python - Using Merge on a column and Index in Pandas

Question

I have two separate dataframes that share a project number. In type_df, the project number is the index. In time_df, the project number is a column. I would like to count the number of rows in type_df that have a Project Type of 2. I am trying to do this with pandas.merge(). It works great when using both columns, but not indices. I'm not sure how to reference the index and if merge is even the right way to do this.

import pandas as pd
type_df = pd.DataFrame(data = [['Type 1'], ['Type 2']], 
                       columns=['Project Type'], 
                       index=['Project2', 'Project1'])
time_df = pd.DataFrame(data = [['Project1', 13], ['Project1', 12], 
                               ['Project2', 41]], 
                       columns=['Project', 'Time'])
merged = pd.merge(time_df,type_df, on=[index,'Project'])
print merged[merged['Project Type'] == 'Type 2']['Project Type'].count()

Error:

Name 'Index' is not defined.

Desired Output:

2

Answer 1

If you want to use an index in your merge you have to specify left_index=True or right_index=True, and then use left_on or right_on. For you it should look something like this:

merged = pd.merge(type_df, time_df, left_index=True, right_on='Project')