Generate Empty Attribute (RapidMiner Studio Core)

Synopsis

This operator adds a new attribute of specified name and type to the input ExampleSet.

Description

The Generate Empty Attribute operator creates an empty attribute of specified name and type which are specified by the name and the value type parameter respectively. One of the following types can be selected: nominal, numeric, integer, real, text, binominal, polynominal, file_path, date_time, date, time. Please note that all values are missing right after creation of the attribute. The operators like the Set Data operator can be used to fill values of this attribute. Please note that the name of the attribute can be changed later by the Rename operator and many type conversion operators are also available for changing the type of the attribute. Please note that this operator creates an empty attribute independent of the input ExampleSet, if you want to generate an attribute from the existing attributes of the input ExampleSet you can use the Generate Attributes operator.

Input

example set input (Data Table)
This input port expects an ExampleSet. It is the output of the Retrieve operator in the attached Example Process. The output of other operators can also be used as input.

Output

example set output (Data Table)
An empty attribute of the specified name and type is added to the input ExampleSet and the resultant ExampleSet is delivered through this output port.
original (Data Table)
The ExampleSet that was given as input is passed without changing to the output through this port. This is usually used to reuse the same ExampleSet in further operators or to view the ExampleSet in the Results Workspace.

Parameters

nameThis parameter specifies the name of the new attribute. Please note that the names of attributes should be unique. Please make sure that the input ExampleSet does not have an attribute with the same name. Range: string
value_typeThe type of the new attribute is specified by this parameter. One of the following types can be selected: nominal, numeric, integer, real, text, binominal, polynominal, file_path, date_time, date, time. Range: selection

Tutorial Processes

Adding an empty attribute to the 'Golf' data set

The 'Golf' data set is loaded using the Retrieve operator. A breakpoint is inserted here so that you can have a look at the input ExampleSet. As you can see that the 'Golf' data set has 5 attributes: Play, Outlook, Temperature, Humidity and Wind. The Generate Empty Attribute operator is applied on the 'Golf' data set. The name parameter is set to 'name' and the value type parameter is set to 'nominal'. When the process execution is complete, you can see the ExampleSet in the Results Workspace. This ExampleSet has one attribute more than the 'Golf' data set. The name and type of the attribute are the same as specified in the parameters of the Generate Empty Attribute operator. Please note that all values of this new attribute are missing. These values can be filled by using operators like the Set Data operator. Please note that the created empty attribute is independent of the input ExampleSet, if you want to generate an attribute from the existing attributes of the input ExampleSet you can use the Generate Attributes operator.