Aggregation Set Functions

Hi all,

Currently the Set Functions in Aggregates (ie. the underlying functions) are defined like:

Func(M, errors, scalars)

where M a multiset of the values from the group, e.g. if you have SUM(?x) and ?x is 1,2,3 in the group, then M = (1,2,3). But M is defined used ListEvalE(), so all the results which are errors are removed from the multiset.

errors is a count of the errors (which where removed from M).

I think it would be much simpler if instead M included the errors, and the error count argument was dropped, then it would be:

   M = ListEval(exprlist, range(g))

   func(M, scalarvals), for non-DISTINCT
   func(Distinct(M), scalarvals), for DISTINCT

Dave B also complained about the error count argument saying it was redundant in his comment.

I don't quite remember why it was included? I think Andy S might have suggested it, something about future extensibility? But I don't see what function it performs.

So, my question is, can anyone think of a good reason to keep it?

- Steve
 
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Received on Friday, 11 February 2011 10:55:57 UTC