Define `rename` and `rename!` for modifying column names?

[junyuan-chen]

I thought it would be useful to define rename and rename! in DataAPI.jl for functions that achieve purposes similar to what they do for DataFrames.jl.

[bkamins]

What other package wants to use these names? Note that DataAPI.jl in general just defines function names, mostly without providing implementations. The purpose of this package is to avoid function name clashes. Maybe you also want to propose adding these to https://github.com/JuliaData/TableOperations.jl?

[junyuan-chen]

I am considering having such functions for ReadStatTables.jl. At this moment, renaming column names is not immediately needed. However, with future implementation of writing support for the Stata/SAS/SPSS data files, modifying column names in-place should be useful. For example, one may load data from a file and rename the columns before saving them somewhere else. Directly changing the column names avoid the need of moving metadata carried with the columns around for a simple task like this.

I just realized that there was some discussion here.

[bkamins]

OK - if you want to add them in ReadStatTables.jl then it makes sense to add them to DataAPI.jl.

@nalimilan - do you see any issues with this?