String Manipulation (Multi Column): Convert to string fails

[mwiegand]

Hi,

there is aa bug in the String Manipulation (Multi Column) node

The regular String Manipulation node doesn’t flinch.

80284 - String Manipulation (Multi Column) Convert to string fails – mwiegand

Best
Mike

[takbb]

Hi @mwiegand , yes basically String Manipulation (Multi Column) is very limited in its support for datatypes. To my knowledge, that error appears if it is presented with any column other than String, Integer, Double, which is frustrating as it could have been the solution to many multi-column problems… but sadly isn’t, without additional effort.

String Manipulation (Multi Column) handling of incompatible data types

A “feature” of the String Manipulation (Multi Column) node that makes it a little more awkward to use than it should be is that it doesn’t play well with certain datatypes. To my knowledge, “certain datatypes” means any datatype other than String, Integer or Double. If you attempt to pass it any other column it “breaks” with the following less-than-desirable and meaningless (to users) message: [image] It would be great if String Manipulation (Multi Column) could play nicely with other datat…

[takbb]

Some more research demonstrates just how “unloved” the String Man Multi node appears to be!

The bug got a ticket reference 6 months before I first started using KNIME…

String Manipulation (Multi Column): Does not handle date&time columns as $$CURRENTCOLUMN$$

Hello @armingrudd, Ticket created (Internal reference: AP-15218). Br, Ivan

(it’s described slightly differently, but I’d say it was basically the same error message and same root-cause)

[mwiegand]

Thanks @takbb and jepp, that node clearly needs some love