Join two tables with variable names

[#1]

Hi,

I like to join two tables with variable names. Here is the script.

Eval(
	Parse(
		"s3 << Join(
With( rds),
Merge Same Name Columns,
By Matching Columns(
" || name3 || ",
" || name4 ||
		"
),
Drop multiples( 0, 0 ),
Include Nonmatches( 1, 1 ),
Preserve main table order( 1 )
);"
 
	)
);

I get an error " Name Unresolved: Red LED Hue x 64{1} in access or evaluation of "Red LED Hue 64/*###*/. No issue with name3 "Serail#" but issue with "Red LED Hue x 64[1]".

Here is the scrip that works fine but I like to replace the variables names with name3 and name4.

Data Table( "S3" ) << Join(
	With( Data Table( "RDS" ) ),
	Merge Same Name Columns,
	By Matching Columns( :Serial# = :Serial#, :Name( "Red LED Hue x 64[1]" ) = :Name( "Red LED Hue x 64[1]" ) ),
	Drop multiples( 0, 0 ),
	Include Nonmatches( 1, 1 ),
	Preserve main table order( 1 )
)

I appreciate your help.  Thanks

[#2]

how are you defining name3 and name4?  Can you post that part of your script as well as show how those variables evaluate in the log? (e.g. run "Show(name3, name4)")

[#3]

Thanks Cameron. The name3 and name4 are listed below when show(name) is invoked.

name3 = ":Serial# = :Serial#";
name4 = ":Red LED Hue x 64[1] = :Red LED Hue x 64[1]";
The name 3 and name4 are created by using the following script:xvar = .;
yvar = .;
win = New Window( "Choose Two Variables for Matching",
	<<Modal,
	<<On Validate(
// require the user to select two variables before clicking OK
		Show( xvar, yvar );
		If( Is Missing( xvar ) | Is Missing( yvar ),
			0, // if xvar or yvar are missing, do nothing when OK is clicked
			1
		);
	),
	Text Box( " Select two numeric columns. " ),
	H List Box(
		Text Box( " Choose First " ),
		x = Col List Box(
			dt1, // data table reference
			all, // display all columns from the data table
			xvar = (x << Get Selected)[1];
// get the name of the selected column before the window closes
			Show( xvar );
		),
		Text Box( "Choose Second" ),
		y = Col List Box(
			dt2,
			all,
			yvar = (y << Get Selected)[1];
			Show( yvar );
		)
	)
);
 
xcol = Column( dt1, xvar ); // get the columns
ycol = Column( dt2, yvar );
 
 
name1 = ":" || xvar;
name2 = ":" || yvar;
name3 = name1 || " = " || name2;
Show( name3 );

Similarily for name4.

I appreciate your help. Thanks

[#4]

The problem is almost certainly with the square brackets in Name4.  If column names have special characters, then you cannot use the colon(:) with the column name.  You need to get the column name string wrapped in :Name().

Try this:

name1 = ":Name(" || xvar || ")";
name2 = ":Name(" || yvar || ")";
name3 = name1 || " = " || name2;

[#5]

Thanks Cameron. I modified name3 and name4 like what you suggested and I got an error:

Name arg must be quoted string

Line 5 Column 9:   :Name(►Serial#) = :Name(Serial#),

If I keep name3 like before, no error for Serial# but for name4. I don't know a priori what users chooses for name3 and name4.

Thanks for your continuous support.

[#6 · Accepted solution]

Oops, you're missing quotes inside of name.  Forgot about that.  You can do that several ways, but here's one where we use escape syntax to insert double quotes inside of a string.

name1 = ":Name(\!"" || xvar || "\!")";
name2 = ":Name(\!"" || yvar || "\!")";
name3 = name1 || " = " || name2;

You should definitely use the :Name("col name") approach to keep this robust since you will need it to handle situations with special characters in the column names.

[#7]

Thanks Cameron. I tried it and work fine. Thanks again.