# Defining Target Variable in Select Predictors node

You can use the Select Predictors workspace node to define or specify a Target Variable for possible use by a downstream node. This node processes the variables of data that are passed from upstream nodes. If a Target Variable is specified in the node parameters, it is set as continuous or categorical dependent on the downstream document produced. All the other variables are sorted as continuous and categorical predictor variables.

The Select Predictors workspace node can be accessed from the Feature Finder and the Ribbon Bar.

## Prerequisites

A data source must be connected and available to the Select Predictors workspace node.

## Procedure

1. Open a Workspace. To open Data Source, click Data Source in the workspace menu bar.
2. To add the Select Predictors workspace node, click Data > Variables > Select Predictors. Then, add the downstream node.
   Note: The Select Predictors workspace node can only be connected to one single data source at a time. If a second data source is connected to the node, the first connection is disabled.
3. To open Select Predictors workspace node, double-click the icon Select Predictors workspace node.
4. To define the Target Variable, click
   Note: If the Ignore Missing Target Variable check box is not selected and the specified Target Variable is not found in the input dataset, an error is displayed and no downstream document is produced.
   Note: The node operates by specifying a variable selection in the metadata for downstream document produced:
   - All categorical variables (except the one specified in the Target Variable) are specified as categorical predictors on the downstream document.
   - All continuous variables (except the one specified in the Target Variable) are specified as continuous predictors on the downstream document.
   - On the downstream document, the variable specified in the Target Variable is:
     - specified as a categorical dependent if the Target Variable is a categorical variable.
     - specified as a continuous dependent if the Target Variable is a continuous variable.
     - ignored if the Target Variable specified is not present in the input dataset and the Ignore Missing Target Variable check box is selected.
5. To manually run the Select Predictors workspace node, right-click the node and click Run to Node the Select Predictors workspace node.
6. To generate the output, right-click the node and click Run to Node on respective downstream node.

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