Simple way to copy and paste columns

[scott1588]

What inspired this wish list request? 

There are many instances when I need to combine columns from different data tables into a new table. I know there are workarounds to do this (subsets, get script, etc), but why can't there be a simple copy column/paste column command?

What is the improvement you would like to see? 

Add copy/paste column commands to JSL

Why is this idea important? 

Makes a common task very simple instead of resorting to more complex JSL workarounds.

[hogi]

you mean:
 << copy column as a synonym for << get script?

If  copy column(col), is also fine,  you could create a wrapper for << get script:

Names Default to Here(1);
dt = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.jmp" );
dt2 = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class Families.jmp" );

dt << New Formula Column(
	Operation( Category( "Combine" ), "Ratio" ),
	Columns( :height, :weight )
);

copy column = Function({col},
	script = col << get script
);

paste column = Function({},
	script
);

copy column (Name Expr(Column("height/weight")));
Current data table(dt2);
paste column();

And via the GUI,  copy column / paste column is available:

[scott1588]

I'm looking for something that is as simple as the copy/paste column items in the GUI but for JSL.

Just dt << copy column (:name)

and

dt2 << paste column

no expr or any other JSL involved.

Maybe with a couple of position modifiers such as <after :colname>, <end>, etc.

[scott1588]

Interestingly... there is a Copy Column command listed in the scripting index. But it has no information about it. I can't find it in the scripting guide.

But there is no Paste Column.

[scott1588]

Another interesting variation of this might be to add modifiers to the New Table command to list columns to pull from other tables

New Table (dt1:colname, dt1:colname2, dt2:colname3)

This would create a New Table with the columns pulled from dt1 and dt2

[hogi]

For the 'new table' you could select the 3 columns, generate a (non linked) subset and delete all rows.