---
title: "CopyDiscrete"
slug: "copydiscrete"
updated: 2022-02-09T19:36:27Z
published: 2022-02-09T19:36:27Z
canonical: "docs.datajet.app/copydiscrete"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.datajet.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CopyDiscrete

## General: CopyDiscrete

## Makes a copy of the discrete source field.

The function will not work if used with a continuous DataType.

It works with all FieldTypes.

## Purpose

Use this function to:

- Remove unwanted values from a discrete field (by applying a filter)
- Reduce the number of discrete values for a multi-dimensional analysis (by applying a filter)
- Create a copy of a field with a more user friendly name

## Return Value

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| **FieldType** | String / Integer / Long(Integer) / Double / Date / DateTime |
| **FieldSize** | Low / Med / High / Continuous |
| **DataType** | Discrete / Continuous |
| **DataSize** | Byte / Short / Integer |

The type of field created will be the same as the source field.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/73b6469b-c1e4-47e9-aa65-986c8ebd17ca/Images/Documentation/Gen_CopyDiscrete_Sample.PNG)

## Parameters

| Parameter | JSON | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Table** | “targetTable”: “MyTableName” | The target table on which the new field will be created |
| **Filter** | “dataset”: {DataSet_JSON} | Optional. If a filter is applied, records not in the filter recordset will be returned as null. |
| **Function** | "function":"copydiscrete" | CopyDiscrete |
| **Source Field** | “p1”: “NameOfFieldToCopy ” | The Discrete (i.e., non-continuous) field to copy. If it is necessary to copy a continuous field, depending on the field contents, the CONCAT function can sometimes be used to create a discrete copy of the continuous field. If the continuous field is a numeric field, the output from the CONCAT function can be cast back into a numeric field using the WILDICAST function. Strings can be cast as date fields using the DateFromString function. |

## JSON Sample

```json
{
  "method": "BuildBakedField",
  "project": "D3",
  "targetTable": "transactions",
  "overwrite": true,
  "name": "copy_day",
  "function": "copydiscrete",
  "p1": "day"
}
```

**Usage Notes**

CopyDiscrete is useful for creating fields which contain subsets of values from the original field, or to create copies of fields which have user-friendly names.

The function only works on Discrete source fields. See CONCAT, WILDICAST and DATEFROMSTRING if it is necessary to create copies of Continuous fields.

If a filter is applied, records which are not in the filter will be stored as NULL in copy.

See Also:

- Engineering | Expression Field
- CONCAT   (String Function)
- WILDICAST  (String Function)
- DATEFROMSTRING  (DateTime)

## Example

| Example | Details |
| --- | --- |
| **Description** | **Create a field for high value products** |
| **Input** | - Table: = [transactions] - Filter:= [transactions].[price]>500 - **Function: = CopyDiscrete** - Source Field:= product - Name: =High_PriceProducts |
| **Sample** | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/73b6469b-c1e4-47e9-aa65-986c8ebd17ca/Images/Documentation/Gen_CopyDiscrete_Example.png) |