Copying column properties from one data table to another

[#1]

Does anyone have a JSL script that will copy column properties from one data table to 'same name' columns in another data table?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Lou,

The following demonstrates how you can copy the column properties from one table to another, assuming the column names are the same.

dt = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA\Tiretread.jmp" );

colNames = dt << Get Column Names( String );

nt = New Table( "New Tires",
  New Column( "ABRASION", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "MODULUS", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "ELONG", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "HARDNESS", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "SILICA", Numeric, Continuous, ),
  New Column( "SILANE", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "SULFUR", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "Pred Formula ABRASION", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "Pred Formula MODULUS", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "Pred Formula ELONG", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) ),
  New Column( "Pred Formula HARDNESS", Numeric, Continuous, Format( "Best", 10 ) )
);

For( i = 1, i <= N Cols( dt ), i++,
  colProps = Column( dt, colNames ) << Get Column Properties;
  Column( nt, colNames ) << Add Column Properties( colProps );
);

[#3]

Thank you for your help. I was trying to iterate through the two tables, but did not have the correct commands.

It seems like this will work as long as the two tables have the same columns, in the same order. Is this correct?

Lou

[#4]

A "quick fix": Put the second line of the loop inside Try() to avoid an error if any columns are missing in the new table (column order should not matter here).

Try( Column( nt, colNames[i] ) << Add Column Properties( colProps ) );

[#5]

Thanks for your help. That did the trick! My new table will always be a subset of the ‘master’, and the ‘try’ statement does resolve this issue.

Lou

[#6]

Hi,

I found this relatively old post and tried to apply the solution to a script I'm doing, but I get the following error message in the debbugger:

"Formula has reference to column or table variable in a different table that cannot be found to be remapped to this table"

My situation is a bit more simple in that I'm only trying to copy the properties of a single column

colProps = Column( dt, "Response Predictor" ) << Get Column Properties;
Column( dtparms, "Formula" ) << Add Column Properties( colProps );

Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

Johan

[#7]

The error message would imply that your new formula coulumn involves one or more columns that are not present in the same table. Are you sure that all the colums required to compute the formula values are in the new table?

[#8]

I'm an idiot. Thank you for hepling me realise that:-)