v0.13.0.txt

.. _whatsnew_0130:

v0.13.0 (October ??, 2013)
--------------------------

This is a major release from 0.12.0 and includes several new features and
enhancements along with a large number of bug fixes.

.. warning::

   In 0.13.0 ``Series`` has internally been refactored to no longer sub-class ``ndarray``
   but instead subclass ``NDFrame``, similarly to the rest of the pandas containers. This should be
   a transparent change with only very limited API implications. See :ref:`Internal Refactoring<whatsnew_0130.refactoring>`

API changes
~~~~~~~~~~~

  - ``read_excel`` now supports an integer in its ``sheetname`` argument giving
    the index of the sheet to read in (:issue:`4301`).
  - Text parser now treats anything that reads like inf ("inf", "Inf", "-Inf",
    "iNf", etc.) as infinity. (:issue:`4220`, :issue:`4219`), affecting
    ``read_table``, ``read_csv``, etc.
  - ``pandas`` now is Python 2/3 compatible without the need for 2to3 thanks to
    @jtratner. As a result, pandas now uses iterators more extensively. This
    also led to the introduction of substantive parts of the Benjamin
    Peterson's ``six`` library into compat. (:issue:`4384`, :issue:`4375`,
    :issue:`4372`)
  - ``pandas.util.compat`` and ``pandas.util.py3compat`` have been merged into
    ``pandas.compat``. ``pandas.compat`` now includes many functions allowing
    2/3 compatibility. It contains both list and iterator versions of range,
    filter, map and zip, plus other necessary elements for Python 3
    compatibility. ``lmap``, ``lzip``, ``lrange`` and ``lfilter`` all produce
    lists instead of iterators, for compatibility with ``numpy``, subscripting
    and ``pandas`` constructors.(:issue:`4384`, :issue:`4375`, :issue:`4372`)
  - deprecated ``iterkv``, which will be removed in a future release (was just
    an alias of iteritems used to get around ``2to3``'s changes).
    (:issue:`4384`, :issue:`4375`, :issue:`4372`)
  - ``Series.get`` with negative indexers now returns the same as ``[]`` (:issue:`4390`)
  - Changes to how ``Index`` and ``MultiIndex`` handle metadata (``levels``,
    ``labels``, and ``names``) (:issue:`4039`):

    .. code-block:: python

        # previously, you would have set levels or labels directly
        index.levels = [[1, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 4, 4]]

        # now, you use the set_levels or set_labels methods
        index = index.set_levels([[1, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 4, 4]])

        # similarly, for names, you can rename the object
        # but setting names is not deprecated.
        index = index.set_names(["bob", "cranberry"])

        # and all methods take an inplace kwarg
        index.set_names(["bob", "cranberry"], inplace=True)

  - Infer and downcast dtype if ``downcast='infer'`` is passed to ``fillna/ffill/bfill`` (:issue:`4604`)
  - Remove deprecated ``Factor`` (:issue:`3650`)
  - Remove deprecated ``set_printoptions/reset_printoptions`` (:issue:``3046``)
  - Remove deprecated ``_verbose_info`` (:issue:`3215`)
  - ``__nonzero__`` for all NDFrame objects, will now raise a ``ValueError``, this reverts back to (:issue:`1073`, :issue:`4633`)
    behavior. Added the ``.bool()`` method to ``NDFrame`` objects to facilitate evaluating of single-element boolean Series
    See :ref:`gotchas<gotchas.truth>` for a more detailed discussion.

    This prevents behaviors like (which will now all raise ``ValueError``)

    .. code-block:: python

        if df:
           ....

        df1 and df2
        s1 and s2


    To evaluate single-element pandas objects in a boolean context, use the method ``.bool()``:

    .. ipython:: python

       Series([True]).bool()
       Series([False]).bool()
       DataFrame([[True]]).bool()
       DataFrame([[False]]).bool()

  - All non-Index NDFrames (``Series``, ``DataFrame``, ``Panel``, ``Panel4D``,
    ``SparsePanel``, etc.), now support the entire set of arithmetic operators
    and arithmetic flex methods (add, sub, mul, etc.). ``SparsePanel`` does not
    support ``pow`` or ``mod`` with non-scalars. (:issue:`3765`)


Prior Version Deprecations/Changes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These were announced changes in 0.12 or prior that are taking effect as of 0.13.0

  - Remove deprecated ``Factor`` (:issue:`3650`)
  - Remove deprecated ``set_printoptions/reset_printoptions`` (:issue:``3046``)
  - Remove deprecated ``_verbose_info`` (:issue:`3215`)
  - Remove deprecated ``read_clipboard/to_clipboard/ExcelFile/ExcelWriter`` from ``pandas.io.parsers`` (:issue:`3717`)
  - default for ``tupleize_cols`` is now ``False`` for both ``to_csv`` and ``read_csv``. Fair warning in 0.12 (:issue:`3604`)

Indexing API Changes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Prior to 0.13, it was impossible to use a label indexer (``.loc/.ix``) to set a value that
    was not contained in the index of a particular axis. (:issue:`2578`). See more :ref:`here<indexing.basics.partial_setting>`

    In the ``Series`` case this is effectively an appending operation

    .. ipython:: python

       s = Series([1,2,3])
       s
       s[5] = 5.
       s

    .. ipython:: python

       dfi = DataFrame(np.arange(6).reshape(3,2),
                       columns=['A','B'])
       dfi

    This would previously ``KeyError``

    .. ipython:: python

       dfi.loc[:,'C'] = dfi.loc[:,'A']
       dfi

    This is like an ``append`` operation.

    .. ipython:: python

       dfi.loc[3] = 5
       dfi

    A Panel setting operation on an arbitrary axis aligns the input to the Panel

    .. ipython:: python

       p = pd.Panel(np.arange(16).reshape(2,4,2),
                   items=['Item1','Item2'],
                   major_axis=pd.date_range('2001/1/12',periods=4),
                   minor_axis=['A','B'],dtype='float64')
       p
       p.loc[:,:,'C'] = Series([30,32],index=p.items)
       p
       p.loc[:,:,'C']

Float64Index API Change
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Added a new index type, ``Float64Index``. This will be automatically created when passing floating values in index creation.
    This enables a pure label-based slicing paradigm that makes ``[],ix,loc`` for scalar indexing and slicing work exactly the
    same. See :ref:`the docs<indexing.float64index>`, (:issue:`263`)

    Construction is by default for floating type values.

    .. ipython:: python

       index = Index([1.5, 2, 3, 4.5, 5])
       index
       s = Series(range(5),index=index)
       s

    Scalar selection for ``[],.ix,.loc`` will always be label based. An integer will match an equal float index (e.g. ``3`` is equivalent to ``3.0``)

    .. ipython:: python

       s[3]
       s.ix[3]
       s.loc[3]

    The only positional indexing is via ``iloc``

    .. ipython:: python

       s.iloc[3]

    A scalar index that is not found will raise ``KeyError``

    Slicing is ALWAYS on the values of the index, for ``[],ix,loc`` and ALWAYS positional with ``iloc``

    .. ipython:: python

       s[2:4]
       s.ix[2:4]
       s.loc[2:4]
       s.iloc[2:4]

    In float indexes, slicing using floats are allowed

    .. ipython:: python

       s[2.1:4.6]
       s.loc[2.1:4.6]

  - Indexing on other index types are preserved (and positional fallback for ``[],ix``), with the exception, that floating point slicing
    on indexes on non ``Float64Index`` will now raise a ``TypeError``.

    .. code-block:: python

       In [1]: Series(range(5))[3.5]
       TypeError: the label [3.5] is not a proper indexer for this index type (Int64Index)

       In [1]: Series(range(5))[3.5:4.5]
       TypeError: the slice start [3.5] is not a proper indexer for this index type (Int64Index)

    Using a scalar float indexer will be deprecated in a future version, but is allowed for now.

    .. code-block:: python

       In [3]: Series(range(5))[3.0]
       Out[3]: 3

HDFStore API Changes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - Query Format Changes. A much more string-like query format is now supported. See :ref:`the docs<io.hdf5-query>`.

    .. ipython:: python

       path = 'test.h5'
       dfq = DataFrame(randn(10,4),
                columns=list('ABCD'),
                index=date_range('20130101',periods=10))
       dfq.to_hdf(path,'dfq',format='table',data_columns=True)

    Use boolean expressions, with in-line function evaluation.

    .. ipython:: python

       read_hdf(path,'dfq',
           where="index>Timestamp('20130104') & columns=['A', 'B']")

    Use an inline column reference

    .. ipython:: python

       read_hdf(path,'dfq',
           where="A>0 or C>0")

    .. ipython:: python
       :suppress:

       import os
       os.remove(path)

  - the ``format`` keyword now replaces the ``table`` keyword; allowed values are ``fixed(f)`` or ``table(t)``
    the same defaults as prior < 0.13.0 remain, e.g. ``put`` implies ``fixed`` format
    and ``append`` imples ``table`` format. This default format can be set as an option by setting ``io.hdf.default_format``.

    .. ipython:: python

       path = 'test.h5'
       df = DataFrame(randn(10,2))
       df.to_hdf(path,'df_table',format='table')
       df.to_hdf(path,'df_table2',append=True)
       df.to_hdf(path,'df_fixed')
       with get_store(path) as store:
          print(store)

    .. ipython:: python
       :suppress:

       import os
       os.remove(path)

  - Significant table writing performance improvements
  - handle a passed ``Series`` in table format (:issue:`4330`)
  - can now serialize a ``timedelta64[ns]`` dtype in a table (:issue:`3577`), See :ref:`here for an example<io.hdf5-timedelta>`.
  - added an ``is_open`` property to indicate if the underlying file handle is_open;
    a closed store will now report 'CLOSED' when viewing the store (rather than raising an error)
    (:issue:`4409`)
  - a close of a ``HDFStore`` now will close that instance of the ``HDFStore``
    but will only close the actual file if the ref count (by ``PyTables``) w.r.t. all of the open handles
    are 0. Essentially you have a local instance of ``HDFStore`` referenced by a variable. Once you
    close it, it will report closed. Other references (to the same file) will continue to operate
    until they themselves are closed. Performing an action on a closed file will raise
    ``ClosedFileError``

    .. ipython:: python

       path = 'test.h5'
       df = DataFrame(randn(10,2))
       store1 = HDFStore(path)
       store2 = HDFStore(path)
       store1.append('df',df)
       store2.append('df2',df)

       store1
       store2
       store1.close()
       store2
       store2.close()
       store2

    .. ipython:: python
       :suppress:

       import os
       os.remove(path)

  - removed the ``_quiet`` attribute, replace by a ``DuplicateWarning`` if retrieving
    duplicate rows from a table (:issue:`4367`)
  - removed the ``warn`` argument from ``open``. Instead a ``PossibleDataLossError`` exception will
    be raised if you try to use ``mode='w'`` with an OPEN file handle (:issue:`4367`)
  - allow a passed locations array or mask as a ``where`` condition (:issue:`4467`).
    See :ref:`here<io.hdf5-where_mask>` for an example.
  - add the keyword ``dropna=True`` to ``append`` to change whether ALL nan rows are not written
    to the store (default is ``True``, ALL nan rows are NOT written), also settable
    via the option ``io.hdf.dropna_table`` (:issue:`4625`)

Enhancements
~~~~~~~~~~~~

  - ``read_html`` now raises a ``URLError`` instead of catching and raising a
    ``ValueError`` (:issue:`4303`, :issue:`4305`)
  - Added a test for ``read_clipboard()`` and ``to_clipboard()`` (:issue:`4282`)
  - Clipboard functionality now works with PySide (:issue:`4282`)
  - Added a more informative error message when plot arguments contain
    overlapping color and style arguments (:issue:`4402`)
  - ``to_dict`` now takes ``records`` as a possible outtype.  Returns an array
    of column-keyed dictionaries. (:issue:`4936`)

  - NaN handing in get_dummies (:issue:`4446`) with `dummy_na`

    .. ipython:: python

       # previously, nan was erroneously counted as 2 here
       # now it is not counted at all
       get_dummies([1, 2, np.nan])

       # unless requested
       get_dummies([1, 2, np.nan], dummy_na=True)


  - ``timedelta64[ns]`` operations. See :ref:`here<timeseries.timedeltas_convert>` for the docs.

    .. warning::

       Most of these operations require ``numpy >= 1.7``

    - Using the new top-level ``to_timedelta``, you can convert a scalar or array from the standard
      timedelta format (produced by ``to_csv``) into a timedelta type (``np.timedelta64`` in ``nanoseconds``).

      .. ipython:: python

         to_timedelta('1 days 06:05:01.00003')
         to_timedelta('15.5us')
         to_timedelta(['1 days 06:05:01.00003','15.5us','nan'])
         to_timedelta(np.arange(5),unit='s')
         to_timedelta(np.arange(5),unit='d')

    - A Series of dtype ``timedelta64[ns]`` can now be divided by another
      ``timedelta64[ns]`` object to yield a ``float64`` dtyped Series. This
      is frequency conversion. See :ref:`here<timeseries.timedeltas_convert>` for the docs.

      .. ipython:: python

         from datetime import timedelta
         td = Series(date_range('20130101',periods=4))-Series(date_range('20121201',periods=4))
         td[2] += np.timedelta64(timedelta(minutes=5,seconds=3))
         td[3] = np.nan
         td

         # to days
         td / np.timedelta64(1,'D')

         # to seconds
         td / np.timedelta64(1,'s')

    - Dividing or multiplying a ``timedelta64[ns]`` Series by an integer or integer Series

      .. ipython:: python

         td * -1
         td * Series([1,2,3,4])

    - Absolute ``DateOffset`` objects can act equivalenty to ``timedeltas``

      .. ipython:: python

         from pandas import offsets
         td + offsets.Minute(5) + offsets.Milli(5)

    - Fillna is now supported for timedeltas

      .. ipython:: python

         td.fillna(0)
         td.fillna(timedelta(days=1,seconds=5))

    - You can do numeric reduction operations on timedeltas. Note that these will return
      a single-element Series.

      .. ipython:: python

         td.mean()
         td.quantile(.1)

  - ``plot(kind='kde')`` now accepts the optional parameters ``bw_method`` and
    ``ind``, passed to scipy.stats.gaussian_kde() (for scipy >= 0.11.0) to set
    the bandwidth, and to gkde.evaluate() to specify the indicies at which it
    is evaluated, respecttively. See scipy docs. (:issue:`4298`)
  - DataFrame constructor now accepts a numpy masked record array (:issue:`3478`)
  - The new vectorized string method ``extract`` return regular expression
    matches more conveniently.

    .. ipython:: python

       Series(['a1', 'b2', 'c3']).str.extract('[ab](\d)')

    Elements that do not match return ``NaN``. Extracting a regular expression
    with more than one group returns a DataFrame with one column per group.


    .. ipython:: python

       Series(['a1', 'b2', 'c3']).str.extract('([ab])(\d)')

    Elements that do not match return a row of ``NaN``.
    Thus, a Series of messy strings can be *converted* into a
    like-indexed Series or DataFrame of cleaned-up or more useful strings,
    without necessitating ``get()`` to access tuples or ``re.match`` objects.

    Named groups like

    .. ipython:: python

       Series(['a1', 'b2', 'c3']).str.extract(
               '(?P<letter>[ab])(?P<digit>\d)')

    and optional groups can also be used.

    .. ipython:: python

        Series(['a1', 'b2', '3']).str.extract(
                '(?P<letter>[ab])?(?P<digit>\d)')

  - ``read_stata`` now accepts Stata 13 format (:issue:`4291`)
  - ``read_fwf`` now infers the column specifications from the first 100 rows of
    the file if the data has correctly separated and properly aligned columns
    using the delimiter provided to the function (:issue:`4488`).

  - support for nanosecond times in periods

    .. warning::

       These operations require ``numpy >= 1.7``

    Period conversions in the range of seconds and below were reworked and extended
    up to nanoseconds. Periods in the nanosecond range are now available.

      .. ipython:: python

        date_range('2013-01-01', periods=5, freq='5N')

    or with frequency as offset

      .. ipython:: python

        date_range('2013-01-01', periods=5, freq=pd.offsets.Nano(5))

    Timestamps can be modified in the nanosecond range

      .. ipython:: python

        t = Timestamp('20130101 09:01:02')
        t + pd.datetools.Nano(123)

  - The ``isin`` method plays nicely with boolean indexing. To get the rows where any of the conditions are met:

      .. ipython:: python

         dfi = DataFrame({'A': [1, 2, 3, 4], 'B': ['a', 'b', 'f', 'n']})
         dfi
         mask = dfi.isin({'A': [1, 2], 'B': ['e', 'f']})
         mask
         dfi[mask.any(1)]

      :ref:`See the docs<indexing.basics.indexing_isin>` for more.
  - All R datasets listed here http://stat.ethz.ch/R-manual/R-devel/library/datasets/html/00Index.html can now be loaded into Pandas objects

    .. code-block:: python

       import pandas.rpy.common as com
       com.load_data('Titanic')

  - ``tz_localize`` can infer a fall daylight savings transition based on the structure
    of the unlocalized data (:issue:`4230`), see :ref:`here<timeseries.timezone>`
  - DatetimeIndex is now in the API documentation, see :ref:`here<api.datetimeindex>`
  - :meth:`~pandas.io.json.json_normalize` is a new method to allow you to create a flat table
    from semi-structured JSON data. :ref:`See the docs<io.json_normalize>` (:issue:`1067`)

.. _whatsnew_0130.experimental:

Experimental
~~~~~~~~~~~~

- :func:`~pandas.eval`:

  - The new :func:`~pandas.eval` function implements expression evaluation using
    ``numexpr`` behind the scenes. This results in large speedups for
    complicated expressions involving large DataFrames/Series. For example,

      .. ipython:: python

         nrows, ncols = 20000, 100
         df1, df2, df3, df4 = [DataFrame(randn(nrows, ncols))
                               for _ in xrange(4)]

      .. ipython:: python

         # eval with NumExpr backend
         %timeit pd.eval('df1 + df2 + df3 + df4')

      .. ipython:: python

         # pure Python evaluation
         %timeit df1 + df2 + df3 + df4

    For more details, see the :ref:`enhancing performance documentation on eval
    <enhancingperf.eval>`

- ``DataFrame.eval``

  - Similar to ``pandas.eval``, :class:`~pandas.DataFrame` has a new
    ``DataFrame.eval`` method that evaluates an expression in the context of
    the ``DataFrame``. For example,

      .. ipython:: python
         :suppress:

         try:
            del a
         except NameError:
            pass

         try:
            del b
         except NameError:
            pass

      .. ipython:: python

         df = DataFrame(randn(10, 2), columns=['a', 'b'])
         df.eval('a + b')


- :meth:`~pandas.DataFrame.query`

  - In 0.13 a :meth:`~pandas.DataFrame.query` method has been added that allows
    you to select elements of a ``DataFrame`` using a natural query syntax
    nearly identical to Python syntax. For example,

      .. ipython:: python
         :suppress:

         try:
            del a
         except NameError:
            pass

         try:
            del b
         except NameError:
            pass

         try:
            del c
         except NameError:
            pass

      .. ipython:: python

         n = 20
         df = DataFrame(np.random.randint(n, size=(n, 3)), columns=['a', 'b', 'c'])
         df.query('a < b < c')

    selects all the rows of ``df`` where ``a < b < c`` evaluates to ``True``.
    For more details see the :ref:`indexing documentation on query
    <indexing.query>`.

- ``pd.read_msgpack()`` and ``pd.to_msgpack()`` are now a supported method of serialization
  of arbitrary pandas (and python objects) in a lightweight portable binary format. :ref:`See the docs<io.msgpack>`

  .. warning::

     Since this is an EXPERIMENTAL LIBRARY, the storage format may not be stable until a future release.

  .. ipython:: python

     df = DataFrame(np.random.rand(5,2),columns=list('AB'))
     df.to_msgpack('foo.msg')
     pd.read_msgpack('foo.msg')

     s = Series(np.random.rand(5),index=date_range('20130101',periods=5))
     pd.to_msgpack('foo.msg', df, s)
     pd.read_msgpack('foo.msg')

  You can pass ``iterator=True`` to iterator over the unpacked results

  .. ipython:: python

     for o in pd.read_msgpack('foo.msg',iterator=True):
        print o

  .. ipython:: python
     :suppress:
     :okexcept:

     os.remove('foo.msg')

- Added PySide support for the qtpandas DataFrameModel and DataFrameWidget.

- DataFrame has a new ``interpolate`` method, similar to Series:

  .. ipython:: python

      df = DataFrame({'A': [1, 2.1, np.nan, 4.7, 5.6, 6.8],
                      'B': [.25, np.nan, np.nan, 4, 12.2, 14.4]})
      df.interpolate()

  Additionally, the ``method`` argument to ``interpolate`` has been expanded
  to include 'nearest', 'zero', 'slinear', 'quadratic', 'cubic',
  'barycentric', 'krogh', 'piecewise_polynomial', 'pchip' or "polynomial" or 'spline'
  and an integer representing the degree or order of the approximation.  The new methods
  require scipy_. Consult the Scipy reference guide_ and documentation_ for more information
  about when the various methods are appropriate.  See also the :ref:`pandas interpolation docs<missing_data.interpolate:>`.

  Interpolate now also accepts a ``limit`` keyword argument.
  This works similar to ``fillna``'s limit:

  .. ipython:: python

    ser = Series([1, 3, np.nan, np.nan, np.nan, 11])
    ser.interpolate(limit=2)

.. _scipy: http://www.scipy.org
.. _documentation: http://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/interpolate.html#univariate-interpolation
.. _guide: http://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/tutorial/interpolate.html


.. _whatsnew_0130.refactoring:

Internal Refactoring
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 0.13.0 there is a major refactor primarily to subclass ``Series`` from
``NDFrame``, which is the base class currently for ``DataFrame`` and ``Panel``,
to unify methods and behaviors. Series formerly subclassed directly from
``ndarray``. (:issue:`4080`, :issue:`3862`, :issue:`816`)

.. warning::

   There are two potential incompatibilities from < 0.13.0

   - Using certain numpy functions would previously return a ``Series`` if passed a ``Series``
     as an argument. This seems only to affect ``np.ones_like``, ``np.empty_like``,
     ``np.diff`` and ``np.where``. These now return ``ndarrays``.

     .. ipython:: python

        s = Series([1,2,3,4])

     Numpy Usage

     .. ipython:: python

        np.ones_like(s)
        np.diff(s)
        np.where(s>1,s,np.nan)

     Pandonic Usage

     .. ipython:: python

        Series(1,index=s.index)
        s.diff()
        s.where(s>1)

   - Passing a ``Series`` directly to a cython function expecting an ``ndarray`` type will no
     long work directly, you must pass ``Series.values``, See :ref:`Enhancing Performance<enhancingperf.ndarray>`

   - ``Series(0.5)`` would previously return the scalar ``0.5``, instead this will return a 1-element ``Series``

- Refactor of series.py/frame.py/panel.py to move common code to generic.py

  - added ``_setup_axes`` to created generic NDFrame structures
  - moved methods

    - ``from_axes,_wrap_array,axes,ix,loc,iloc,shape,empty,swapaxes,transpose,pop``
    - ``__iter__,keys,__contains__,__len__,__neg__,__invert__``
    - ``convert_objects,as_blocks,as_matrix,values``
    - ``__getstate__,__setstate__`` (compat remains in frame/panel)
    - ``__getattr__,__setattr__``
    - ``_indexed_same,reindex_like,align,where,mask``
    - ``fillna,replace`` (``Series`` replace is now consistent with ``DataFrame``)
    - ``filter`` (also added axis argument to selectively filter on a different axis)
    - ``reindex,reindex_axis,take``
    - ``truncate`` (moved to become part of ``NDFrame``)

- These are API changes which make ``Panel`` more consistent with ``DataFrame``

  - ``swapaxes`` on a ``Panel`` with the same axes specified now return a copy
  - support attribute access for setting
  - filter supports same api as original ``DataFrame`` filter

- Reindex called with no arguments will now return a copy of the input object

- Series now inherits from ``NDFrame`` rather than directly from ``ndarray``.
  There are several minor changes that affect the API.

  - numpy functions that do not support the array interface will now
    return ``ndarrays`` rather than series, e.g. ``np.diff`` and ``np.ones_like``
  - ``Series(0.5)`` would previously return the scalar ``0.5``, this is no
    longer supported
  - ``TimeSeries`` is now an alias for ``Series``. the property ``is_time_series``
    can be used to distinguish (if desired)

- Refactor of Sparse objects to use BlockManager

  - Created a new block type in internals, ``SparseBlock``, which can hold multi-dtypes
    and is non-consolidatable. ``SparseSeries`` and ``SparseDataFrame`` now inherit
    more methods from there hierarchy (Series/DataFrame), and no longer inherit
    from ``SparseArray`` (which instead is the object of the ``SparseBlock``)
  - Sparse suite now supports integration with non-sparse data. Non-float sparse
    data is supportable (partially implemented)
  - Operations on sparse structures within DataFrames should preserve sparseness,
    merging type operations will convert to dense (and back to sparse), so might
    be somewhat inefficient
  - enable setitem on ``SparseSeries`` for boolean/integer/slices
  - ``SparsePanels`` implementation is unchanged (e.g. not using BlockManager, needs work)

- added ``ftypes`` method to Series/DataFame, similar to ``dtypes``, but indicates
  if the underlying is sparse/dense (as well as the dtype)
- All ``NDFrame`` objects now have a ``_prop_attributes``, which can be used to indcated various
  values to propogate to a new object from an existing (e.g. name in ``Series`` will follow
  more automatically now)
- Internal type checking is now done via a suite of generated classes, allowing ``isinstance(value, klass)``
  without having to directly import the klass, courtesy of @jtratner
- Bug in Series update where the parent frame is not updating its cache based on
  changes (:issue:`4080`) or types (:issue:`3217`), fillna (:issue:`3386`)
- Indexing with dtype conversions fixed (:issue:`4463`, :issue:`4204`)
- Refactor ``Series.reindex`` to core/generic.py (:issue:`4604`, :issue:`4618`), allow ``method=`` in reindexing
  on a Series to work
- ``Series.copy`` no longer accepts the ``order`` parameter and is now consistent with ``NDFrame`` copy
- Refactor ``rename`` methods to core/generic.py; fixes ``Series.rename`` for (:issue:`4605`), and adds ``rename``
  with the same signature for ``Panel``
- Refactor ``clip`` methods to core/generic.py (:issue:`4798`)
- Refactor of ``_get_numeric_data/_get_bool_data`` to core/generic.py, allowing Series/Panel functionaility
- ``Series`` (for index) / ``Panel`` (for items) now allow attribute access to its elements  (:issue:`1903`)

  .. ipython:: python

     s = Series([1,2,3],index=list('abc'))
     s.b
     s.a = 5
     s

Bug Fixes
~~~~~~~~~

See :ref:`V0.13.0 Bug Fixes<release.bug_fixes-0.13.0>` for an extensive list of bugs that have been fixed in 0.13.0.

See the :ref:`full release notes
<release>` or issue tracker
on GitHub for a complete list of all API changes, Enhancements and Bug Fixes.