topic Re: How to get names of the selected columns in string format in Discussions

How to get names of the selected columns in string format

miguello — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:07:50 GMT

In my script I use the following to get the list of all columns in a string format:

columnNames = dt << Get Column Names( string );

I need that so I could iterate through them using "For Each" loop:

For Each( {columnName, index}, columnNames, Column( dt, columnName ) << Set Name( columnName ||"SomethingHere" ) );

Now I need to only get selected columns and run the same loop on them.

I know only one way to get selected columns:

columnNames = dt << Get Selected Columns;

but it returns references to columns, not string names. So when I run this then:

For Each( {columnName, index}, columnNames, Column( dt, columnName ) << Set Name( columnName ||"SomethingHere" ) );

it doesn't work.

How do I either

1. Rewrite For Each loop (I'd like to keep using this loop instead of For loop) to accept references to columns as well

2. Convert references to columns into a list of strings.

Re: How to get names of the selected columns in string format

miguello — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:55:54 GMT

Ok, I solved it the following way.

Before running my already scripted "For Each" loop that I doin't want to change, I run this:

For Each( {columnName, index}, columnNames, columnNames[index] = columnNames[index]<< Get Name );

Any other options?

Re: How to get names of the selected columns in string format

jthi — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:56:22 GMT

Add (String) to Get Selected Columns (not documented in scripting index... but help has "a bit more" documentation dt<<Get Selected Properties(<{list of properties}>) )

Names Default To Here(1);
dt = Open("$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.jmp");
dt << Select Columns({:sex, :height});

sel_colnames = dt << Get Selected Columns(string); 
show(sel_colnames); // sel_colnames = {"sex", "height"};

Re: How to get names of the selected columns in string format

miguello — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:02:13 GMT

Awesome! **bleep** under-documentation :)

Re: How to get names of the selected columns in string format

jthi — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:08:57 GMT

Would be good to report. I just don't remember who was supposed to be tagged when Scripting Index was lacking so for now lets tag @Jeff_Perkinson and@Ryan_Gilmore , << Get Selected Columns is missing optional option parameters in Scripting Index.

Re: How to get names of the selected columns in string format

Duane_Hayes — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 15:27:27 GMT

@miguello, @jthi - JMP Technical Support will make the request to update the Scripting Index. Thank you for sharing!