`meta`¶

Metadata for a table

meta x    meta[x]

Where x is a

table in memory or memory mapped (by value or reference)
filesymbol for a splayed table

returns a table keyed by column name, with columns:

c   column name
t   data type
f   foreign key (enums)
a   attribute

q)\l trade.q
q)show meta trade
c    | t f a
-----| -----
time | t
sym  | s
price| f
size | i
q)show meta `trade
c    | t f a
-----| -----
time | t
sym  | s
price| f
size | i
q)`sym xasc`trade;   / sort by sym thereby setting the `s attribute
q)show meta trade
c    | t f a
-----| -----
time | t
sym  | s   s
price| f
size | i

The t column denotes the column type. A lower-case letter indicates atomic entry and an upper-case letter indicates a list.

q)show u:([] code:`F1; vr:(enlist 2.3))
code vr
--------
F1   2.3
q)meta u
c   | t f a
----| -----
code| s
vr  | f
q)show v:([] code:`F2; vr:(enlist (5.4; 43.2)))
code vr
-------------
F2   5.4 43.2
q)meta v
c   | t f a
----| -----
code| s
vr  | F

The result of meta does not tell you whether a table in memory can be splayed, only the first item in each column is examined

A splayed table with a symbol column needs its corresponding sym list.

KDB+ 4.0 2020.10.02 Copyright (C) 1993-2020 Kx Systems
m64/ 12()core 65536MB sjt mackenzie.local 127.0.0.1 EXPIRE ..

q)load `:db/sym  / required for meta to describe db/tr
`sym
q)meta `:db/tr
c    | t f a
-----| -----
date | d
time | u
vol  | j
inst | s
price| f

Loading (memory mapping) a database handles this.

❯ q db

KDB+ 4.0 2020.10.02 Copyright (C) 1993-2020 Kx Systems
m64/ 12()core 65536MB sjt mackenzie.local 127.0.0.1 EXPIRE 2021.05.27 stephen@kx.com #59875

q)\v
`s#`sym`tr
q)meta tr
c    | t f a
-----| -----
date | d
time | u
vol  | j
inst | s
price| f

Metadata
Splayed tables

meta¶

`meta`¶