Added an option to detect and report on empty columns into delete rows/columns dialog

[anastasia-mbithe]

This fixes #6883
Hello @rdstern and @shadrackkibet, I added the empty button at the top of the dialog, as well as the two checkboxes as suggested. I also set the functions and the dialog is working properly; I tested with a procurement dataset that had a lot of empty variables. Am working on adding a report in the output window, i.e.. xxx empty variables deleted or rows or both as suggested in the issue.

[shadrackkibet]

@rdstern should we remove empty columns in the original data frame or we should have it as a separate data frame?

[anastasia-mbithe]

Hello @shadrackkibet, I have been researching on something here and still don't know how to implement it.
I want to add a message in the output window after the execution of the remove empty columns /rows dialog. Such that; if the function deletes two empty variables it gives a message in the output window i.e. "2 empty variables deleted" if its 55 then ; " 55 empty variables deleted", if its rows; "55 empty rows deleted" etc
Can you assist me in that?

[shadrackkibet]

Ann, leave this to me for now. I will alert you when to proceed. I think I understand what you need to complete the task from your explanation. Keep up the good work!

Meanwhile, I suggest you move to another task.

[shadrackkibet]

@anastasia-mbithe I have now made changes to this PR. You will notice I have added a remove_empty method into the databook. There are two main reasons for this change.

• The method in the databook allows us to append the resulting data frame into the original data frame because we can work with the data frame "internally" - This means we do not need ucrSave which allows us to save the resulting object separately.
• It allows us to customize the message we need using cat which we can then capture and print into the output window - loosely speaking.

You can now pull the changes and test them from your end. Feel free to ask any questions or make changes at the dialog level, I didn't look into it much. Let me know if you find any bugs.

[anastasia-mbithe]

@shadrackkibet, thank you so much for this, am following the code as well as testing the dialog.
Am wondering what the default state of the checkboxes should be: should they be checked or unchecked or one of them to be checked. I realized after clicking reset, both appear checked, should I change that? and if so to which preferred state?

[shadrackkibet]

The default for the R function is both checked so I will go with that. @rdstern might have a different opinion.

[anastasia-mbithe]

@rdstern you can look at this and also see if you are okay with the checkboxes.

[rdstern]

@anastasia-mbithe I can not check yet. When I load your branch it gives an error right at the start, namely:

Then it doesn't let me load a data file. Keeps giving that error. Please tell me when I can check. The dialogue looks fine.

[anastasia-mbithe]

@rdstern The bug is fixed, check it now.

[shadrackkibet]

@rdstern please check. I would like to close this one as soon as possible.

[rdstern]

@anastasia-mbithe @shadrackkibet great. Now seems to work fine.