[Numpy-discussion] simple manipulations of numpy arrays

[Brad Reisfeld]

Hi,

I am relatively new to numpy and am seeking some advice on an
appropriate way to do the following simple task.

The idea is to build a class that will allow a user to easily remove
and keep columns and rows in a 2D numpy array.

An outline of the class is as follows:

class DataEditor(object):

    def __init__(self, data_array):
        self.data_array = data_array
        self.edited_data_array = None

    def get_edited_data(self):
        return self.edited_data_array

    def remove_cols(self, a_list_of_column_numbers):
        """remove the specified columns, but keep the rest"""
        # some functionality to produce self.edited_data_array

    def remove_rows(self, a_list_of_row_numbers):
        """remove the specified rows, but keep the rest"""
        # some functionality to produce self.edited_data_array

    def keep_cols(self, a_list_of_column_numbers):
        """keep the specified columns, but remove the rest"""
        # some functionality to produce self.edited_data_array

    def keep_rows(self, a_list_of_row_numbers):
        """keep the specified rows, but remove the rest"""
        # some functionality to produce self.edited_data_array


Usage would be something like the following:

>> import numpy as np
>> import data_editor
>> data = np.random.rand(7,9)
>> editor = data_editor.DataEditor(data)
>> editor.remove_rows([2,4])
>> editor.keep_cols([3,5,7])
>> edited_data = data_editor.get_edited_array()


I don't have much experience using them, but would using a masked
array would make sense in this context?
If so, how does one convert a masked array to a 'normal' array with
only the unmasked values present from the original?
Or, is another approach more appropriate.

Thank you for your help.

-Brad