keys, xkey

Get or set key column/s of a table

keys

Key column/s of a table

keys x    keys[x]

Where x is a table (by value or reference), returns as a symbol vector the primary key column/s of x – empty if none.

q)\l trade.q        / no keys
q)keys trade
`symbol$()
q)keys`trade
`symbol$()
q)`sym xkey`trade   / define a key
q)keys`trade
,`sym

xkey

Set specified columns as primary keys of a table

x xkey y    xkey[x;y]

Where symbol atom or vector x lists columns in table y, which is passed by

• value, returns
• reference, updates

y with x set as the primary keys.

q)\l trade.q
q)keys trade
`symbol$()            / no primary key
q)`sym xkey trade     / return table with primary key sym
sym| time         price size
---| -----------------------
a  | 09:30:00.000 10.75 100
q)keys trade         / trade has not changed
`symbol$()
q)`sym xkey `trade   / pass trade by reference updates the table in place
`trade
q)keys trade         / sym is now primary key of trade
,`sym

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Enkey, Unkey
.Q.ff (append columns)
Dictionaries, Tables, Metadata