topic Re: Changing data type and modeling type for multiple columns? in Discussions

Changing data type and modeling type for multiple columns?

PNash — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 21:36:54 GMT

I have 8 columns that I need to change data type, modeling type, and format on, is there any way that I can do it as a grouping? Or do I need to write my script for each individual column?

Re: Changing data type and modeling type for multiple columns?

Thierry_S — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 21:49:27 GMT

Hi,
Select all 8 columns, right-click on the header, choose Standardize Attributes, and then choose the attribute you wish to change (e.g. format, modeling type...)

Re: Changing data type and modeling type for multiple columns?

PNash — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 21:56:04 GMT

Is there a way to script that?

Re: Changing data type and modeling type for multiple columns?

txnelson — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 23:20:02 GMT

You will need to use a For() loop and loop across the variables in question and change the values.

dt = open("$SAMPLE_DATA/big class.jmp");

colList = dt << get column names(numeric);

For(i=1,i<=n items(colList), i++,
column(dt, colList[i]) << data type("numeric");
);

Re: Changing data type and modeling type for multiple columns?

Wendy_Murphrey — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 18:35:18 GMT

An alternate to @txnelson's solution is shown below. The Get Column Reference message returns a list of references to the columns using the Column() function. It does not accept the same arguments that Get Column Names does. Instead, it accepts a list of column names or a matrix.

By using Get Column Names as the argument, you can supply the desired list of column names to Get Column Reference. Because the resulting list is a list of column references, the Data Type message can be sent to the list.

This example captures a list of column references for all numeric columns in the table and then changes the data type to character.

dt = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA\Big Class.jmp" );

//returns {Column( "age" ), Column( "height" ), Column( "weight" )}
colRefs = dt << Get Column Reference( dt << Get Column Names( "numeric" ) );  

colRefs << Data Type( "Character" );

I hope this is helpful!