topic Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions in Discussions

Collection of "funny" Jmp newbie questions

hogi — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:32:08 GMT

good to know:

- how to do this and that in Jmp?

- where Jmp is different from other programs

- where Jmp is different from Jmp (inconsistencies)

Topic	additional info
Data Tables
Why is it not possible in Jmp: - to define a formula for a specific cell? - to select any 2 cells in a spreadsheet?
Is there a tutorial how to "slice" matrices? matrix[5::-1]	answer NB: The indexing of matrices will be improved in a future version of Jmp
why new table()?	answer
why is there no dt << n rows()?	answer
Why does add row add a row to a data table - but doesn't add the values?	answer
Why are there different column names for data imported via Open and MFI?	answer
Is there something in JMP like freeze pane* in Excel?*	lock Columns
New Formula Column / Concatenate numeric values
New formula column / count strings

Graph Builder
Why do FitYbyX and GraphBuilder use different color codings?	answer
When comes (collision free) Column Switcher 2.0?	wish:
GUI
Why is there no Select* mode in the Local Data Filter - like the one from (global) Data Filter?*	wish:
In the Join Tables Platform, what's the difference between Update main table with data from second table and Merge same name columns?
The submenus of my Jmp installation open to the left - Where is the setting to move the submenus to the "right"?
Why does Scripting Index/See also not list the function xyz ?	you want more items to show up in see also ? suggest them here:

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 04:19:15 GMT

Is there a tutorial how to "slice" matrices?
I just found infos like this one
https://www.jmp.com/support/help/en/16.2/?os=win&source=application#page/jmp/subscripts-2.shtml
with some basic indexing like

mat[from::to, from2::to2]

Is indexing also possible "relative to the end" (minus sign doesn't work) or indexing with open start or end (leaving the slot empty doesn't work)?

mat[1::-1];

mat[1::];

mat[::]

edit: wish
https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Wish-List/new-slicing-options-for-matrices/idi-p/559090#M2563

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 04:20:29 GMT

why is it

current data table()
data table("my name")

but

new table()

(without "data") - because there is no data yet in the table? ;)

Here it seems that "tables" and "data tables" are something similar, but this is definitely not true:
https://community.jmp.com/t5/Discussions/Collection-of-quot-funny-quot-JSL-newbie-questions/m-p/559063/highlight/true#M77234

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 04:23:03 GMT

why are there so many messages that I can send to a data table but not

dt << n rows()

just working:

n rows (dt)

edit: wish
https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Wish-List/lt-lt-n-rows-to-get-the-rows-of-a-data-table/idi-p/559101

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 04:29:17 GMT

Why does add row add a row to a data table - but doesn't add the values *)?

*) adding values with the same syntax just works for Table Boxes

dt = New Table( "Untitled" );
dt << add row( {1} );

New Window( "test",
	tb = Table Box( String Col Box( "string col", {"a"} ), 
	Number Col Box( "number col", {1} ) )
);
tb << add row( {"b", 2} );

edited: wish to provide a shortcut function like add row(list of values) also for data tables
(very convenient for data collection in for loops - e.g. for debugging)
https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Wish-List/easy-way-to-add-rows-amp-values-to-a-data-table/idi-p/559082

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:45:48 GMT

The message

Obj << Add Row( {values, .....} )

is a valid message for the Display Object, Table Box

The message

Obj << Add Rows( ,n., ,At Start|At End|After(m)> | { list of ( column name = value ) pairs } ))

is a valid message to add rows to a data table.

Both messages allow for the adding of rows, but in different formats, since the objects are very different in functionality

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

jthi — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:50:36 GMT

Is there a tutorial how to "slice" matrices?

Try using 0

Names Default To Here(1);

m = J(2,5,1);
Show(m[1,0]);
Show(m[0,1]);
Show(m[0,0]);

why are there so many messages that I can send to a data table but not
- Data table object doesn't seem to have N Rows. N Rows is a different function which can be used on different objects
Why does add row add a row to a data table - but not the values?
- Add Row does work (no idea why...) but you have to use different syntax when adding values (see Add Rows).
- ```
Names Default To Here(1);

dt = New Table( "Untitled" );
dt << Add Row({"Column 1"n = 1});
dt << Add Rows({"Column 1"n = 2});
```

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:54:39 GMT

It is a simple matter to slice matrices

names default to here(1);

mat = [10 20 30 40 50, 15 25 35 45 55];
show( mat[1,0]);
show( mat[1,2::4]);
/*:

mat[1,0] = [10 20 30 40 50];
mat[1,Index(2, 4)] = [20 30 40];

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 15:01:22 GMT

I don't understand your

current data table()
data table("my name")

issue.

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 15:10:20 GMT

This is an example of one of the inconsistences in JSL. Not all functions have a message equivalence. I suggest that when you come across an inconsistency that you add a request to the JMP Wish List to resolve the inconsistancy

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 20:36:02 GMT

Workaround for add row(with values):
collect the info in a Table Box, then use

and copy the data to a data table.

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

Mark_Bailey — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 16:28:53 GMT

A function is a subroutine that you can call anywhere in a script. It might take one or more arguments. It returns a value. It might have a side effect, like instantiating a display box.

A message invokes a method implemented by an object.

It doesn't make sense (to me) to necessarily have a message to duplicate every function if that is what you are suggesting. What additional benefit does the message, dt << N Row, provide that you cannot get from the function call, N Row( dt )?

You must learn the syntax, keywords, functions, and protocols for any computer language.

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 17:48:10 GMT

@Mark_Bailey : Sure, there is no difference at all between N row(dt) and the non-existing dt << n rows

... from the point of view of what you get.

But this post is about idioms of the jmp language which can make it hard for newbies to get what they want.

Sometimes, there are tiny "walls" or you get stuck in front of a locked door - this can be frustrating or irritating.
I could imagine that during the Trial Period some potential users of JMP got lost to other languages like Python or Matlab because of such difficulties.

The benefit of messages:

Let's imagine that a user has a data table dt and knows already that he can send messages like << get name to the object.

He also knows that typing

dt << get

and pressing CTRL+Space will help him to get possible candidates for what he wants.

And indeed, there is a << get rows() for data tables.

Unfortunately, this function does something else :(

Therefore, he keeps searching and searches the Scripting Index for other messages like Nitems, Length, Dimensions and so on.

Nothing - along the idea: If you don't know the correct function name, I cannot give you the correct info.
Then he just selects the data table object and scans all these messages, which can be sent to a data table. A huge list, but none of them does what the user wants. This takes a while ...

Another user uses the Scripting index and tries

then:

and scans the first 10 entries. Hm ...

(compare: https://www.google.com/search?q=length+data%20table+python)

As a next step, both go to the JMP Community:
https://community.jmp.com/t5/forums/searchpage/tab/message?q=data%20table%20number%20rows

and find out that they were not the only ones who had this problem - what a relief!

And that's not all.

Fortunately, there are people who passionately help other users with their problems :)

From now on, both can tell other people that the function is not "length()", "dimensions()", "len()", "size()" .... , but N row().

And that dt << N Rows() is not available because it would just be the same as N row(dt)

... or N Rows(dt).

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 15:32:52 GMT

When I import a text file without header - why are the column names

and when I import the same file via "Import Multiple Files ...", they are

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 11:57:22 GMT

I assume it is because 2 different developers created the 2 different applications.

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 15:40:40 GMT

I edited the original text to make it clearer.
I wondered why it is not

new data table()

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 17:04:13 GMT

I am not even sure that if the original developers of the syntax in question responded, that they would be able to say precisely why

new data table()

isn't the syntax to use.

Having worked my whole career with software systems developed by other people and organizations I find it is more productive to as "How do I do it", rather than "Why doesn't it do it this or that way". The only real answer to the later question is "Because I wasn't the software developer, someone else was"

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 17:47:50 GMT

Yes, that's right, your posts live the spirit of "How do I do it" :)
I am always totally thrilled how you think out of the box and manage to get to the other side of a locked door, like such manually concatenated Strings plus a

parse( )

and that's it.

It's just that the need for "please read the Help and check the scripting index" would be less if the "easy doors" were all unlocked by default :)

Alternative approach: detour signs in the scripting Index
https://community.jmp.com/t5/JMP-Wish-List/Scripting-Index-and-online-Help-quot-see-also-quot/idi-p/559430

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

txnelson — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 18:36:49 GMT

The inconsistencies in JMP are unfortunately a known issue. The positive side is that when new releases come out, over time one sees that efforts are made to clean up the inconsistencies. I strongly suggest that your observations be added to the JMP Wish List. That way they get officially noted to those that can actually make changes.

Re: Collection of "funny" JSL newbie questions

hogi — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:57:35 GMT

Hi,

in the Scripting Index, there is a button "see also" which suggests the interested user alternative functions in the context of an initial found function.

Unfortunalely, there are some "links" missing between the entries. e.g.

get <-> set clipboard

N Args <-> Head

I posted a "container" wish to collect such missing links such that they can be added:

Did it happen to you as well that you search a function in the Scripting Index for some while and found out that you cannot find the right term to search it?
If you found the correct function afterwards by luck, could you please add a screenshot to the "container" wish to help other users to find the function faster ...

... and support the idea with a Kudo : )