash for data manipulation

    const _ = require('lodash');

    function yourFunction(params) {
      const array = [{ id: 3 }, { id: 1 }, { id: 2 }];
      const sortedData = _.sortBy(array, "id");
      return {
        data: sortedData
      };
    }

Using danfo for data analysis

    const dfd = require('dfd');

    function yourFunction(params) {
      const s = new dfd.Series([1, 3, 5, undefined, 6, 8]);
      return dfd.toJSON(s);
    }

Output

The output structure depends on the function being executed. Each function returns its result in the body field.

Find element in array (found)

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "index": 1
      }
    }

Find element in array (not found)

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "index": -1
      }
    }

Custom function output

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "result": "your_function_output",
        "custom_field": "mapped_value"
      }
    }

Error response

    {
      "status": "Errored",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": "Function execution failed: undefined is not a function"
    }

Adding to your workflow

1. Add the Functions node

   In the workflow editor, click Add Node and select Functions from the utility nodes section.

2. Select a function

   Choose a function from the Select internal function dropdown. This list includes pre-defined library functions and any custom functions created in your organization.

3. Configure input parameters

   Fill in the dynamically generated input fields based on the selected function’s requirements. Use dynamic variables from previous nodes where needed.

4. Configure custom output (optional)

   Click + Add Field under Custom Output to map function results to custom field names for use in subsequent nodes.

5. Test the node

   Click the Run tab to execute and verify the function returns the expected output.

Examples

Find Vendor in SAP Response Array

Search for a specific vendor in an array returned from an SAP API call.

Function: Find element in array

Field	Value
array	{{sap_get_vendors.body.vendors}}
element	{{webhook.vendor_id}}

Output:

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "index": 3
      }
    }

Use Case: Use the returned index with a Rule node to check if the vendor exists (index >= 0) before proceeding with updates.

Group Invoices by Status

Organize NetSuite invoices by their payment status for processing.

Function: Group objects by a key

Field	Value
array	{{netsuite_get_invoices.body.invoices}}
key	payment_status

Output:

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "paid": [
          {"id": "INV-001", "payment_status": "paid", "amount": 1500},
          {"id": "INV-003", "payment_status": "paid", "amount": 2200}
        ],
        "pending": [
          {"id": "INV-002", "payment_status": "pending", "amount": 3000}
        ],
        "overdue": [
          {"id": "INV-004", "payment_status": "overdue", "amount": 750}
        ]
      }
    }

Use Case: Process each status group differently, such as sending reminders for pending invoices or escalations for overdue ones.

Encrypt Sensitive Vendor Data

Encrypt vendor bank account information before storing or transmitting.

Function: Encrypt a string

Field	Value
string	{{vendor.bank_account_number}}

Output:

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "encrypted": "aGVsbG8gd29ybGQ=..."
      }
    }

Use Case: Encrypt PII or financial data before sending to external systems or storing in logs.

Convert Purchase Order to EDI X12 Format

Transform a JSON purchase order into EDI X12 format for transmission to trading partners.

Function: Convert JSON to X12 EDI string (custom function)

Field	Value
jsonData	{{purchase_order}}
transaction_type	850

Output:

    {
      "status": "Success",
      "node_id": "8",
      "node_name": "Functions",
      "body": {
        "edi_string": "ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*SENDER         *ZZ*RECEIVER       *...",
        "transaction_type": "850"
      }
    }

Use Case: Generate EDI documents for B2B transactions with trading partners who require X12 format.

Troubleshooting

Function Not Found

Problem	Solution
Function not in dropdown	Verify the function exists in More > Functions. Check if it was created in the correct organization.
Function was deleted	Recreate the function or select an alternative function. Workflows using deleted functions will fail.

Execution Errors

Problem	Solution
”undefined is not a function”	Check the function code for syntax errors. Verify all required libraries are imported correctly.
Function returns unexpected output	Review the function’s input parameters and ensure values are passed correctly. Check the function code logic.
Timeout errors	Optimize the function code. Avoid long-running operations or external API calls with slow response times.

Input Parameter Errors

Problem	Solution
Required parameter missing	Refer to the function code in More > Functions to identify required parameters.
Invalid data type	Ensure input values match expected types (string, array, object). Use a Custom Code node to transform data if needed.
Dynamic variable not resolving	Verify the source node has executed successfully and the variable path is correct.

Use the Custom Code node for one-off logic that doesn’t need to be reused. Reserve functions for code that will be used across multiple workflows.

Next steps

Custom Code node

Write one-off custom logic.

Rule node

Add conditional logic based on function output.

Loop node

Iterate over grouped data from functions.

Transform node

Run JSONata-based data transformation.