Details on Calculate New Column


This dialog is used to calculate a new column in a transformation step when adding or replacing data tables.

  1. Select File > Add Data Tables... or File > Add On-Demand Data Table... and add the data of interest.

  2. Click Show transformations.

  3. Select Calculate new column from the drop-down list and click Add.....

data_calculate_new_column_d.png

Option

Description

Available columns

Shows all available columns. Select a column by clicking on it in the list and then click on the Insert Columns button, or double-click on the column, to send it to the Expression field. You can narrow down the list of available columns by typing a part of a name in the "Type to search" field. You can also enter an expression in the field, using the rules described on the
Searching in TIBCO Spotfire
page. Press Ctrl or Shift to select multiple columns.

Insert Columns

Inserts the selected columns in the Expression field.

Available properties for column

Shows all properties that you can use in the calculation of a new column. The column properties are specific to the column selected in the Available columns list to the left.

Select a property by clicking on it in the list and then click on the Insert Properties button, or double-click on the property to send it to the Expression field. The property will automatically be inserted as a value in this context.

See Properties in Expressions for more information.

You can narrow down the list of available properties by using the search field.

Insert Properties

Inserts the properties selected in the Available properties for column list at the current cursor position in the Expression field.

Category

Select a category of functions to limit the choices in the Function list:

All functions

Binning functions

Conversion functions

Date and Time functions

Logical functions

Math functions

Operators

Property functions

Ranking functions

Spatial functions

Statistical functions

Text functions

Function

Select a function by clicking on it in the list and then click on the Insert Function button, or double-click on the function to send it to the Expression field. You can narrow down the list by typing a part of a name in the field where it says "Type to search".

Description

Shows a brief description of the selected function. For more detailed descriptions, see the Functions chapter.

Insert Function

Inserts the selected function in the Expression field.

Expression

This is the text field in which you build your expression. You can insert columns and functions from the lists or enter text as in any standard text editor.

See Expression and Script Editor Keyboard Shortcuts for information about available shortcuts.

Recent expressions

Displays the ten expressions you have most recently created. You can select one of these and click the Insert button to insert the expression into the Expression field.

Insert

Inserts the selected Recent expression into the Expression field. This will replace the entire content of the Expression field.

Resulting expression

Of interest when preprocessor functions (such as ${PropertyName}) are used in the expression only. Displays the expression after all occurrences of the property have been replaced with its current value or values.

Column name

Type a name for the calculated column you want to add.

Sample result

Displays the result of applying the current expression to the first row of the data table. Note that if aggregating functions (such as, "Count") are used in the expression, only the first 100 rows will be used in the sample calculation.

If this field shows an error there is a problem with the expression. Moving the mouse pointer over the red exclamation mark next to the Expression field will display an explanation of what is wrong.

Type

Shows the data type of the new calculated column.

Formatting...

Opens the Formatting dialog where you can change the formatting of the new, calculated column.

See also:

Transforming Data