topic Re: Initialize data - very useful - but fragile! in Discussions

Initialize data - very useful - but fragile!

hogi — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 16:51:07 GMT

Hi, the initialize data settings in the column menu are quite useful.
Who managed to control the settings via JSL?

In the scripting index, I just found:

which fits to "constant" mode. How can I set the other modes?

Re: Initialize data - very useful - but fragile!

jthi — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 17:44:33 GMT

Only constant and today are specifically using initial data, rest are building them using for each row (JMP action recorder seems to be recording actions for Constant and Today data initialization incorrectly).

Re: Initialize data - very useful - but fragile!

hogi — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 18:58:58 GMT

@jthi wrote:
Only constant and today are specifically using initial data, rest are building them using for each row

Ah right, good point. Surprising ...

Today() is really (!!!) useful.
Every new row is added with the current timestamp - some hidden "magic" which is not visible from the script for the data table.

A pity that Sequence Data and Random are just accessible in the beginning - no chance to trigger them later:

And when a user changes the setting to Missing/Empty or misses the chance to define a Initialize Date setting before he writes the first value into the column - he loses his chance to see the menu.

So, some things that could be improved in a future version of JMP ...
On the other hand, I don't know id other JMP users use this feature
- and how many of them feel limited by the current functionality.

Re: Initialize data - very useful - but fragile!

MathStatChem — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 05:41:34 GMT

When I use JSL to create columns and specify values for those columns, I tend to be very specific and do things like

dt=New Table();

c=dt<<New Column("Random Normal Data");
dt << Add Rows(20);

c << Set Values(J(nrows(dt), 1, Random Normal()));

c=dt << New Column("All Ones");
c << set values(J(nrows(dt), 1));

dt << New Column("All A's", Character);

for each row(
	:"All A's"n = "A"
);

Re: Initialize data - very useful - but fragile!

hogi — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 11:34:15 GMT

Set each value is very convenient.

:Random Normal Data << Set Each Value(Random Normal());
: "All A's"n << set each value("A");

It can also be used during the creation of the column: New Column("col", set each value()).

I hope it keeps it's versatility: