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Macro Language Elements
The section contains detailed specifications for all 1010data Macro Language elements.
Data Transformation
Data transformation operations use functions and expressions to functionally alter tabular data. These operations take 0, 1, or 2 tables as input and produce a single table as a result.
<base>
<base> is the concrete macro operation that represents the action of opening the initial table.

Macro Language Elements
The section contains detailed specifications for all 1010data Macro Language elements.
- Data Transformation
  Data transformation operations use functions and expressions to functionally alter tabular data. These operations take 0, 1, or 2 tables as input and produce a single table as a result.
  - <amend>
    Update a specified value, or column of values, either by entering a new value or by using an expression. The expression can be applied to the column the value is in or to another column.
  - <base>
    <base> is the concrete macro operation that represents the action of opening the initial table.
  - <col>
    <col> changes the display attributes of a column in a table. It does not change the name of a column, but it does change the heading, as an example.
  - <colord>
    <colord> tells the system which columns to display and in what order.
  - <cols>
    Modifies the metadata of multiple columns at once, based on a query result or formatted tabular input.
  - <columns>
    <columns> is a special operation that retrieves column information from a table.
  - <directory>
    <directory> returns a table that provides information about the child objects of a particular folder. These include any tables, folders, and queries that have been saved to that folder.
  - <find>
    Efficiently finds (without selecting) the first n rows, between the specified row numbers, where the specified Boolean value expression is true.
  - <ignore>
    <ignore> encases code in a Macro Language query that should not be executed by the system.
  - <link>
    Link a foreign table to a base table or worksheet. Both tables must share a column on which to link.
  - <materialize>
    Creates a new physical table.
  - <merge>
    Merge a table to another table or worksheet.
  - <meta>
    <meta> allows settings to be made at the level of an individual query (and saved along with the query).
  - <note>
    <note> may be used to place a comment in the Macro Language. The contents of the element is any standard text.
  - <sel>
    Select the rows relevant to your analysis.
  - <sort>
    Changes the order in which rows appear in a table by sorting according to the values in a column.
  - <stats:>
    The <stats:> package provides more advanced statistics operations.
  - <table>
    <table> is a special operation that creates a temporary table within the scope of a query.
  - <tabu>
    <tabu> defines a tabulation or cross-tabulation.
  - <transpose>
    <transpose> results in a table in which the rows from the original table are its columns and the columns from the original table are its rows.
  - <willbe>
    Define a new computed column in an existing worksheet with a value expression.
- Blocks
  Blocks allow users to reuse sections of Macro Language code and to parameterize values in that code for greater flexibility and power.
- Application Development

`<base>`

<base> is the concrete macro operation that represents the action of opening the initial table.

Description

Queries run by TRS or MLW typically need a <base> operation to specify the table upon which subsequent transformations will be carried out. Queries often begin with <base>, but it is not required. For example, the <base> operation may be hidden in block code or specified as part of a complex construct such as <loop> or <dynamic>.

If you do not specify a <base> table, the query runs with an implied <base table="default.lonely">. This is convenient when building QuickApps where the base table for the overall query doesn't matter. However, for straightforward data analysis queries, where you will be using such operations as <link>, <willbe>, and <sel>, you need to specify the table you're working with using <base>.

Syntax

<base label="[NEW_TABLE_TITLE]" 
    table="[BASE_TABLE_PATH]"/>

Attributes

label: The new title (label) to be displayed with the current worksheet. This replaces the title of the base table. Note that any tabulation operation will change the title to "Tabulation" by default; the label attribute may be used in the <tabu> element to modify the post-tabulation title.
suffix: Specify a suffix to be appended to the names of all real columns in the base table. For example, with suffix="_a", the column date will be renamed to date_a.
table: Specify the name or ID of a new base table, which will be used as the base of this macro instead of the current table.

Example

In this example, assume there is no "current" table, and the object is to specify pub.demo.retail.item for use with additional Macro Language code.

<base label="Transaction-level Data" table="pub.demo.retail.item"/>
<sel value="store=1"/>