# Best way to to handle DataFrames and write legible code
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/best-way-to-to-handle-dataframes-and-write-legible-code/7368
**Category:** General Usage
**Created:** [November 28, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/best-way-to-to-handle-dataframes-and-write-legible-code/7368 "2017-11-28T20:00:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@IljaK91](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/IljaK91)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/best-way-to-to-handle-dataframes-and-write-legible-code/7368/1 "2017-11-28T20:00:15Z")
What is the best way to get data out of DataFrames/save data in DataFrames and keep code legible? I quickly have the problem that my code looks something like this:
```julia
df_special_dataframe[(df_special_dataframe[:Date].>=Year).&(df_special_dataframe[:variable1].>=Threshold),:variable1] = An expression of similar length
```
That makes my code hard to read and work on. I see that part of the solution is to use the shortest names as possible for variables and DataFrames, but is there a better way to handle DataFrames in general?
I know from VBA that there is an “with…end” environment that looks like this:
```julia
With theCustomer.Comments
.Add("First comment.")
.Add("Second comment.")
End With
```
It basically saves you typing “theCustomer.Comments” again. I can imagine that a similar functionality could be implemented for DataFrames or is already existing.
---
### Author:  [@NickNack](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/NickNack)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/best-way-to-to-handle-dataframes-and-write-legible-code/7368/2 "2017-11-28T22:55:44Z")
I’m sure someone else has a better solution, but I would just make a short alias for the dataframe and put the filter in a helper variable. I think this is free (i.e. doesn’t cost extra allocations) and it is much more readable.
```julia
df = df_special_dataframe
rows = (df[:Date].>=Year) .& (df[:variable1].>=Threshold)
df[rows, :variable1] = expression
```
Just a side note about my pet peeve, the precedence of `&`. Hopefully the parentheses will no longer be required in Julia 1.0. The [relevant issue has been reopened](https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/5187#issuecomment-328408905) and Jeff Bezanson is having a look at it. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@mkborregaard](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/mkborregaard)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/best-way-to-to-handle-dataframes-and-write-legible-code/7368/3 "2017-11-28T23:18:40Z")
One suggestion is to use Query.jl. It’s legible once you get the hang of it.
DataFramesMeta.jl has a `@with` macro that does what you describe.
---
### Author:  [@IljaK91](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/IljaK91)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2017, 10:36am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/best-way-to-to-handle-dataframes-and-write-legible-code/7368/4 "2017-11-29T10:36:32Z")
Thanks, Query and DataFramesMeta look very interesting! I will have a look at them at the next opportunity 🙂