B4P Reference

Function Names

table consolidate, table consolidate selected rows

Description

This function condenses the the table by reducing the rows and performing operations in order to aggregate the data so they continue to be plausible for further use. More precisely, one or more identifier columns need to be defined. The aim is to reduce the number of rows with the same data in the identifier columns to 1. The 2nd and further rows with the same identifier data will be merged into the first applciable row. Specific consolidation actions will be applied on selected columns (e.g. overwriting, adding up, etc.).
Function 'table consolidate'
Hint:A vertical-to-horizontal pivot operation can be finalized by using this funciton after calling table spread() or table spread given headers().

Call as: procedure

Restrictions

Indirect parameter passing is disabled
This function provides a table context for partial table specifications with table name and row number for selected function parameters

Parameter count

1-6

Parameters

No.	Type	Description
1. input	string	Name of existing table
2. code	expression :string	Expression to select rows Applicable to function table consolidate selected rows only. Specify the conditions or rules to select the rows. See expressions to select rows. The table context for partial table specifications is available for referencing just the columns easily. Example: [Year]>=2022. Attention: Comparison operators = and <> (instead of == and !=) may hijack the next function parameters for its own use as additional comparison operands, e.g. a[]=1,3,5. As long this comparison is not made in the last function parameter, then put parentheses around them, e.g. ... , (a[]=1,3,5), ....
Opt. 2. / 3. input	table columns	Identifier Columns The identifier columns guide the consolidation process. All rows containing the same data in the identifier columns will be reduced to 1 row accordingly. If the 1st function parameter refers to no columns, then all rows in the entire table will be consolidated to 1 row. If table consolidate is called with onyly 1 function parameter, then the consolidation process takes place without consolidating the remaining columns (i.e. consolidation action 'none' is assumed). See table columns as function parameters for general ruling for this parameter. Specific rules apply for this function: Any number of header names and column numbers may be specified Specifying no headers (i.e. softquoted empty string '' or empty set {}) will consolidate all table rows to 1 single row. Do not repeat the same column Default value: {} (no columns selected)
Opt. 3. / 4. input	table columns	Columns to consolidate Specify the columns where the data shall be consolidated automatically. The remaining columns in the table will not be consolidated, i.e. the consolidation action is assumed 'none'. In this case, the contents in the first row will be preserved. Note: If all columns (except the identifier columns) need to be consolidated, then specify an asterisk in a softquoted string using single quotation marks, e.g. ''. ("" looks for header name = ""). See table columns as function parameters for general ruling for this parameter. Specific rules apply for this function: Any number of header names and column numbers may be specified Specifying no headers (i.e. softquoted empty string '' or empty set {}) will exclude all columns from active consolidation. Contents in top row will apply. Do not specify any columns already referenced in the previous function parameter (identifier columns) Do not repeat the same column Softquoted string '' in single quotation marks: Consolidate all columns in the table except the identifier columns Default value: {} (no columns consolidated)
Opt. 4. / 5. input	parameter set or string	Consolidation actions Specify one of the various consolidation actions. The operation is applied with the data from the next lower applicable row and the destination data in the first applicable row (= target row). For example, add adds the value from the lower row to the target row. The number of operation identifiers is less than the number of columns specified in the 3rd (output columns) and 6th parameter (destination columns), then the default value 'overwrite' is assumed for the remaining columns. If this parameter contains more elements than columns retrieved, then the exess ones will be ignored. Use a string to specify one value Use parameter set to specify multiple values No values can be provided by using an empty set {} Ideally, the number of consolidation actions shall equal to the number of columns to consolidate (previous function parameter). If fewer consolidation actions are listed than number of columns to consolidate, then the last action will apply to all remaining columns. If more consolidation actions are listed, then the excessive numbr of actions will be ignored. Default value: 'overwrite' if previous parameter is specified, otherwise 'none'
Opt. 5. / 6. input	parameter set or string	Separator string For some consolidation actions (e.g. append, append once), a separator string can be specified to separate the consolidated strings in a more visible way, for example using a comma or new line. Default value: '' (empty string)

Return value

Type	Description
numeral	Number of rows removed >=0 = Number of rows removed -1 = Error identified.

Examples

  table initialize( t,

  { { Highest Score, Name,      Location, Game 1, Game 2, Remarks, Count },

    { 210,           Taylor,    Rome,     32,     20                      },

    { 190,           Tailor,    Prague,   41,     13,     Exceptional win },

    { 190,           Snyder,    Berne,    41,     12,                     },

    { 200,           Tailor,    Miami,    51,     10,     great job       },

    { 230,           Taylor,    Jakarta,  14,     21                      },

    { 230,           Taylor,    Boston,   15,     22                      },

    { 190,           Tailor,    Oslo,     41,     13      great job       } } );





  table copy table( t, u );



  // '*' in 3rd function parameter selects all columns except 'Name'.

  // In this case, the 6 consolidation actions apply to the 6 columns from left to right.



  c[] = table consolidate              ( t, Name,'*', {max, append, sum, average, append once, count}, ", " );

  echo("All rows consolidated (", c[], " rows removed):");

  table list ( t );



  c[] = table consolidate selected rows( u, [Name]==Taylor, Name,'*', {max, append, sum, average, append once, count}, ", " );

  echo("Only Taylor's rows consolidated (", c[], " rows removed):");

  table list ( u );

Output

All rows consolidated (4 rows removed):
    0 : Highest Score | Name   | Location              | Game 1 | Game 2 | Remarks                    | Count
    1 : 230           | Taylor | Rome, Jakarta, Boston | 61     | 21     |                            | 3    
    2 : 200           | Tailor | Prague, Miami, Oslo   | 133    | 12     | Exceptional win, great job | 3    
    3 : 190           | Snyder | Berne                 | 41     | 12     |                            | 1    

Only Taylor's rows consolidated (2 rows removed):
    0 : Highest Score | Name   | Location              | Game 1 | Game 2       | Remarks         | Count
    1 : 230           | Taylor | Rome, Jakarta, Boston | 61     | 21           |                 | 3    
    2 : 190           | Tailor | Prague                | 41     | 13           | Exceptional win |      
    3 : 190           | Snyder | Berne                 | 41     | 12           |                 |      
    4 : 200           | Tailor | Miami                 | 51     | 10           | great job       |      
    5 : 190           | Tailor | Oslo                  | 41     | 13 great job |                 |

Try it yourself: Open LIB_Function_table_consolidate.b4p in B4P_Examples.zip. Decompress before use.

table consolidate ...