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use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

Hi,

I have a summary table where I'd like to create a new column 'Rate' with a formula. The column MAXRESULT gives the name of the column I want to use in the formula. unfortunately, I'm getting 'missing arguments' error when I create the formula based on column name.

Column 'Rate' formula: 

(100 * Column Name( Parse( "N(" || Char( :MAXRESULT ) || ")" ) )[]) / :N Rows

 

cyrilmichelland_0-1663851353607.png

 

What's wrong ?

 

2 ACCEPTED SOLUTIONS

Accepted Solutions
jthi
Super User

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

One option is to use As Column() or Column() instead of Column Name() (with As Column() you shouldn't need []). Also there should be no need to use Parse().

 

Something like this

(100 * As Column("N(" || Char(:MAXRESULT) || ")")) / :N Rows
-Jarmo

View solution in original post

txnelson
Super User

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

Here is an example that shows that @jthi column does work.  I believe that you have an issue with your data.  

New Table( "Untitled 12",
	Add Rows( 4 ),
	New Column( "N(1.6)",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [445, 446, 0, 0] )
	),
	New Column( "N(1.5)",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [0, 0, 441, 446] )
	),
	New Column( "MAXRESULT",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [1.6, 1.6, 1.5, 1.5] )
	),
	New Column( "N Rows",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [446, 446, 446, 446] )
	),
	New Column( "Rate",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Formula( (100 * As Column( "N(" || Char( :MAXRESULT ) || ")" )) / :N Rows ),
		Set Selected
	)
)
Jim

View solution in original post

5 REPLIES 5
jthi
Super User

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

One option is to use As Column() or Column() instead of Column Name() (with As Column() you shouldn't need []). Also there should be no need to use Parse().

 

Something like this

(100 * As Column("N(" || Char(:MAXRESULT) || ")")) / :N Rows
-Jarmo

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

Hi,

the proposed formula still doesn't work :(

cyrilmichelland_0-1664270697287.png

Error unresolved column

 

cyrilmichelland_1-1664270764725.png

Error Could not find column

 

anything else I can try out ?

Thanks for your support

txnelson
Super User

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

Here is an example that shows that @jthi column does work.  I believe that you have an issue with your data.  

New Table( "Untitled 12",
	Add Rows( 4 ),
	New Column( "N(1.6)",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [445, 446, 0, 0] )
	),
	New Column( "N(1.5)",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [0, 0, 441, 446] )
	),
	New Column( "MAXRESULT",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [1.6, 1.6, 1.5, 1.5] )
	),
	New Column( "N Rows",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Set Values( [446, 446, 446, 446] )
	),
	New Column( "Rate",
		Numeric,
		"Continuous",
		Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Formula( (100 * As Column( "N(" || Char( :MAXRESULT ) || ")" )) / :N Rows ),
		Set Selected
	)
)
Jim

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

ok it's working on my data set as well.

the strange thing is it's still showing the error in the preview but then when I apply the formula, the result is good.

 

Thank you all ! 

jthi
Super User

Re: use a value to find the correct column to use in a formula

Formula editor doesn't like the formula. There are quite a few formulas which can have those red-underlines but they will still work (using Current Data Table() for example). In this case I think it is caused by not evaluation the column names into the formula

-Jarmo

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