Columns

[#1]

Hello everyone, I have a data table similar to this one:

The database consists of 2 groups:

- The dates ("start date...")

- Numbers associated with operations

My goal is to remove the columns that are not in the intersection of the two column groups.

That is to say here, I would like to automatically delete with a script the columns: "Start date 952", "9950"

Thanks for your help !

[#2 · Accepted solution]

I reworked the previous script to meet your new requirements.

Names Default To Here( 1 );

dt = Current Data Table();

keep = {};
delete = {};

colNameList = dt << get column names( string );
numericNamesOnly = colNameList;
For( i = N Items( colNameList ), i >= 1, i--,
	colNameList[i] = Uppercase( colNameList[i] );
	If( Is Missing( Num( colNameList[i] ) ) == 1,
		numericNamesOnly[i] = ""
	);
);

While( N Items( colNameList ) > 0,
	If(
		Contains( colNameList[1], Uppercase( "Date début" ) ),
			found = Contains( numericNamesOnly, Word( 3, colNameList[1] ) );
			If( found > 0,
				Insert Into( keep, colNameList[1] );
				Insert Into( keep, numericNamesOnly[found] );
				Remove From( numericNamesOnly, found, 1 );
				Remove From( numericNamesOnly, 1, 1 );
				Remove From( colNameList, found, 1 );
				Remove From( colNameList, 1, 1 );
			,
				Insert Into( delete, colNameList[1] );
				Remove From( colNameList, 1, 1 );
				Remove From( numericNamesOnly, 1, 1 );
			);,
		Is Missing( Num( colNameList[1] ) ) == 0,
			found = Contains( colNameList, Uppercase( "DATE début " ) || colNameList[1] );
			If( found > 0,
				Insert Into( keep, colNameList[1] );
				Insert Into( keep, dateDebutOnly[found] );
				Remove From( numericNamesOnly, found, 1 );
				Remove From( numericNamesOnly, 1, 1 );
				Remove From( colNameList, found, 1 );
				Remove From( colNameList, 1, 1 );
			,
				Insert Into( delete, colNameList[1] );
				Remove From( colNameList, 1, 1 );
				Remove From( numericNamesOnly, 1, 1 );
			);,
		Remove From( colNameList, 1, 1 );
		Remove From( numericNamesOnly, 1, 1 );
	)
);

dt << delete columns(delete);

It isn't pretty code, but it shows the direct way to get the job done.

Note: You have an error in your sample data table.  You have a column name "Datd début 952" that needs to be changed to "Date début 952"

[#3]

Thanks it works! 

I tried to use your script but initially I didn't know how to characterize all the columns of the second group because there are no similar terms.