New filter "Column Filter" a combination of Local Data Filter and Column Switcher

[jthi]

What inspired this wish list request? 

Depending what you are doing in JMP, you sometimes have to unnecessarily move from wide data to tall data due to how column switcher / local data filter work - we cannot "filter" columns currently. This is one of the reasons why I did create Enhanced Sankey Plot (ESP) add-in as it is fairly difficult to quickly add/remove specific columns from graph builder.

What is the improvement you would like to see? 

I would like to have new tool? "Column Filter" which would allow me to determine which columns I want to show. This would function basically like Data Filter but for columns.

If I have a situation like this where I have multiple columns in my Y-axis for example

I don't have any easy options to hide or add extra columns. If I want to some of those columns or add new ones, I have to stack the data first and the create a graph with local data filter

This does work great but sometimes this feels very unnecessary step.

Why is this idea important? 

This would make the gap between tall/stacked and wide/split data smaller.

[jthi]

Script to demonstrate how this could work (this is very far from usable product, but should function as demonstration, I also will turn this into add-in/toolbar when I have enough time to properly design the UI)

One column at Y

Add more and refresh

Remove X role

Add two to X role

View more...

Names Default To Here(1);

delete_variable_for_role = function({report, role}, {Default Local},
	all_variables = report << get variables;
	For Each({variable}, all_variables,
		colname = Arg(variable, 1) << get name;
		Try(
			Eval(EvalExpr(
				report << Remove Variable({Expr(NameExpr(AsColumn(colname))), Role(Expr(role)), Position(1)})
			));
		);
	);
);

add_variables_for_role = function({report, columns, role}, {Default Local},
	For Each({colname}, columns,
		Eval(EvalExpr(
			report << Add Variable({Expr(NameExpr(AsColumn(colname))), Role(Expr(role)), Position(1)});
		));
	);
);

update_cols = Expr(
	cur_cols = fcs << get selected;
	cur_role = cb << get selected;
	report << inval;
	delete_variable_for_role(report, cur_role);
	add_variables_for_role(report, cur_cols, cur_role);
	report << update window;
	wait(0);
);

prepend_column_filter = Expr(
	lb = (Report(report) << top parent) << child;
	lb << Set Horizontal(1);
	ob_colfilter = Outline Box("Column Filter",
		V List Box(
			H List Box(
				Panel Box("Role to Filter",
					Lineup Box(N Col(1),
						Text Box("Select Role to filter"),
						cb = Combo Box({"Y", "X"})
					)
				),
				Panel Box("Actions",
					Lineup Box(N Col(1),
						Button Box("Refresh",
							update_cols
						),
					)
				)
			),
			Panel Box("Columns",
				fcs = Filter Col Selector(Datatable(dt))
			)
		)
	);
	cur_height = report << get height;
	fcs << set height(cur_height - 200);
	fcs << set width(200);
	Eval(EvalExpr(
		ob_colfilter << Set Menu Script(
			{"Remove Column Filter", Expr(ob_colfilter) << Delete Box; Expr(lb) << Set Horizontal(0)}
		);		
	));
	lb << Prepend(ob_colfilter);	
);



dt = Open("$SAMPLE_DATA/Semiconductor Capability.jmp");
dt << Ungroup Columns;

report = dt << Graph Builder(
	Size(528, 653),
	Show Control Panel(0),
	Fit to Window("On"),
	Variables(X(:SITE), Y(:NPN1), Y(:PNP1, Position(1))),
	Elements(Boxplot(X, Y(1), Y(2), Legend(4)))
);

wait(2);
prepend_column_filter;

[jthi]

I did finally create Column Filter - easily change your Y and X-axis columns 

[hogi]

wonderful idea!
soooo useful, thanks @jthi