Nested Datasets, or arrays within a dataset

Ignition
,
1

Hi guys,
I was wondering about the level of support there is for nesting datasets, or at least putting arrays in a column of a dataset. It seems doable based on my limited testing in the script console in Ignition 8.1.17, but I worry if I start doing that in a few places, will I be doing something I shouldn’t?

2

I don’t believe a dataset can have a column of type dataset.

But if you need to keep a collection of items together, why not a dictionary? You can nest dictionaries as deep as you want.

d = {"ds": firstDataset,
        "array":[1,2,3,..],
         "children":  [
               {"ds":anotherDataset, "array":[4,5,6,...], "children":[]},
               {"ds":thirdDataset, "array":[6,7,8,..],"children":[# could add even more here]
                              ]
      }

If you explain exactly what your problem is and what you’re trying to accomplish people here will be able to offer better suggestions.

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3

Yup. Datasets themselves tolerate anything at all if you declare the column type as Object (which you can do with the DatasetBuilder class quite easily). Try to stuff them in a dataset tag and it'll blow up on you (very limited allowed types). Or try to put them in a message payload and it'll blow up on you (must be serializable).

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