Discretize by Size
Synopsis
This operator converts the selected numerical attributes into nominal attributes by discretizing the numerical attribute into bins of user-specified size. Thus each bin contains a user-defined number of examples.
Description
This operator discretizes the selected numerical attributes to nominal attributes. Thesize of binsparameter is used for specifying the required size of bins. This discretization is performed by binning examples into bins containing the same, user-specified number of examples. Each bin range is named automatically. The naming format of the range can be changed by using therange name typeparameter. The values falling in the range of a bin are named according to the name of that range.
It should be noted that if the number of examples is not evenly divisible by the requested number of examples per bin, the actual result may slightly differ from the requested bin size. Similarly, if a range of examples cannot be split, because the numerical values are identical within this set, only all or none can be assigned to a bin. This may lead to further deviations from the requested bin size.
This operator is closely related to the Discretize By Frequency operator. There you have to specify the number of bins you need (sayx) and the operator automatically creates it with an almost equal number of values (i.e.n/x值,nis the total number of values). In the Discretize by Size operator you have to specify the number of values you need in each bin (sayy) and the operator automatically createsn/ybins withyvalues.
Differentiation
Discretize by Binning
的离散化装箱操作符创建垃圾箱their range is (almost) equal.
Discretize by Frequency
The Discretize By Frequency operator creates bins so the number of unique values in all bins are (almost) equal.
由熵离散化
The discretization is performed by selecting bin boundaries so the entropy is minimized in the induced partitions.
离散化的你ser Specification
This operator discretizes the selected numerical attributes into user-specified classes.
Input
example set input
This input port expects an ExampleSet. It is the output of the Retrieve operator in the attached Example Process. The output of other operators can also be used as input. Please note that there should be at least one numerical attribute in the input ExampleSet, otherwise the use of this operator does not make sense.
Output
example set output
The selected numerical attributes are converted into nominal attributes by discretization and the resultant ExampleSet is delivered through this port.
original
The ExampleSet that was given as input is passed without changing to the output through this port. This is usually used to reuse the same ExampleSet in further operators or to view the ExampleSet in the Results Workspace.
preprocessing model
This port delivers the preprocessing model, which has information regarding the parameters of this operator in the current process.
Parameters
Create view
It is possible to create a View instead of changing the underlying data. Simply select this parameter to enable this option. The transformation that would be normally performed directly on the data will then be computed every time a value is requested and the result is returned without changing the data.
Attribute filter type
This parameter allows you to select the attribute selection filter; the method you want to use for selecting the required attributes. It has the following options:
- all: This option simply selects all the attributes of the ExampleSet. This is the default option.
- single: This option allows selection of a single attribute. When this option is selected another parameter (attribute) becomes visible in the Parameters panel.
- subset: This option allows selection of multiple attributes through a list. All attributes of the ExampleSet are present in the list; required attributes can be easily selected. This option will not work if the meta data is not known. When this option is selected another parameter becomes visible in the Parameters panel.
- regular_expression: This option allows you to specify a regular expression for attribute selection. When this option is selected some other parameters (regular expression, use except expression) become visible in the Parameters panel.
- value_type: This option allows selection of all the attributes of a particular type. It should be noted that types are hierarchical. For examplerealandintegertypes both belong to thenumerictype. Users should have a basic understanding of type hierarchy when selecting attributes through this option. When this option is selected some other parameters (value type, use value type exception) become visible in the Parameters panel.
- block_type: This option is similar in working to thevalue type选择。它允许选择的所有属性of a particular block type. When this option is selected some other parameters (block type,use block type exception) become visible in the Parameters panel.
- no_missing_values: This option simply selects all attributes of the ExampleSet which don't contain a missing value in any example. Attributes that have even a single missing value are removed.
- numeric value filter: When this option is selected another parameter (numeric condition) becomes visible in the Parameters panel. All numeric attributes whose examples all satisfy the mentioned numeric condition are selected. Please note that all nominal attributes are also selected irrespective of the given numerical condition.
Attribute
The desired attribute can be selected from this option. The attribute name can be selected from the drop down box ofattributeparameter if the meta data is known.
Attributes
The required attributes can be selected from this option. This opens a new window with two lists. All attributes are present in the left list and can be shifted to the right list which is the list of selected attributes on which the conversion from nominal to numeric will take place; all other attributes will remain unchanged.
Regular expression
The attributes whose name matches this expression will be selected. Regular expression is a very powerful tool but needs a detailed explanation to beginners. It is always good to specify the regular expression through theedit and preview regular expressionmenu. This menu gives a good idea of regular expressions. This menu also allows you to try different expressions and preview the results simultaneously. This will enhance your concept of regular expressions.
Use except expression
If enabled, an exception to the selected type can be specified. When this option is selected another parameter (except value type) becomes visible in the Parameters panel.
Except regular expression
This option allows you to specify a regular expression. Attributes matching this expression will be filtered out even if they match the first expression (expression that was specified in theregular expressionparameter).
Value type
The type of attributes to be selected can be chosen from a drop down list. One of the following types can be chosen: nominal, text, binominal, polynominal, file_path.
Use value type exception
If enabled, an exception to the selected type can be specified. When this option is selected another parameter (except value type) becomes visible in the Parameters panel.
Except value type
The attributes matching this type will be removed from the final output even if they matched the previously mentioned type i.e.value typeparameter's value. One of the following types can be selected here: nominal, text, binominal, polynominal, file_path.
Block type
The block type of attributes to be selected can be chosen from a drop down list. The only possible value here is 'single_value'
Use block type exception
If enabled, an exception to the selected block type can be specified. When this option is selected another parameter (except block type) becomes visible in the Parameters panel.
Except block type
The attributes matching this block type will be removed from the final output even if they matched the previously mentioned block type.
Numeric condition
The numeric condition for testing examples of numeric attributes is specified here. For example the numeric condition '>6' will keep all nominal attributes and all numeric attributes having a value of greater than 6 in every example. A combination of conditions is possible: '>6 &&<11' or '<= 5 ||<0'. But && and || cannot be used together in one numeric condition. Conditions like '(>0 &&<2) || (>10 &&<12)' are not allowed because they use both && and ||. Use a blank space after '>', '=' and '<' e.g. '<5' will not work, so use '<5' instead.
Include special attributes
The special attributes are attributes with special roles which identify the examples. In contrast regular attributes simply describe the examples. Special attributes are: id, label, prediction, cluster, weight and batch.
Invert selection
If this parameter is set to true, it acts as a NOT gate, it reverses the selection. In that case all the selected attributes are unselected and previously unselected attributes are selected. For example if attribute 'att1' is selected and attribute 'att2' is unselected prior to checking of this parameter. After checking of this parameter 'att1' will be unselected and 'att2' will be selected.
Size of bins
This parameter specifies the required size of bins i.e. number of examples contained in a bin.
Sorting direction
This parameter indicates if the values should be sorted in increasing or decreasing order.
Range name type
This parameter is used for changing the naming format for range. 'long', 'short' and 'interval' formats are available.
Automatic number of digits
This is an expert parameter. It is only available when therange name typeparameter is set to 'interval'. It indicates if the number of digits should be automatically determined for the range names.
Number of digits
This is an expert parameter. It is used to specify the minimum number of digits used for the interval names.