# Scale Columns

This function scales a column through standard or min/max scaling methods.

## Parameters

| Name               | Type         | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Is Optional |
| ------------------ | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| columns\_to\_scale | column\_list | A list of numeric columns that you want to scale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |             |
| method             | string       | The method used to scale the column values ('standard' or 'min\_max'). If 'standard' is chosen, this function scales a column by removing the mean and scaling by standard deviation. If 'min\_max' is selected, this function scales a column by subtracting the min value in the column and dividing by the range between the max and min values. |             |
| overwrite\_columns | boolean      | Optional: if true, the scaled values will overwrite values in 'columns\_to\_scale'. If false, new columns with the scaled values will be generated.                                                                                                                                                                                                 | True        |
| averages           | value\_list  | Only applies when 'standard' method is chosen. This is an optional argument representing a list of the static averages to use for each column in columns\_to\_scale. If omitted, the averages are calculated directly off each column.                                                                                                              | True        |
| standarddevs       | int\_list    | Only applies when 'standard' method is chosen. This is an optional argument representing a list of the static standard deviations to use for each column in columns\_to\_scale. If omitted, the values are calculated directly off each column.                                                                                                     | True        |
| minimums           | value\_list  | Only applies when 'min\_max' method is chosen. This is an optional argument representing a list of the static minimums to use for each column in columns\_to\_scale. If omitted, the minimums are calculated directly off each column.                                                                                                              | True        |
| maximums           | value\_list  | Only applies when 'min\_max' method is chosen. This is an optional argument representing a list of the static maximums to use for each column in columns\_to\_scale. If omitted, the values are calculated directly off each column.                                                                                                                | True        |

## Example

```python
ds = rasgo.get.dataset(id)

ds2 = ds.scale_columns(columns_to_scale=['DS_DAILY_HIGH_TEMP','DS_DAILY_LOW_TEMP'], method='standard')
ds2.preview()

ds2b = ds.scale_columns(columns_to_scale=['DS_DAILY_HIGH_TEMP','DS_DAILY_LOW_TEMP'],
  averages=[68, 52],
  standarddevs=[12, 8],
  method='standard')
ds2b.preview()

ds2c = ds.scale_columns(columns_to_scale=['DS_DAILY_HIGH_TEMP','DS_DAILY_LOW_TEMP'],
  minimums=[52, 4],
  maximums=[101, 81],
  method='min_max')
ds2c.preview()

```

## Source Code

{% embed url="<https://github.com/rasgointelligence/RasgoTransforms/blob/main/rasgotransforms/rasgotransforms/transforms/scale_columns/scale_columns.sql>" %}


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