Unpack nested column in table

https://learninghub.kx.com/forums/topic/unpack-nested-column-in-table

hi, how can we unpack nested column in a table? Thanks.

e.g. t:flip ab!((1 2 3);((4 5 6);(6 12 23);)(12 36 14)))

to t: flip ab1b2b3!((1 2 3);(4 6 12);(5 12 36);(6 23 14))

 

 

 

Not too sure on a more elegant and generalisable way, but this code will produce the desired result:

(flip enlist[a]!enlist[t a]),'flip b1b2b3!t b

select a:a ,b1:b[;0],b2:b[;1],b3:b[;2] from t

a b1 b2 b3
----------
1 4  5  6 
2 6  12 23
3 12 36 14

Another option:

flip `a`b1`b2`b3!flip raze each t

I guess you mean:

 

 

(flip enlist[`a]!enlist[t `a]),'flip `b1`b2`b3!flip t `b 
a b1 b2 b3 
---------- 
1 4 5 6 
2 6 12 23 
3 12 36 14

 

 

Its a little slower, but generalizes the solution a bit.

func:{[td] c:where 0=type each flip td; / find which columns need unpacked 
           ocn:cols td; / store all original column names for order 
           ncn:`$raze{string[x],/:string 1+til count first each flip[y]x}[;td]each(),c; / calculate new column names 
           acn:ncn,ocn except c; / list of all final columns 
           c:raze {x where x like y}[acn;]each string[ocn],'"*"; / all final columns in order flip 
           c!flip raze each td / create final table with column names and column data } 
q)t 
a b 
---------- 
1 4 
5 6 
2 6 
12 23 
3 12 
36 14 

q)func t 
a b1 b2 b3 
---------- 
1 4 5 6 
2 6 12 23 
3 12 36 14 

q)t3 
a b c d 
------------------ 
1 4 5 6 
1 1 2 3 
2 6 12 23 
2 4 5 6 
3 12 36 14 
3 7 8 9 

q)func t3 
a b1 b2 b3 c d1 d2 d3 
--------------------- 
1 4 5 6 1 1 2 3 
2 6 12 23 2 4 5 6 
3 12 36 14 3 7 8 9

A generalized solution that doesn’t use hardcoded column names (provided as input) or assume the the cells in the nested column having the same length (padded with null for those with shorter length).

 

unpack:{[t;c] maxLen:max count each t[c]; 
              newCols:`$string[c] ,/: string 1+til maxLen; // concatenate the parts other than the specified column, with the unpacked parts 
             //(x;::;y) is the parsed form of x[;y] 
              ![t; (); 0b; enlist c] ,' ?[t; (); 0b; newCols!{(x;::;y)}'[c;til maxLen]] 
}

 

Assume here the column value is a matrix. Start with the new column names.

q)show ncn:$string[b],/:string 1+til count first tb b1b2b3

Pair them with the matrix columns.

q)show d:ncn!flip t`b 
b1| 4 6 12 
b2| 5 12 36 
b3| 6 23 14

 

Heres the table with the nested column removed. (We use Functional qSQL rather than hard-code the column name.)

 

q)show twc:![t;();0b;enlist`b] / table without column 
a 
- 
1 
2 
3 

q)twc,'flip d / Join Each new tuple 
a b1 b2 b3 
---------- 
1 4 5 6 
2 6 12 23 
3 12 36 14

 

Putting it together:

 

un:{[tbl;col] / un-nest col in tbl 
        mat:flip tbl col; / un-nest column 
        ncn:`$(,/:) . string(col;) 1+til count mat; / new column names 
        ![tbl;();0b;enlist col],'flip ncn!mat 
}
q)un[t;`b] 
a b1 b2 b3 
---------- 
1 4 5 6 
2 6 12 23 
3 12 36 14