Text Variables can be created as JavaScript Variables or using Excel-Style Formulas, selecting Text rather than Numeric when creating the variables.
The only difference between creating Text Variables and creating Numeric Variables is that one returns a string of text whereas the other returns either a number or NaN.
Requirements
- Comfort with JavaScript code. See JavaScript Fundamentals if you're new to JavaScript or new to working with it in Displayr.
Method
1. Hover over any variable in your Data Sources tree > Plus (+) > Insert Variable(s) > Custom Code > JavaScript - Text.
2. Enter your JavaScript code into the code editor window.
3. Click the Calculate button to run the code and create the JavaScript variable.
Note, if you first select a variable in your Data Sources tree, the new variable will be added directly after that.
4. Update Name and Label in the General tab as appropriate.
5. OPTIONAL: If you wish to change your variable to categorical, set Data > Properties > Structure to Nominal. This will then use the text results as category labels.
6. OPTIONAL: Tick Data > JavaScript Code > Access all data rows if you wish to work with arrays. The result must also be an array.
7. OPTIONAL: Tick Data > JavaScript Code > Accelerate (skip logic checks) to run your variable faster, particularly when your code is simple. In this case, you must first ensure you initialize all local variables before use. For example, write var sum = 0;
instead of var sum;
.