topic Re: Formatting numbers in a loop in Discussions

Formatting numbers in a loop

aharro — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:52:01 GMT

Hello,

I'm formatting decimal numbers in a loop, and it works on the first row but the 2nd row and thereafter it throws a type error

		for each row(my_data,
		
			:my_col = Format( :my_col, "Fixed Dec", 16, 3, "Use thousands separator");
		);

Error: <Column "my_col" changed to type Character to match formula.>

First row everything formats fine but I can't seem to figure out why it fails after.

Thanks

Re: Formatting numbers in a loop

jthi — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:15:04 GMT

Format() returns a string (or "quoted format"), so on first row you still have number which you use as input. Then JMP converts all the values to characters in the column -> no more number

Names Default To Here(1);

dt = New Table("Untitled",
	Add Rows(2),
	Compress File When Saved(1),
	New Column("Column 1", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Set Values([1, 2]))
);

For Each Row(dt,
	show(type(:"Column 1"n));
	:"Column 1"n = Format(:"Column 1"n, "Fixed Dec", 16, 3, "Use thousands separator")
);

Re: Formatting numbers in a loop

jthi — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:24:15 GMT

Also there should be no need to do this in a loop as you can just change the column properties (unless you want to possibly lose some precision, then you might want to loop)

Data Table("Untitled"):Column 1 << Format(
	"Fixed Dec",
	Use thousands separator(1),
	13,
	3
);

Re: Formatting numbers in a loop

aharro — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 22:04:42 GMT

Thanks for your clarification on that.

I was looking to display some long float numbers in an outline box. I needed to shorten the length of the number.
I found that Left(Char(:mycolumn), 5); is better suited for my case and I don't lose any precision.