VI Unrotate Process Object

The Visual Integrator (VI) Unrotate process object flattens multiple rows of input data to a single row with multiple columns in the output flow.

Icon for the VI Unrotate process object

The Unrotate object creates new horizontal columns and assigns the value columns based on a dimension value.

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

VI Unrotate Object All Panes

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

Example of VI Unrotate process object's attributes pane

Attribute Description
Input

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

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

  • Place the Unrotate 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 Unrotate object. Attach this connector to the input data flow object.

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

This optional attribute controls how many data integrity warnings are displayed in the log. By default, this attribute is not set. If a limit is set and reached, the log displays the following message:

Further data integrity warnings suppressed for Unrotate object "<object_name>". Increase the warn_limit attribute to see more.

New_Columns_List

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 that the Unrotate object creates. There might be one or more value columns.

    The example Closedhere has two values columns: Units and Dollars.

    Exampe of a Column_List_Input file for a VI Unrotate process object

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

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

  3. Click the browse button in the Unrotate object's New_Columns_List_Input field, and move the pointer to the task flow.

    A dotted connector arrow Closedappears attached to the Unrotate object.

    Attaching a New_Columns_List_Input to a VI Unrotate object

  4. Attach this connector to the second Filein object.

    The Unrotate object's New_Columns_List_Input attribute is set to this Filein object.

    NOTE: The horizontal column (Hor. Column), values columns, and dimension must be set in the Closedcolumn grid. The values for each of these columns are supplied by the data in the New_Columns_List_Input attribute.

    Example of VI Unrotate process object's column grid when using list input

The New_Columns_List_Input and entering the values in column grid are mutually exclusive.

This input flow can be generated with another Input or Calc 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.

ClosedUnrotate process object with comments

Example of VI Unrotate process object with comments

The ClosedUnrotate column grid is where you set dimensions that define which input column is used for the horizontal column. Define the new horizontal column and set the horizontal values. You also define value columns that contain the new horizontal columns that the Unrotate object outputs.

Example of a VI Unrotate process object's column grid

Attribute Description
Column Grid Buttons Use the Add Column button to add additional value columns. At least one value column is required. 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

Displays the name and object type of the source object. Double-click the Source Object for a column to change the task flow focus to that object.
Hor. Column Defines the input column that contains the set of values that determine the set of output columns that should receive the value columns of the current row. This is a required attribute.
Dimension Defines the input columns that are used to detect identical rows in the input to unrotate into a single output row. If the dimension values match between two adjacent rows, the values are stored in the same output row (unless values for the same set of horizontal columns are given). If none are selected, all non-value columns are used to detect identical rows.

Unrotating Data

With the following Closedinput data:

Example of input file for a VI Unrotate object

  1. Set the Unrotate object's Hor. Column, and select one or more input columns as Dimensions in the Closedcolumn grid.

    Example of choosing input column for horizontal column in VI Unrotate process object

  2. Enter values for the horiz_column. Press Enter after each entry and a new row is added.

  3. Click Add Column to define a new values columns.

    A new column is added to the table.

  4. In the new column heading, select a column from the list of Closedinput columns.

    Selecting an input column fo ra output values column

  5. Enter values to define the output columns to be generated.

  6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each output value column that you wish to generate.

    The example Closedhere has two values columns: Units and Dollars.

    Example of value columns in a VI Unrotate process object

  7. Save the tab.

  8. Right-click the Unrotate object, and click Test Object.

    In the Closedresults you see the unrotated data.

    Example of VI Unrotate process object's output data