ENH: Allow rename_axis to specify index and columns arguments

doc/source/advanced.rst

@@ -503,6 +503,47 @@ method, allowing you to permute the hierarchical index levels in one step:
 
    df[:5].reorder_levels([1,0], axis=0)
 
+.. _advanced.index_names:
+
+Renaming names of an ``Index`` or ``MultiIndex``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The :meth:`~DataFrame.rename` method is used to rename the labels of a
+``MultiIndex``, and is typically used to rename the columns of a ``DataFrame``.
+The ``columns`` argument of ``rename`` allows a dictionary to be specified
+that includes only the columns you wish to rename.
+
+.. ipython:: python
+
+   df.rename(columns={0: "col0", 1: "col1"})
+
+This method can also be used to rename specific labels of the main index
+of the ``DataFrame``.
+
+.. ipython:: python
+
+   df.rename(index={"one" : "two", "y" : "z"})
+
+The :meth:`~DataFrame.rename_axis` method is used to rename the name of a
+``Index`` or ``MultiIndex``. In particular, the names of the levels of a
+``MultiIndex`` can be specified, which is useful if ``reset_index()`` is later
+used to move the values from the ``MultiIndex`` to a column.
+
+.. ipython:: python
+
+   df.rename_axis(index=['abc', 'def'])
+
+Note that the columns of a ``DataFrame`` are an index, so that using
+``rename_axis`` with the ``columns`` argument will change the name of that
+index.
+
+.. ipython:: python
+
+   df.rename_axis(columns="Cols").columns
+
+Both ``rename`` and ``rename_axis`` support specifying a dictionary,
+``Series`` or a mapping function to map labels/names to new values.
+
 Sorting a ``MultiIndex``
 ------------------------
 

doc/source/basics.rst

@@ -1466,8 +1466,21 @@ for altering the ``Series.name`` attribute.
 
 .. _basics.rename_axis:
 
-The Panel class has a related :meth:`~Panel.rename_axis` class which can rename
-any of its three axes.
+.. versionadded:: 0.24.0
+
+The methods :meth:`~DataFrame.rename_axis` and :meth:`~Series.rename_axis`
+allow specific names of a `MultiIndex` to be changed (as opposed to the
+labels).
+
+.. ipython:: python
+
+   df = pd.DataFrame({'x': [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6],
+                      'y': [10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60]},
+                     index=pd.MultiIndex.from_product([['a', 'b', 'c'], [1, 2]],
+                     names=['let', 'num']))
+   df
+   df.rename_axis(index={'let': 'abc'})
+   df.rename_axis(index=str.upper)
 
 .. _basics.iteration:
 

doc/source/whatsnew/v0.24.0.txt

@@ -180,6 +180,29 @@ array, but rather an ``ExtensionArray``:
 This is the same behavior as ``Series.values`` for categorical data. See
 :ref:`whatsnew_0240.api_breaking.interval_values` for more.
 
+.. _whatsnew_0240.enhancements.rename_axis:
+
+Renaming names in a MultiIndex
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+:func:`DataFrame.rename_axis` now supports ``index`` and ``columns`` arguments
+and :func:`Series.rename_axis` supports ``index`` argument (:issue:`19978`)
+
+This change allows a dictionary to be passed so that some of the names 
+of a ``MultiIndex`` can be changed.
+
+Example:
+
+.. ipython:: python
+
+    mi = pd.MultiIndex.from_product([list('AB'), list('CD'), list('EF')],
+                                    names=['AB', 'CD', 'EF'])
+    df = pd.DataFrame([i for i in range(len(mi))], index=mi, columns=['N'])
+    df
+    df.rename_axis(index={'CD': 'New'})
+
+See the :ref:`advanced docs on renaming<advanced.index_names>` for more details.
+
 .. _whatsnew_0240.enhancements.other:
 
 Other Enhancements

pandas/core/common.py

@@ -454,3 +454,21 @@ def _pipe(obj, func, *args, **kwargs):
         return func(*args, **kwargs)
     else:
         return func(obj, *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+def _get_rename_function(mapper):
+    """
+    Returns a function that will map names/labels, dependent if mapper
+    is a dict, Series or just a function.
+    """
+    if isinstance(mapper, (compat.Mapping, ABCSeries)):
+
+        def f(x):
+            if x in mapper:
+                return mapper[x]
+            else:
+                return x
+    else:
+        f = mapper
+
+    return f

pandas/core/generic.py

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 from pandas.core.ops import _align_method_FRAME
 import pandas.core.nanops as nanops
 from pandas.util._decorators import (Appender, Substitution,
+                                     rewrite_axis_style_signature,
                                      deprecate_kwarg)
 from pandas.util._validators import validate_bool_kwarg, validate_fillna_kwargs
 from pandas.core import config
@@ -1080,20 +1081,6 @@ def rename(self, *args, **kwargs):
         if com.count_not_none(*axes.values()) == 0:
             raise TypeError('must pass an index to rename')
 
-        # renamer function if passed a dict
-        def _get_rename_function(mapper):
-            if isinstance(mapper, (dict, ABCSeries)):
-
-                def f(x):
-                    if x in mapper:
-                        return mapper[x]
-                    else:
-                        return x
-            else:
-                f = mapper
-
-            return f
-
         self._consolidate_inplace()
         result = self if inplace else self.copy(deep=copy)
 
@@ -1102,7 +1089,7 @@ def f(x):
             v = axes.get(self._AXIS_NAMES[axis])
             if v is None:
                 continue
-            f = _get_rename_function(v)
+            f = com._get_rename_function(v)
 
             baxis = self._get_block_manager_axis(axis)
             if level is not None:
@@ -1116,16 +1103,28 @@ def f(x):
         else:
             return result.__finalize__(self)
 
-    def rename_axis(self, mapper, axis=0, copy=True, inplace=False):
+    @rewrite_axis_style_signature('mapper', [('copy', True),
+                                             ('inplace', False)])
+    def rename_axis(self, mapper=None, **kwargs):
         """
-        Alter the name of the index or columns.
+        Alter the name of the index or name of Index object that is the
+        columns.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         mapper : scalar, list-like, optional
-            Value to set as the axis name attribute.
-        axis : {0 or 'index', 1 or 'columns'}, default 0
-            The index or the name of the axis.
+            Value to set the axis name attribute.
+        index, columns : scalar, list-like, dict-like or function, optional
+            dict-like or functions transformations to apply to
+            that axis' values.
+
+            Use either ``mapper`` and ``axis`` to
+            specify the axis to target with ``mapper``, or ``index``
+            and/or ``columns``.
+
+            .. versionchanged:: 0.24.0
+
+        axis : int or string, default 0
         copy : boolean, default True
             Also copy underlying data.
         inplace : boolean, default False
@@ -1144,6 +1143,23 @@ def rename_axis(self, mapper, axis=0, copy=True, inplace=False):
         deprecated and will be removed in a future version. Use ``rename``
         instead.
 
+        ``DataFrame.rename_axis`` supports two calling conventions
+
+        * ``(index=index_mapper, columns=columns_mapper, ...)``
+        * ``(mapper, axis={'index', 'columns'}, ...)``
+
+        The first calling convention will only modify the names of
+        the index and/or the names of the Index object that is the columns.
+        In this case, the parameter ``copy`` is ignored.
+
+        The second calling convention will modify the names of the
+        the corresponding index if mapper is a list or a scalar.
+        However, if mapper is dict-like or a function, it will use the
+        deprecated behavior of modifying the axis *labels*.
+
+        We *highly* recommend using keyword arguments to clarify your
+        intent.
+
         See Also
         --------
         pandas.Series.rename : Alter Series index labels or name
@@ -1177,20 +1193,94 @@ def rename_axis(self, mapper, axis=0, copy=True, inplace=False):
         0    1  4
         1    2  5
         2    3  6
-        """
+
+        >>> mi = pd.MultiIndex.from_product([['a', 'b', 'c'], [1, 2]],
+        ...                                 names=['let','num'])
+        >>> df = pd.DataFrame({'x': [i for i in range(len(mi))],
+        ...                    'y' : [i*10 for i in range(len(mi))]},
+        ...                    index=mi)
+        >>> df.rename_axis(index={'num' : 'n'})
+               x   y
+        let n
+        a   1  0   0
+            2  1  10
+        b   1  2  20
+            2  3  30
+        c   1  4  40
+            2  5  50
+
+        >>> cdf = df.rename_axis(columns='col')
+        >>> cdf
+        col      x   y
+        let num
+        a   1    0   0
+            2    1  10
+        b   1    2  20
+            2    3  30
+        c   1    4  40
+            2    5  50
+
+        >>> cdf.rename_axis(columns=str.upper)
+        COL      x   y
+        let num
+        a   1    0   0
+            2    1  10
+        b   1    2  20
+            2    3  30
+        c   1    4  40
+            2    5  50
+
+        """
+        axes, kwargs = self._construct_axes_from_arguments((), kwargs)
+        copy = kwargs.pop('copy', True)
+        inplace = kwargs.pop('inplace', False)
+        axis = kwargs.pop('axis', 0)
+        if axis is not None:
+            axis = self._get_axis_number(axis)
+
+        if kwargs:
+            raise TypeError('rename_axis() got an unexpected keyword '
+                            'argument "{0}"'.format(list(kwargs.keys())[0]))
+
         inplace = validate_bool_kwarg(inplace, 'inplace')
-        non_mapper = is_scalar(mapper) or (is_list_like(mapper) and not
-                                           is_dict_like(mapper))
-        if non_mapper:
-            return self._set_axis_name(mapper, axis=axis, inplace=inplace)
+
+        if (mapper is not None):
+            # Use v0.23 behavior if a scalar or list
+            non_mapper = is_scalar(mapper) or (is_list_like(mapper) and not
+                                               is_dict_like(mapper))
+            if non_mapper:
+                return self._set_axis_name(mapper, axis=axis, inplace=inplace)
+            else:
+                # Deprecated (v0.21) behavior is if mapper is specified,
+                # and not a list or scalar, then call rename
+                msg = ("Using 'rename_axis' to alter labels is deprecated. "
+                       "Use '.rename' instead")
+                warnings.warn(msg, FutureWarning, stacklevel=3)
+                axis = self._get_axis_name(axis)
+                d = {'copy': copy, 'inplace': inplace}
+                d[axis] = mapper
+                return self.rename(**d)
         else:
-            msg = ("Using 'rename_axis' to alter labels is deprecated. "
-                   "Use '.rename' instead")
-            warnings.warn(msg, FutureWarning, stacklevel=2)
-            axis = self._get_axis_name(axis)
-            d = {'copy': copy, 'inplace': inplace}
-            d[axis] = mapper
-            return self.rename(**d)
+            # Use new behavior.  Means that index and/or columns
+            # is specified
+            result = self if inplace else self.copy(deep=copy)
+
+            for axis in lrange(self._AXIS_LEN):
+                v = axes.get(self._AXIS_NAMES[axis])
+                if v is None:
+                    continue
+                non_mapper = is_scalar(v) or (is_list_like(v) and not
+                                              is_dict_like(v))
+                if non_mapper:
+                    newnames = v
+                else:
+                    f = com._get_rename_function(v)
+                    curnames = self._get_axis(axis).names
+                    newnames = [f(name) for name in curnames]
+                result._set_axis_name(newnames, axis=axis,
+                                      inplace=True)
+            if not inplace:
+                return result
 
     def _set_axis_name(self, name, axis=0, inplace=False):
         """

pandas/tests/frame/test_alter_axes.py

@@ -538,6 +538,52 @@ def test_rename_axis_warns(self):
             df['A'].rename_axis(id)
             assert 'rename' in str(w[0].message)
 
+    def test_rename_axis_mapper(self):
+        # GH 19978
+        mi = MultiIndex.from_product([['a', 'b', 'c'], [1, 2]],
+                                     names=['ll', 'nn'])
+        df = DataFrame({'x': [i for i in range(len(mi))],
+                        'y': [i * 10 for i in range(len(mi))]},
+                       index=mi)
+
+        # Test for rename of the Index object of columns
+        result = df.rename_axis('cols', axis=1)
+        tm.assert_index_equal(result.columns,
+                              Index(['x', 'y'], name='cols'))
+
+        # Test for rename of the Index object of columns using dict
+        result = result.rename_axis(columns={'cols': 'new'}, axis=1)
+        tm.assert_index_equal(result.columns,
+                              Index(['x', 'y'], name='new'))
+
+        # Test for renaming index using dict
+        result = df.rename_axis(index={'ll': 'foo'})
+        assert result.index.names == ['foo', 'nn']
+
+        # Test for renaming index using a function
+        result = df.rename_axis(index=str.upper, axis=0)
+        assert result.index.names == ['LL', 'NN']
+
+        # Test for renaming index providing complete list
+        result = df.rename_axis(index=['foo', 'goo'])
+        assert result.index.names == ['foo', 'goo']
+
+        # Test for changing index and columns at same time
+        sdf = df.reset_index().set_index('nn').drop(columns=['ll', 'y'])
+        result = sdf.rename_axis(index='foo', columns='meh')
+        assert result.index.name == 'foo'
+        assert result.columns.name == 'meh'
+
+        # Test different error cases
+        with tm.assert_raises_regex(TypeError, 'Must pass'):
+            df.rename_axis(index='wrong')
+
+        with tm.assert_raises_regex(ValueError, 'Length of names'):
+            df.rename_axis(index=['wrong'])
+
+        with tm.assert_raises_regex(TypeError, 'bogus'):
+            df.rename_axis(bogus=None)
+
     def test_rename_multiindex(self):
 
         tuples_index = [('foo1', 'bar1'), ('foo2', 'bar2')]

pandas/tests/io/test_pytables.py

@@ -1371,8 +1371,8 @@ def test_append_with_strings(self):
             with catch_warnings(record=True):
                 simplefilter("ignore", FutureWarning)
                 wp = tm.makePanel()
-                wp2 = wp.rename_axis(
-                    {x: "%s_extra" % x for x in wp.minor_axis}, axis=2)
+                wp2 = wp.rename(
+                    minor_axis={x: "%s_extra" % x for x in wp.minor_axis})
 
                 def check_col(key, name, size):
                     assert getattr(store.get_storer(key)