More powerful column selection in MastMissions

CHANGES.rst

@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ mast
 
 - Improved robustness of PanSTARRS column metadata parsing. This prevents metadata-related query errors. [#3485]
 
+- The ``select_cols`` parameter in ``MastMissions`` query functions now accepts an iterable of column names, a comma-delimited 
+  string of column names, or the special values 'all' or '*' to return all available columns. [#3492]
+
 jplspec
 ^^^^^^^
 

astroquery/mast/missions.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 import difflib
 import warnings
+from collections.abc import Iterable
 from json import JSONDecodeError
 from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import quote
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@
 from astroquery import log
 from astroquery.utils import commons, async_to_sync
 from astroquery.utils.class_or_instance import class_or_instance
-from astroquery.exceptions import InvalidQueryError, MaxResultsWarning, NoResultsWarning
+from astroquery.exceptions import InputWarning, InvalidQueryError, MaxResultsWarning, NoResultsWarning
 
 from astroquery.mast import utils
 from astroquery.mast.core import MastQueryWithLogin
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class MastMissionsClass(MastQueryWithLogin):
     _list_products = 'post_list_products'
 
     # Workaround so that observation_id is returned in ULLYSES queries that do not specify columns
-    _default_ullyses_cols = ['target_name_ulysses', 'target_classification', 'targ_ra', 'targ_dec', 'host_galaxy_name',
+    _default_ullyses_cols = ['target_name_ullyses', 'target_classification', 'targ_ra', 'targ_dec', 'host_galaxy_name',
                              'spectral_type', 'bmv0_mag', 'u_mag', 'b_mag', 'v_mag', 'gaia_g_mean_mag', 'star_mass',
                              'instrument', 'grating', 'filter', 'observation_id']
 
@@ -197,6 +198,71 @@ def _build_params_from_criteria(self, params, **criteria):
                     value = [value]
                 params[prop] = value
 
+    def _parse_select_cols(self, select_cols):
+        """
+        Parse the select_cols parameter to ensure it is in the correct format.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        select_cols : iterable or str or None
+            The select_cols parameter to parse.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        list
+            A list of column names to select.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        InvalidQueryError
+            If select_cols is not an iterable of strings, a comma-separated string, 'all', or '*'.
+            If any individual column name is not a string.
+        """
+        if select_cols is None:
+            if self.mission == 'ullyses':
+                select_cols = self._default_ullyses_cols
+            return select_cols
+
+        # Handle special string cases first
+        all_columns = self.get_column_list()['name'].value.tolist()
+        if isinstance(select_cols, str):
+            if (select_cols.lower() == 'all' or select_cols == '*'):
+                return all_columns
+            # Comma-separated string
+            select_cols = select_cols.split(',')
+
+        # Handle an iterable
+        elif isinstance(select_cols, Iterable):
+            # Convert to list so we can iterate multiple times safely
+            select_cols = list(select_cols)
+
+        else:
+            raise InvalidQueryError(
+                "`select_cols` must be an iterable of column names, a comma-separated string, "
+                "'all', or '*'."
+            )
+
+        # Validate the column names
+        valid_select_cols = []
+        for col in select_cols:
+            if not isinstance(col, str):
+                raise InvalidQueryError(
+                    "`select_cols` must contain only strings (column names)."
+                )
+            col = col.strip()
+            if col not in all_columns:
+                closest_match = difflib.get_close_matches(col, all_columns, n=1)
+                suggestion = f' Did you mean "{closest_match[0]}"?' if closest_match else ''
+                warnings.warn(f"Column '{col}' not found.{suggestion}", InputWarning)
+            else:
+                valid_select_cols.append(col)
+
+        # Dataset ID column should always be returned
+        dataset_col = self.dataset_kwds.get(self.mission, None)
+        if dataset_col and dataset_col not in valid_select_cols:
+            valid_select_cols.append(dataset_col)
+        return valid_select_cols
+
     @class_or_instance
     def query_region_async(self, coordinates, *, radius=3*u.arcmin, limit=5000, offset=0,
                            select_cols=None, **criteria):
@@ -217,9 +283,11 @@ def query_region_async(self, coordinates, *, radius=3*u.arcmin, limit=5000, offs
             Default is 5000. The maximum number of dataset IDs in the results.
         offset : int
             Default is 0. The number of records you wish to skip before selecting records.
-        select_cols: list, optional
+        select_cols: iterable or str or None, optional
             Default is None. Names of columns that will be included in the result table.
             If None, a default set of columns will be returned.
+            Can either be an iterable of column names, a comma-separated string of column names,
+            or 'all'/'*' to return all available columns.
         **criteria
             Other mission-specific criteria arguments.
             All valid filters can be found using `~astroquery.mast.missions.MastMissionsClass.get_column_list`
@@ -255,19 +323,13 @@ def query_region_async(self, coordinates, *, radius=3*u.arcmin, limit=5000, offs
                 f"Query radius too large. Must be ≤{self._max_query_radius}, got {radius}."
             )
 
-        # Dataset ID column should always be returned
-        if select_cols:
-            select_cols.append(self.dataset_kwds.get(self.mission, None))
-        elif self.mission == 'ullyses':
-            select_cols = self._default_ullyses_cols
-
         # Basic params
         params = {'target': [f"{coordinates.ra.deg} {coordinates.dec.deg}"],
                   'radius': radius.arcsec,
                   'radius_units': 'arcseconds',
                   'limit': limit,
                   'offset': offset,
-                  'select_cols': select_cols}
+                  'select_cols': self._parse_select_cols(select_cols)}
 
         self._build_params_from_criteria(params, **criteria)
 
@@ -295,9 +357,11 @@ def query_criteria_async(self, *, coordinates=None, objectname=None, radius=3*u.
             Default is 5000. The maximum number of dataset IDs in the results.
         offset : int
             Default is 0. The number of records you wish to skip before selecting records.
-        select_cols: list, optional
+        select_cols: iterable or str or None, optional
             Default is None. Names of columns that will be included in the result table.
             If None, a default set of columns will be returned.
+            Can either be an iterable of column names, a comma-separated string of column names,
+            or 'all'/'*' to return all available columns.
         resolver : str, optional
             Default is None. The resolver to use when resolving a named target into coordinates. Valid options are
             "SIMBAD" and "NED". If not specified, the default resolver order will be used. Please see the
@@ -344,14 +408,8 @@ def query_criteria_async(self, *, coordinates=None, objectname=None, radius=3*u.
                 f"Query radius too large. Must be ≤{self._max_query_radius}, got {radius}."
             )
 
-        # Dataset ID column should always be returned
-        if select_cols:
-            select_cols.append(self.dataset_kwds.get(self.mission, None))
-        elif self.mission == 'ullyses':
-            select_cols = self._default_ullyses_cols
-
         # build query
-        params = {"limit": self.limit, "offset": offset, 'select_cols': select_cols}
+        params = {"limit": self.limit, "offset": offset, 'select_cols': self._parse_select_cols(select_cols)}
         if coordinates:
             params["target"] = [f"{coordinates.ra.deg} {coordinates.dec.deg}"]
             params["radius"] = radius.arcsec
@@ -382,9 +440,11 @@ def query_object_async(self, objectname, *, radius=3*u.arcmin, limit=5000, offse
             Default is 5000. The maximum number of dataset IDs in the results.
         offset : int
             Default is 0. The number of records you wish to skip before selecting records.
-        select_cols: list, optional
+        select_cols: iterable or str or None, optional
             Default is None. Names of columns that will be included in the result table.
             If None, a default set of columns will be returned.
+            Can either be an iterable of column names, a comma-separated string of column names,
+            or 'all'/'*' to return all available columns.
         resolver : str, optional
             Default is None. The resolver to use when resolving a named target into coordinates. Valid options are
             "SIMBAD" and "NED". If not specified, the default resolver order will be used. Please see the

astroquery/mast/services.py

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 from ..query import BaseQuery
 from ..utils import async_to_sync
 from ..utils.class_or_instance import class_or_instance
-from ..exceptions import InvalidQueryError, TimeoutError, NoResultsWarning
+from ..exceptions import BlankResponseWarning, InvalidQueryError, TimeoutError, NoResultsWarning
 
 from . import conf
 
@@ -97,13 +97,43 @@ def _json_to_table(json_obj, data_key='data'):
         # no consistent way to make the mask because np.equal fails on ''
         # and array == value fails with None
         if col_type == 'str':
-            col_mask = (col_data == ignore_value)
+            ignore_mask = (col_data == ignore_value)
         else:
-            col_mask = np.equal(col_data, ignore_value)
+            ignore_mask = np.equal(col_data, ignore_value)
 
         # add the column if it does not exist already
         if col_name not in data_table.colnames:
-            data_table.add_column(MaskedColumn(col_data.astype(col_type), name=col_name, mask=col_mask))
+            try:
+                # Try to coerce entire column at once
+                coerced = col_data.astype(col_type)
+                data_table.add_column(
+                    MaskedColumn(coerced, name=col_name, mask=ignore_mask)
+                )
+            except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                # Fallback to coercing values one by one
+                out = np.empty(len(col_data), dtype=col_type)
+                fail_mask = np.zeros(len(col_data), dtype=bool)
+                for i, val in enumerate(col_data):
+                    if val == ignore_value:
+                        # Ignored values are already masked by ignore_mask
+                        continue
+
+                    try:
+                        out[i] = col_type(val)
+                    except (ValueError, TypeError, OverflowError):
+                        # Could not coerce value, mask it
+                        fail_mask[i] = True
+
+                # Combined mask of ignored values + failed coercions
+                combined_mask = ignore_mask | fail_mask
+                if np.any(fail_mask):
+                    warnings.warn(
+                        f"Column '{col_name}': {np.sum(fail_mask)} values could not be coerced to {col_type} "
+                        "and were masked.", BlankResponseWarning
+                    )
+                data_table.add_column(
+                    MaskedColumn(out, name=col_name, mask=combined_mask)
+                )
 
     return data_table
 

astroquery/mast/tests/test_mast.py

@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 from astropy.utils.exceptions import AstropyDeprecationWarning
 from astroquery.mast.services import _json_to_table
 from astroquery.utils.mocks import MockResponse
-from astroquery.exceptions import (InvalidQueryError, InputWarning, MaxResultsWarning, NoResultsWarning,
-                                   RemoteServiceError, ResolverError)
+from astroquery.exceptions import (BlankResponseWarning, InvalidQueryError, InputWarning, MaxResultsWarning,
+                                   NoResultsWarning, RemoteServiceError, ResolverError)
 
 from astroquery import mast
 
@@ -302,6 +302,56 @@ def test_missions_query_criteria(patch_post):
         )
 
 
+def test_missions_parse_select_cols(patch_post):
+    # Default columns
+    cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(None)  # Default columns for HST
+    assert cols is None
+
+    # All columns
+    all_cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols('all')
+    assert all_cols == mast.MastMissions.get_column_list()['name'].value.tolist()
+
+    # Comma-separated string
+    string_cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols('sci_pep_id, sci_instrume')
+    for col in ['sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume', 'sci_data_set_name']:
+        assert col in string_cols
+
+    # List of columns
+    list_cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(['sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume'])
+    for col in ['sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume', 'sci_data_set_name']:
+        assert col in list_cols
+
+    # Tuple of columns
+    tuple_cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(('sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume'))
+    for col in ['sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume', 'sci_data_set_name']:
+        assert col in tuple_cols
+
+    # Generator of columns
+    gen_cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(col for col in ['sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume'])
+    for col in ['sci_pep_id', 'sci_instrume', 'sci_data_set_name']:
+        assert col in gen_cols
+
+    # Error if invalid type
+    with pytest.raises(InvalidQueryError, match="`select_cols` must be an iterable of column names"):
+        mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(123)
+
+    # Error if an individual column is not a string
+    with pytest.raises(InvalidQueryError, match="`select_cols` must contain only strings"):
+        mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(['sci_pep_id', 123])
+
+    # Warning for invalid column names
+    with pytest.warns(InputWarning, match="Column 'invalid_column' not found."):
+        valid_cols = mast.MastMissions._parse_select_cols(['sci_pep_id', 'invalid_column'])
+    assert 'sci_pep_id' in valid_cols
+    assert 'invalid_column' not in valid_cols
+
+    # Workaround for Ullyses mission default columns
+    ullyses_mission = mast.MastMissions(mission='ullyses')
+    ullyses_cols = ullyses_mission._parse_select_cols(None)
+    for col in mast.MastMissions._default_ullyses_cols:
+        assert col in ullyses_cols
+
+
 def test_missions_get_product_list_async(patch_post):
     # String input
     result = mast.MastMissions.get_product_list_async('Z14Z0104T')
@@ -1485,3 +1535,25 @@ def test_parse_input_location(patch_post):
     with pytest.warns(InputWarning, match="Resolver is only used when resolving object names"):
         loc = mast.utils.parse_input_location(coordinates=coord, resolver="SIMBAD")
         assert isinstance(loc, SkyCoord)
+
+
+def test_json_to_table_fallback_type_coercion(patch_post):
+    json_obj = {'info': [{'name': 'test_int', 'type': 'int'}],
+                'data': [['1'], ['2'], ['not_an_int'], ['3'], [-999]]}
+
+    with pytest.warns(BlankResponseWarning):
+        table = _json_to_table(json_obj)
+
+    # Column exists
+    assert 'test_int' in table.colnames
+    col = table['test_int']
+    assert col.dtype == np.int64
+
+    # Good values survived
+    assert col[0] == 1
+    assert col[1] == 2
+    assert col[3] == 3
+
+    # Bad + ignored values are masked
+    assert col.mask[2]  # 'not_an_int'
+    assert col.mask[4]  # ignore_value

astroquery/mast/tests/test_mast_remote.py

@@ -153,9 +153,10 @@ def test_missions_query_criteria(self):
         result = MastMissions.query_criteria(objectname='NGC6121',
                                              radius=0.1,
                                              sci_start_time='<2012',
-                                             sci_actual_duration='0..200'
-                                             )
+                                             sci_actual_duration='0..200',
+                                             select_cols='*')
         assert len(result) == 3
+        assert result.colnames == MastMissions.get_column_list()['name'].value.tolist()
         assert (result['ang_sep'].data.data.astype('float') < 0.1).all()
         assert (result['sci_start_time'] < '2012').all()
         assert ((result['sci_actual_duration'] >= 0) & (result['sci_actual_duration'] <= 200)).all()

docs/mast/mast_missions.rst

@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ Keyword arguments can also be used to refine results further. The following para
 - ``sort_desc``: A boolean or list of booleans (one for each field specified in ``sort_by``),
   describing if each field should be sorted in descending order (``True``) or ascending order (``False``).
 
-- ``select_cols``: A list of columns to be returned in the response.
+- ``select_cols``: Columns to include in the result table. If not specified, a default set of columns
+  is returned. This parameter may be given as an iterable of column names, a comma-separated string, or the special
+  values ``'all'`` or ``'*'`` to return all available columns.
 
 
 Mission Positional Queries