DSXchange

Does it have to be 20 columns, or can you get them as one column? If not, assemble a field-mark delimited dynamic array containing the 20 columns. Apply the Counts() function to return an equivalent dynamic array of the number of value marks in each field (you may need to convert to a non-delimiter character for this). Apply the Maximum() function to get the highest count. Use Locate to find the first occurrence of this in the counts dynamic array. Create a business rule about how to handle more than one field having the same maximum count.

Does it have to be 20 columns, or can you get them as one column? If not, assemble a field-mark delimited dynamic array containing the 20 columns. Apply the Counts() function to return an equivalent dynamic array of the number of value marks in each field (you may need to convert to a non-delimiter character for this). Apply the Maximum() function to get the highest count. Use Locate to find the first occurrence of this in the counts dynamic array. Create a business rule about how to handle more than one field having the same maximum count.

ray.wurlod wrote:Does it have to be 20 columns, or can you get them as one column? If not, assemble a field-mark delimited dynamic array containing the 20 columns. Apply the Counts() function to return an equivalent dynamic array of the number of value marks in each field (you may need to convert to a non-delimiter character for this). Apply the Maximum() function to get the highest count. Use Locate to find the first occurrence of this in the counts dynamic array. Create a business rule about how to handle more than one field having the same maximum count.

What i meant was a variable number of columns....

so you mean to say Count(col1:col2:col3:...:20,@FM)

or is it better to get maximum(col1:col2:col3....col20)?

Thanks

If you want the maximum count, no.

Figure out your actual requirement and deploy the appropriate functions.
I've suggested the most likely.

ray.wurlod wrote:If you want the maximum count, no.

Figure out your actual requirement and deploy the appropriate functions.
I've suggested the most likely.

The following is the result that i deployed as a server routine:

Function TestCompare<Arg1>

MaxCount = 0
PosOfMax = 0
NArgs = dcount<Arg1,"|">
For i = to Nargs
ThisArg = Field(Arg1,"|",i)
ThisCount = DCOUNT(ThisArg, @VM)
if ThisCount > MaxCount then
MaxCount = ThisCount
PosOfMax = i
End
Next i
Ans = Field(Arg1,"|",PosOfMax)

You've just reinvented the MAXIMUM() function.

ray.wurlod wrote:You've just reinvented the MAXIMUM() function.

I needed the dynamic array as result which is the largest among all the columns that i am comparing.

Yes, that's what the Maximum() function does.