Get variable names from graphbuilder

nikles

Hi.  Is there a method to get the variable names & roles used in a graph builder window?  Suppose I have a window containing a graph builder plot.  Is there a way to programmatically determine which variable was used for X, Y, Xgroup, Ygroup, etc?

 

For example, suppose the user created a plot in gb.  Now they wish to run some generalized script on the plot (e.g. a graphics script).  The script needs to know what variables were used in which roles without the user telling it.

 

Suppose I start with this plot:

Names Default To Here(1);
dt = Open("$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.jmp");
gb = Graph Builder(
	Variables(X(:height), Y(:weight)),
	Elements(Points(X, Y), Smoother(X, Y))
);

 

Now I wish to run a script on the resulting plot.  My script is unaware of what is contained in the plot.  Here are 2 things I tried but did not work:

Names Default to Here(1);

//Try to get script used to create plot
win = Window(1);  			//gets most recent window clicked on
gb = win << Report;               //DNW: returns missing (win is not a platform)
scr = gb << Get Script;  //from here I could parse the string to determine the roles

//Another stab: try to read the XML
win = Window(1);
str = win << Get XML;  //This gives me the XML of the window, but does not provide the actual variable names used in the roles.

 

If I could figure out how to convert the window reference into a report, I think I could get that first method to work.  Any ideas?

 

 

 

nascif_jmp

@nikles you are correct, the hover label functionality is based on interactivity. There are ways to trigger that using JSL (by moving the mouse, pausing, etc.) but that would add a lot of complexity to the solution that you really don't need.

Based on your reply to and the solution proposed by @txnelson, here is a script that will take you from the windows reference all the way down to the Graph Builder variable references. 

Names Default to Here(1);
win = New Window("A Title",    // Let's create a Window that contains a Graph Builder
Graph Builder(                 // with a LDF to make things interesting (multiple OutlineBoxes).
	Size( 517, 448 ),
	Show Control Panel( 0 ),
	Variables( X( :sex ), Y( :height ) ),
	Elements( Bar( X, Y, Legend( 6 ) ) ),
	Local Data Filter(
		Add Filter( columns( :height ), Where( :height >= 60.048 & :height <= 70 ) )
	)
));
ob = win[OutlineBox("Graph Builder")]; // This is how you get the Display Box that contains the GB object
gbb = ob << Get Scriptable Object;     // Now we extract the GB object from the Display Box
gb_expr = gbb << Get Script;           // You could wrap in Char() to get the GB script as a string
gb_nargs = NArg(gb_expr);              // and use pattern matching. Instead, 
for(i = 1, i <= gb_nargs, i++,         // let's see how to inspect it as an expression.
	child = Arg(gb_expr, i);
	If (HeadName(child) == "Variables",
		var_nargs = NArg(child);
		for(j = 1, j <= var_nargs, j++,
			Show(Arg(child, j))
		);
		Break();
	)
);

you should see:

Arg(child, j) = X(:sex);
Arg(child, j) = Y(:height);