VI Rotate Process Object

The Visual Integrator (VI) Rotate process object rotates multiple input data columns into multiple rows in the output flow.

Icon for the VI Rotate object

The Rotate object uses two new columns:

  • Horizontal column—Holds a string that identifies the column that the row represents.
  • Value columns—Holds the corresponding input value for the column. There can be one or more value columns.

These new generated value columns become available as summary output columns in the data flow.

The Rotate object creates multiple output rows—one for each column—for each input row. For example, three columns with three rows of data become nine rows of data in the output flow. The rotated columns do not appear in the output flow.

The Rotate process object has Closedthree panes where you set attributes.

VI Rotate Object All Panes

You set attributes for the Rotate process object in the Closedobject attributes pane.

Example VI Rotate object attributes

Attribute Description
Input

Defines the object from which the data flow arrives. Use one of the following methods to attach the Rotate object to an input data flow object:

  • Right-click the input data flow object, and click New Object after this > Process > Rotate.

  • Place a Rotate object on the task flow, and click its Input attribute's browse button. Move the pointer to the task flow, and note that a dotted-line connector is attached to the Rotate object. Attach this connector to the input data flow object.

    NOTE: The Rotate object's Input attribute is now populated with the name of the input data flow object.
New_Horiz_Column

Defines the new horizontal column, which contains the name of the new column (dimension) that the input row represents. The value that you enter here automatically populates the Closednew_horiz_column header in the column grid.

New_Horiz_Column populating the new_horz_column header

Columns_List_Input

Defines a separate input flow that specifies the horizontal values and horizontal columns to rotate. This is an alternative method to supply these attributes instead of using the column grid.

This input flow must have the following columns:

  • horiz_value—Defines the horizontal values.

  • <name_of_value_columns>—Defines the names of the columns to rotate. There might be one or more value columns.

    The example Closedhere has one value column named Revenue.

    Example of a Column_List_Input source for VI Rotate object

  1. Set up the task flow with the first Filein object, and attach it to a Rotate object.

  2. Add the second Filein object, and set its input attributes.

  3. Click the browse button in the Rotate object's Columns_List_Input box, and move the pointer to the task flow.

    A dotted connector arrow Closedappears attached to the Rotate object.

    Attaching a Column_List_Input to a VI Rotate object

  4. Attach this connector to the second Filein object.

    The Rotate object's Columns_List_Input attribute is set to this Filein object.

The Columns_List_Input and the column grid are mutually exclusive.

This input flow might be generated with another input object or Calc process object. DI recommends that you generate this input flow with a separate task.

Each object has an area where you can enter comments.

It is a DI best practice to enter a note for every object in a VI script. You can set a VI preference to give a warning for each object without a note. For more information, see Visual Integrator Preferences.

ClosedRotate process object with comments

Example of VI Rotate object with comments

The ClosedRotate column grid sets the new horizontal column and one or more summary value columns to rotate in the top section. Alternatively, you can define a range to rotate in the bottom section.

Example of a VI Rotate column grid

Attribute Description
Column Grid Buttons Use the Add Column button to add additional value columns. At least one column is required and is provided with the heading new value column. Click twice in the field, and choose a column from the list. With the Delete Row and Delete Column buttons, you can edit the rows and columns that display in the top portion of the column grid.
Input Column Displays the name of each input column. This attribute is read-only.
Source Object

View the name for the source object. Double-click the Source Object for a column to change the task flow focus to that object.
Start Defines the name of the first horizontal column in a range. If defined, the end of the range must be defined using either the End or Next attribute. This attribute conflicts with the Previous attribute and the horizontal columns attributes.
End Defines the name of the last horizontal column in a range. If defined, the start of the range must be defined using either the Previous or Start attribute. This attribute conflicts with the Next attribute and the horizontal columns attributes.
Previous Defines the column before the first horizontal column in a range. If defined, the end of the range must be defined using either the End or Next attribute. This attribute conflicts with the Start attribute and the horizontal columns attributes.
Next Defines the column after the last horizontal column in a range. If defined, the start of the range must be defined using either the Previous or Start attributes. This attribute conflicts with the End attribute and the horizontal columns attributes.

You can either rotate data by defining horizontal columns and values or by defining a range.

With the following Closedinput data:

Example of short and fat input data for Rotate object

  1. Set the Rotate object's New_Horiz_Column name attribute. For example, ClosedMonth. Note that this name populates the header for the new_horiz_column in the top section of the column grid.

    Naming the New_Horiz_Column attribue

  2. In the top section of the column grid, replace the new value column header with a name for the values column. For example, ClosedRevenue.

    Adding a value column to rotate object

  3. Enter values for the new_horiz_column column. For the month example, Closed2017-01 through 2017-12. A new row is added to the table after you enter each value.

    Adding values to the new_horiz_column

  4. Click in each cell for the new value column (that is Names for new columns) and use the drop-down arrow to choose the appropriate item to associate with the row. For example, ClosedRev01 with 2017-01.

    Adding values to the Rotate values column

    Repeat for each row.

  5. If rotating additional columns, click Add Column, supply a header, and choose values.

  6. Save the tab.

  7. Right-click the Rotate object, and click Test Object.

    In the Closedresults you see the rotated data.

    Example of long and thin output from a VI Rotate object

With the following Closedinput data:

Example of short and fat input data for Rotate object

  1. Set the New_Horiz_Column name attribute. For example, ClosedMonth. Note that this name populates the header for the new_horiz_column in the top section of the column grid.

    Naming the New_Horiz_Column attribue

  2. In the top section of the column grid, replace the new value column header with a name for the values column. For example, ClosedRevenue.

    Adding a value column to rotate object

    Do not enter values for the new_horiz-column column.

  3. In the bottom section of the column grid, choose a range of columns to rotate. For example, ClosedRev01 through Rev03.

    Selecting a range for a Rotate object

  4. Save the tab.

  5. Right-click the Rotate object and click Test Object.

    In the Closedresults you see only the columns within the range rotate. All other columns do not rotate.

    Example of range output for VI Rotate object

    NOTE: The Start and End attributes are inclusive. The Previous and Next attributes are not inclusive.