Workflow: Ranking values in a variable with the Rank block

Ian Balanzá-Davis

The Rank block enables you to grade observations of numeric variables based on their values through a ranking order.

The following demonstrates how to use the Rank block to rank the values in the MockResult variable in an input dataset ExamResults.csv (which contains observations that describe a range of test scores from a school) based on how well each student performed in the test:

1. Import the ExamResults.csv dataset onto a Workflow canvas using the Text File Import block.
2. Expand the Data Preparation group in the Workflow palette, then click and drag a Rank block onto the Workflow canvas.
3. Click the Output port of the ExamResults dataset block and drag a connection towards the Input port of the Rank block.
4. Double-click the Rank block to display the Configure Rank dialog box.
5. In the Configure Rank dialog box:
   1. In the Unselected Variables list, select MockResult.
   2. Click Select to move the variable to the Selected Variables list.

   

6. Click OK to save the configuration and close the Configure Rank dialog box.

A green execution status is displayed in the Output ports of the Rank block and the new Working Dataset. The dataset contains the input ExamResults dataset with a new variable that represents the ranking of each observation.