how to generate an attribute with abs(col1 - col2)

Question

Hello,

how can I generate an new attribute, which function expression is: |attr1 - attr2| ?

At moment, i just find the way with if( attr1 - attr2 > 0, attr1 - attr2, attr2-attr1)

Thanks very much for the attention!

blatoo · Answer

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the answers! :-) I got now more solutions. But I think, if rapidminer can put the abs() also in the function list, will be better. Because abs() will be often used. ;)

MariusHelf · Answer

blatoo,

why not simply use your subject line?
abs(attr1-attr2) will also work perfectly in Generate Attributes :)

~Marius

MartinLiebig · Answer

you can use the sign function
sgn(a-b)*(a-b)

for some reason that one is not in the list of Generate Attributes.