Associative Array as Table Variable

[#1]

Is it possible to create an Associative Array as a Table Variable and then use stored values in a column formula?

I have a number of related variables I would like to edit as part of an ongoing analysis.  These variables will then be used like a Match function in a column formula.

For example:

1. Create table variable counts and set value to ["a" => 10, "b" => 3, "c" => 1].
2. counts is then referenced by a column formula, like :counts[:col].  Where :col is a Character column with values "a", "b", or "c".

Is this possible?  I am using JMP 18.2.1.

[#2 · Accepted solution]

I think this does what you asked:

New Table( "Untitled",
	Add Rows( 3 ),
	New Table Variable( "abc", "[\!"a\!"=>1, \!"b\!"=>2, \!"c\!"=>4]" ),
	New Column( "Column 1",
		Numeric,
		"Nominal",
		Format( "Best", 9 ),
		Formula(
			c_abc = As Constant( Eval( Parse( :abc ) ) );
			c_abc["c"];
		),
		Set Selected
	)
)

Note the table variable is just text, so it gets parsed and evaluated. The AsConstant function makes it only parse/eval once for the entire column's evaluation, so it won't be too inefficient.

As an alternative, you could have a separate table variable for each element of the associative array. It might be easier to edit, but it won't create an isolated namespace like the associative array.

Another alternative is to use custom column properties if the names are going to be column names. They might be harder to find and edit. Unlike the text-only table variable, they also hold expressions:

dt=New Table( "Untitled",
	New Column( "Column 1",
		Set Property( "xxxxx", ["a"=>42,"adfasdfasdf"=>77] )
	)
);

(dt:column1<<getproperty("xxxxx"))["a"] // 42

[#3]

Thanks @Craige_Hales , your solution works great.

Thanks @jthi , I upvoted this suggestion.

[#4]

Craige did provide a good options how you can do this. Here is a wish list item hoping for more complicated data types for table variables Let us use more complicated data types for table variables than just text and numbers