How can I pass a flow variable to the Column Rename node to change the data type from datavalue to stringvalue? I’m trying to avoid having manually change it for hundreds of columns.

Use the Column Auto Type Cast node first. If after that you still want strings, then the String Manipulation (Multi Column) node will work…

The simple way to figure out flow variable is to first configure the node the way you want it.Then go to the Flow Variables tab and define the name for a flow variable for the field you want: [image] Run the node, and see what value the Flow Variable takes. [image] Create that flow variable and use to control the configuration of the node: [image] If you have hundreds of columns, then I’d probably consider using a string($$CURRENTCOLUMN$$) function in the String Manipulation (Multi-Column) node.

I like to use the Column Expressions node to perform a logic test and flag the columns, then column splitter node to separate them, then a Multi-Column node to apply the changes to all routed columns as described above.

Thanks for the prompt reply. I tried the String Manipulation node, but can get it to convert the column headers to strings like the manual Column Rename node will. What am I missing? Executing the node with the attached configuration does nothing. [String Manipulation]

The screenshot is cut off; how is the rest of node configured? It would be easiest if you uploaded some data and maybe a workflow so that we can take a look.

Here’s the workflow with the Column Rename node and a String Manipulation stub. Its my attempt at Just KnimeIt Challenge 17. Its too large to send. Here’s a DropBox link. Thanks for having a look. [image] Richard Feigel sent you 1 item REF Challenge 17 rev 1.knwf

Thanks very much! All I needed was the Column Auto Type Cast node. The only reason I was using the String Manipulation node was to feed a manual Column Rename node. Folks like you are great. I’m a 76 year old retiree and relative Knime neophyte. I’m playing with Knime to keep a few brain cells firing.

:+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: Awesome!

[image] rfeigel: Column Rename node Though the rename node does allow the change of variable types it can lead to unwanted results [image] KNIME nodes corrupting on multiple computers KNIME Analytics Platform OK I have a theory of what is going on with the rename node and the changed column types. It seems the rename node stores the information of which type it should assign to a column based on the originating type of the column in question. An integer would have other possibilities to be turned into than a Double. [image] [image] The corresponding numbers are now stored in an XML file “settings.xml” If I would now rename the integer into double and the Double into Fuzzy like this [image] T…

Flow variable for data type in Column Rename node

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mlauber71 May 22, 2022, 6:09pm 10

Though the rename node does allow the change of variable types it can lead to unwanted results