Package weka.core

Class Attribute

  • All Implemented Interfaces:
    java.io.Serializable, Copyable, RevisionHandler

    public class Attribute
    extends java.lang.Object
    implements Copyable, java.io.Serializable, RevisionHandler
    Class for handling an attribute. Once an attribute has been created, it can't be changed.

    The following attribute types are supported:

    • numeric:
      This type of attribute represents a floating-point number.
    • nominal:
      This type of attribute represents a fixed set of nominal values.
    • string:
      This type of attribute represents a dynamically expanding set of nominal values. Usually used in text classification.
    • date:
      This type of attribute represents a date, internally represented as floating-point number storing the milliseconds since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT. The string representation of the date must be ISO-8601 compliant, the default is yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.
    • relational:
      This type of attribute can contain other attributes and is, e.g., used for representing Multi-Instance data. (Multi-Instance data consists of a nominal attribute containing the bag-id, then a relational attribute with all the attributes of the bag, and finally the class attribute.)
    Typical usage (code from the main() method of this class):

    ...
    // Create numeric attributes "length" and "weight"
    Attribute length = new Attribute("length");
    Attribute weight = new Attribute("weight");

    // Create vector to hold nominal values "first", "second", "third"
    FastVector my_nominal_values = new FastVector(3);
    my_nominal_values.addElement("first");
    my_nominal_values.addElement("second");
    my_nominal_values.addElement("third");

    // Create nominal attribute "position"
    Attribute position = new Attribute("position", my_nominal_values);
    ...

    Version:
    $Revision: 9518 $
    Author:
    Eibe Frank (eibe@cs.waikato.ac.nz)
    See Also:
    Serialized Form
    • Field Summary

      Fields 
      Modifier and Type Field Description
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE
      The keyword used to denote the start of an arff attribute declaration
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_DATE
      The keyword used to denote a date attribute
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_INTEGER
      A keyword used to denote a numeric attribute
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_NUMERIC
      A keyword used to denote a numeric attribute
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_REAL
      A keyword used to denote a numeric attribute
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_RELATIONAL
      The keyword used to denote a relation-valued attribute
      static java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_STRING
      The keyword used to denote a string attribute
      static java.lang.String ARFF_END_SUBRELATION
      The keyword used to denote the end of the declaration of a subrelation
      static int DATE
      Constant set for attributes with date values.
      static java.lang.String DUMMY_STRING_VAL
      Dummy first value for String attributes (useful for sparse instances)
      static int NOMINAL
      Constant set for nominal attributes.
      static int NUMERIC
      Constant set for numeric attributes.
      static int ORDERING_MODULO
      Constant set for modulo-ordered attributes.
      static int ORDERING_ORDERED
      Constant set for ordered attributes.
      static int ORDERING_SYMBOLIC
      Constant set for symbolic attributes.
      static int RELATIONAL
      Constant set for relation-valued attributes.
      static int STRING
      Constant set for attributes with string values.
    • Constructor Summary

      Constructors 
      Constructor Description
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName)
      Constructor for a numeric attribute.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, int index)
      Constructor for a numeric attribute with a particular index.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, java.lang.String dateFormat)
      Constructor for a date attribute.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, java.lang.String dateFormat, int index)
      Constructor for date attributes with a particular index.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, java.lang.String dateFormat, ProtectedProperties metadata)
      Constructor for a date attribute, where metadata is supplied.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, FastVector attributeValues)
      Constructor for nominal attributes and string attributes.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, FastVector attributeValues, int index)
      Constructor for nominal attributes and string attributes with a particular index.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, FastVector attributeValues, ProtectedProperties metadata)
      Constructor for nominal attributes and string attributes, where metadata is supplied.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, Instances header)
      Constructor for relation-valued attributes.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, Instances header, int index)
      Constructor for a relation-valued attribute with a particular index.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, Instances header, ProtectedProperties metadata)
      Constructor for relation-valued attributes.
      Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName, ProtectedProperties metadata)
      Constructor for a numeric attribute, where metadata is supplied.
    • Method Summary

      All Methods Static Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods 
      Modifier and Type Method Description
      int addRelation​(Instances value)
      Adds a relation to a relation-valued attribute.
      int addStringValue​(java.lang.String value)
      Adds a string value to the list of valid strings for attributes of type STRING and returns the index of the string.
      int addStringValue​(Attribute src, int index)
      Adds a string value to the list of valid strings for attributes of type STRING and returns the index of the string.
      java.lang.Object copy()
      Produces a shallow copy of this attribute.
      Attribute copy​(java.lang.String newName)
      Produces a shallow copy of this attribute with a new name.
      java.util.Enumeration enumerateValues()
      Returns an enumeration of all the attribute's values if the attribute is nominal, string, or relation-valued, null otherwise.
      boolean equals​(java.lang.Object other)
      Tests if given attribute is equal to this attribute.
      java.lang.String formatDate​(double date)
      Returns the given amount of milliseconds formatted according to the current Date format.
      java.lang.String getDateFormat()
      Returns the Date format pattern in case this attribute is of type DATE, otherwise an empty string.
      double getLowerNumericBound()
      Returns the lower bound of a numeric attribute.
      ProtectedProperties getMetadata()
      Returns the properties supplied for this attribute.
      java.lang.String getRevision()
      Returns the revision string.
      double getUpperNumericBound()
      Returns the upper bound of a numeric attribute.
      boolean hasZeropoint()
      Returns whether the attribute has a zeropoint and may be added meaningfully.
      int index()
      Returns the index of this attribute.
      int indexOfValue​(java.lang.String value)
      Returns the index of a given attribute value.
      boolean isAveragable()
      Returns whether the attribute can be averaged meaningfully.
      boolean isDate()
      Tests if the attribute is a date type.
      boolean isInRange​(double value)
      Determines whether a value lies within the bounds of the attribute.
      boolean isNominal()
      Test if the attribute is nominal.
      boolean isNumeric()
      Tests if the attribute is numeric.
      boolean isRegular()
      Returns whether the attribute values are equally spaced.
      boolean isRelationValued()
      Tests if the attribute is relation valued.
      boolean isString()
      Tests if the attribute is a string.
      boolean lowerNumericBoundIsOpen()
      Returns whether the lower numeric bound of the attribute is open.
      static void main​(java.lang.String[] ops)
      Simple main method for testing this class.
      java.lang.String name()
      Returns the attribute's name.
      int numValues()
      Returns the number of attribute values.
      int ordering()
      Returns the ordering of the attribute.
      double parseDate​(java.lang.String string)
      Parses the given String as Date, according to the current format and returns the corresponding amount of milliseconds.
      Instances relation()
      Returns the header info for a relation-valued attribute, null if the attribute is not relation-valued.
      Instances relation​(int valIndex)
      Returns a value of a relation-valued attribute.
      void setWeight​(double value)
      Sets the new attribute's weight
      java.lang.String toString()
      Returns a description of this attribute in ARFF format.
      int type()
      Returns the attribute's type as an integer.
      boolean upperNumericBoundIsOpen()
      Returns whether the upper numeric bound of the attribute is open.
      java.lang.String value​(int valIndex)
      Returns a value of a nominal or string attribute.
      double weight()
      Returns the attribute's weight.
      • Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

        getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait
    • Field Detail

      • NUMERIC

        public static final int NUMERIC
        Constant set for numeric attributes.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • NOMINAL

        public static final int NOMINAL
        Constant set for nominal attributes.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • STRING

        public static final int STRING
        Constant set for attributes with string values.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • DATE

        public static final int DATE
        Constant set for attributes with date values.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • RELATIONAL

        public static final int RELATIONAL
        Constant set for relation-valued attributes.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ORDERING_SYMBOLIC

        public static final int ORDERING_SYMBOLIC
        Constant set for symbolic attributes.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ORDERING_ORDERED

        public static final int ORDERING_ORDERED
        Constant set for ordered attributes.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ORDERING_MODULO

        public static final int ORDERING_MODULO
        Constant set for modulo-ordered attributes.
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE
        The keyword used to denote the start of an arff attribute declaration
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_INTEGER

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_INTEGER
        A keyword used to denote a numeric attribute
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_REAL

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_REAL
        A keyword used to denote a numeric attribute
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_NUMERIC

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_NUMERIC
        A keyword used to denote a numeric attribute
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_STRING

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_STRING
        The keyword used to denote a string attribute
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_DATE

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_DATE
        The keyword used to denote a date attribute
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_RELATIONAL

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_ATTRIBUTE_RELATIONAL
        The keyword used to denote a relation-valued attribute
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • ARFF_END_SUBRELATION

        public static final java.lang.String ARFF_END_SUBRELATION
        The keyword used to denote the end of the declaration of a subrelation
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
      • DUMMY_STRING_VAL

        public static final java.lang.String DUMMY_STRING_VAL
        Dummy first value for String attributes (useful for sparse instances)
        See Also:
        Constant Field Values
    • Constructor Detail

      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName)
        Constructor for a numeric attribute.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         ProtectedProperties metadata)
        Constructor for a numeric attribute, where metadata is supplied.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        metadata - the attribute's properties
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         java.lang.String dateFormat)
        Constructor for a date attribute.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        dateFormat - a string suitable for use with SimpleDateFormatter for parsing dates.
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         java.lang.String dateFormat,
                         ProtectedProperties metadata)
        Constructor for a date attribute, where metadata is supplied.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        dateFormat - a string suitable for use with SimpleDateFormatter for parsing dates.
        metadata - the attribute's properties
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         FastVector attributeValues)
        Constructor for nominal attributes and string attributes. If a null vector of attribute values is passed to the method, the attribute is assumed to be a string.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        attributeValues - a vector of strings denoting the attribute values. Null if the attribute is a string attribute.
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         FastVector attributeValues,
                         ProtectedProperties metadata)
        Constructor for nominal attributes and string attributes, where metadata is supplied. If a null vector of attribute values is passed to the method, the attribute is assumed to be a string.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        attributeValues - a vector of strings denoting the attribute values. Null if the attribute is a string attribute.
        metadata - the attribute's properties
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         Instances header)
        Constructor for relation-valued attributes.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        header - an Instances object specifying the header of the relation.
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         Instances header,
                         ProtectedProperties metadata)
        Constructor for relation-valued attributes.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        header - an Instances object specifying the header of the relation.
        metadata - the attribute's properties
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         int index)
        Constructor for a numeric attribute with a particular index.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        index - the attribute's index
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         java.lang.String dateFormat,
                         int index)
        Constructor for date attributes with a particular index.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        dateFormat - a string suitable for use with SimpleDateFormatter for parsing dates. Null for a default format string.
        index - the attribute's index
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         FastVector attributeValues,
                         int index)
        Constructor for nominal attributes and string attributes with a particular index. If a null vector of attribute values is passed to the method, the attribute is assumed to be a string.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        attributeValues - a vector of strings denoting the attribute values. Null if the attribute is a string attribute.
        index - the attribute's index
      • Attribute

        public Attribute​(java.lang.String attributeName,
                         Instances header,
                         int index)
        Constructor for a relation-valued attribute with a particular index.
        Parameters:
        attributeName - the name for the attribute
        header - the header information for this attribute
        index - the attribute's index
    • Method Detail

      • copy

        public java.lang.Object copy()
        Produces a shallow copy of this attribute.
        Specified by:
        copy in interface Copyable
        Returns:
        a copy of this attribute with the same index
      • enumerateValues

        public final java.util.Enumeration enumerateValues()
        Returns an enumeration of all the attribute's values if the attribute is nominal, string, or relation-valued, null otherwise.
        Returns:
        enumeration of all the attribute's values
      • equals

        public final boolean equals​(java.lang.Object other)
        Tests if given attribute is equal to this attribute.
        Overrides:
        equals in class java.lang.Object
        Parameters:
        other - the Object to be compared to this attribute
        Returns:
        true if the given attribute is equal to this attribute
      • index

        public final int index()
        Returns the index of this attribute.
        Returns:
        the index of this attribute
      • indexOfValue

        public final int indexOfValue​(java.lang.String value)
        Returns the index of a given attribute value. (The index of the first occurence of this value.)
        Parameters:
        value - the value for which the index is to be returned
        Returns:
        the index of the given attribute value if attribute is nominal or a string, -1 if it is not or the value can't be found
      • isNominal

        public final boolean isNominal()
        Test if the attribute is nominal.
        Returns:
        true if the attribute is nominal
      • isNumeric

        public final boolean isNumeric()
        Tests if the attribute is numeric.
        Returns:
        true if the attribute is numeric
      • isRelationValued

        public final boolean isRelationValued()
        Tests if the attribute is relation valued.
        Returns:
        true if the attribute is relation valued
      • isString

        public final boolean isString()
        Tests if the attribute is a string.
        Returns:
        true if the attribute is a string
      • isDate

        public final boolean isDate()
        Tests if the attribute is a date type.
        Returns:
        true if the attribute is a date type
      • name

        public final java.lang.String name()
        Returns the attribute's name.
        Returns:
        the attribute's name as a string
      • numValues

        public final int numValues()
        Returns the number of attribute values. Returns 0 for attributes that are not either nominal, string, or relation-valued.
        Returns:
        the number of attribute values
      • toString

        public final java.lang.String toString()
        Returns a description of this attribute in ARFF format. Quotes strings if they contain whitespace characters, or if they are a question mark.
        Overrides:
        toString in class java.lang.Object
        Returns:
        a description of this attribute as a string
      • type

        public final int type()
        Returns the attribute's type as an integer.
        Returns:
        the attribute's type.
      • getDateFormat

        public final java.lang.String getDateFormat()
        Returns the Date format pattern in case this attribute is of type DATE, otherwise an empty string.
        Returns:
        the date format pattern
        See Also:
        SimpleDateFormat
      • value

        public final java.lang.String value​(int valIndex)
        Returns a value of a nominal or string attribute. Returns an empty string if the attribute is neither a string nor a nominal attribute.
        Parameters:
        valIndex - the value's index
        Returns:
        the attribute's value as a string
      • relation

        public final Instances relation()
        Returns the header info for a relation-valued attribute, null if the attribute is not relation-valued.
        Returns:
        the attribute's value as an Instances object
      • relation

        public final Instances relation​(int valIndex)
        Returns a value of a relation-valued attribute. Returns null if the attribute is not relation-valued.
        Parameters:
        valIndex - the value's index
        Returns:
        the attribute's value as an Instances object
      • addStringValue

        public int addStringValue​(java.lang.String value)
        Adds a string value to the list of valid strings for attributes of type STRING and returns the index of the string.
        Parameters:
        value - The string value to add
        Returns:
        the index assigned to the string, or -1 if the attribute is not of type Attribute.STRING
      • addStringValue

        public int addStringValue​(Attribute src,
                                  int index)
        Adds a string value to the list of valid strings for attributes of type STRING and returns the index of the string. This method is more efficient than addStringValue(String) for long strings.
        Parameters:
        src - The Attribute containing the string value to add.
        index - the index of the string value in the source attribute.
        Returns:
        the index assigned to the string, or -1 if the attribute is not of type Attribute.STRING
      • addRelation

        public int addRelation​(Instances value)
        Adds a relation to a relation-valued attribute.
        Parameters:
        value - The value to add
        Returns:
        the index assigned to the value, or -1 if the attribute is not of type Attribute.RELATIONAL
      • copy

        public final Attribute copy​(java.lang.String newName)
        Produces a shallow copy of this attribute with a new name.
        Parameters:
        newName - the name of the new attribute
        Returns:
        a copy of this attribute with the same index
      • formatDate

        public java.lang.String formatDate​(double date)
        Returns the given amount of milliseconds formatted according to the current Date format.
        Parameters:
        date - the date, represented in milliseconds since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT, to return as string
        Returns:
        the formatted date
      • parseDate

        public double parseDate​(java.lang.String string)
                         throws java.text.ParseException
        Parses the given String as Date, according to the current format and returns the corresponding amount of milliseconds.
        Parameters:
        string - the date to parse
        Returns:
        the date in milliseconds since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT
        Throws:
        java.text.ParseException - if parsing fails
      • getMetadata

        public final ProtectedProperties getMetadata()
        Returns the properties supplied for this attribute.
        Returns:
        metadata for this attribute
      • ordering

        public final int ordering()
        Returns the ordering of the attribute. One of the following: ORDERING_SYMBOLIC - attribute values should be treated as symbols. ORDERING_ORDERED - attribute values have a global ordering. ORDERING_MODULO - attribute values have an ordering which wraps.
        Returns:
        the ordering type of the attribute
      • isRegular

        public final boolean isRegular()
        Returns whether the attribute values are equally spaced.
        Returns:
        whether the attribute is regular or not
      • isAveragable

        public final boolean isAveragable()
        Returns whether the attribute can be averaged meaningfully.
        Returns:
        whether the attribute can be averaged or not
      • hasZeropoint

        public final boolean hasZeropoint()
        Returns whether the attribute has a zeropoint and may be added meaningfully.
        Returns:
        whether the attribute has a zeropoint or not
      • weight

        public final double weight()
        Returns the attribute's weight.
        Returns:
        the attribute's weight as a double
      • setWeight

        public void setWeight​(double value)
        Sets the new attribute's weight
        Parameters:
        value - the new weight
      • getLowerNumericBound

        public final double getLowerNumericBound()
        Returns the lower bound of a numeric attribute.
        Returns:
        the lower bound of the specified numeric range
      • lowerNumericBoundIsOpen

        public final boolean lowerNumericBoundIsOpen()
        Returns whether the lower numeric bound of the attribute is open.
        Returns:
        whether the lower numeric bound is open or not (closed)
      • getUpperNumericBound

        public final double getUpperNumericBound()
        Returns the upper bound of a numeric attribute.
        Returns:
        the upper bound of the specified numeric range
      • upperNumericBoundIsOpen

        public final boolean upperNumericBoundIsOpen()
        Returns whether the upper numeric bound of the attribute is open.
        Returns:
        whether the upper numeric bound is open or not (closed)
      • isInRange

        public final boolean isInRange​(double value)
        Determines whether a value lies within the bounds of the attribute.
        Parameters:
        value - the value to check
        Returns:
        whether the value is in range
      • getRevision

        public java.lang.String getRevision()
        Returns the revision string.
        Specified by:
        getRevision in interface RevisionHandler
        Returns:
        the revision
      • main

        public static void main​(java.lang.String[] ops)
        Simple main method for testing this class.
        Parameters:
        ops - the commandline options