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REMOVESYMBOLS Function

Removes all characters from a string that are not letters, numbers, accented Latin characters, or whitespace.

注意

Non-Latin letters are also removed.

提示

This function also removes common punctuation, such as the following:

. , ! & ?

To preserve these characters, you might replace them with an alphanumeric text string. For example, the question mark might be replaced by:

zzQUESTIONMARKzz

After the function has been applied, you can replace these strings with the original values.

Wrangle vs. SQL: This function is part of Wrangle, a proprietary data transformation language. Wrangle is not SQL. For more information, see Wrangle Language.

Basic Usage

Column reference example:

removesymbols(MyName)

Output: Returns the value in the MyName column value with all non-alphanumeric characters removed.

String literal example:

removesymbols('Héllõ, Wõrlds!?!?')

Output: Returns the string: Héllõ Wõrlds.

Wildcard example:

removesymbols($col)

Output: Strips all non-alphanumeric or space characters from all columns in the dataset.

Syntax and Arguments

removesymbols(column_string)

Argument

Required?

Data Type

Description

column_string

Y

string

Name of the column or string literal to be applied to the function

For more information on syntax standards, see Language Documentation Syntax Notes.

column_string

Name of the column or string constant to be trimmed of symbols.

  • Missing string or column values generate missing string results.

  • String constants must be quoted ('Hello, World').

  • Multiple columns and wildcards are not supported.

Usage Notes:

Required?

Data Type

Example Value

Yes

String literal or column reference

myColumn

Examples

提示

For additional examples, see Common Tasks.

Example - String cleanup functions together

This example demonstrates functions that can be used to clean up strings.

Functions:

Item

Description

TRIM Function

Removes leading and trailing whitespace from a string. Spacing between words is not removed.

REMOVEWHITESPACE Function

Removes all whitespace from a string, including leading and trailing whitespace and all whitespace within the string.

REMOVESYMBOLS Function

Removes all characters from a string that are not letters, numbers, accented Latin characters, or whitespace.

Source:

In the following (space) and (tab) indicate space keys and tabs, respectively. Carriage return and newline characters are also supported by whitespace functions.

Strings

source

String01

this source(space)(space)

String02

(tab)(tab)this source

String03

(tab)(tab)this source(space)(space)

String04

this source's?

String05

Why, you @#$%^&*()!

String06

this söurce

String07

(space)this söurce

String08

à mañana

Transformation:

The following transformation steps generate new columns using each of the string cleanup functions:

Transformation Name

New formula

Parameter: Formula type

Single row formula

Parameter: Formula

TRIM(source)

Parameter: New column name

'trim_source'

Transformation Name

New formula

Parameter: Formula type

Single row formula

Parameter: Formula

REMOVEWHITESPACE(source)

Parameter: New column name

'removewhitespace_source'

Transformation Name

New formula

Parameter: Formula type

Single row formula

Parameter: Formula

REMOVESYMBOLS(source)

Parameter: New column name

'removesymbols_source'

Results:

Strings

source

removesymbols_source

removewhitespace_source

trim_source

String01

this source(space)(space)

this source(space)(space)

thissource

this source

String02

(tab)(tab)this source

(tab)(tab)this source

thissource

this source

String03

(tab)(tab)this source(space)(space)

(tab)(tab)this source(space)(space)

thissource

this source

String04

this source's?

this sources

thissource's?

this source's?

String05

"Why, you @#$%^&*()!"

Why you

Why,you@#$%^&*()!

Why, you @#$%^&*()!

String06

this söurce

this söurce

thissöurce

this söurce

String07

(space)this söurce

(space)this söurce

thissöurce

this söurce

String08

à mañana

à mañana

àmañana

à mañana