# Work with feature lists
URL: https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html

> Describes how to work with feature lists, which control the subset of features that DataRobot uses to build models.

# Work with feature lists

Feature lists control the subset of features that DataRobot uses to build models. You can use one of the [automatically created lists](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#automatically-created-feature-lists) or manually add features from the [Data](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#create-feature-lists-from-the-data-page) page or the [menu](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#create-feature-lists-from-the-menu). You can also [review, rename, and delete](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#feature-lists-tab) (some) feature lists. The list used for modeling is called the default modeling feature list. That is, it is the feature list selected when you clicked the Start button.

If you don't override the selection, DataRobot uses either of the following lists to build models:

- All features that provide information potentially valuable for modeling (the Informative Features list).
- All features that provide information potentially valuable for modeling with any feature(s) at risk of causing target leakage removed (the Informative Features - Leakage Removed list).

You can select features to create a new feature list, before or after [EDA2](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/reference/data-ref/eda-explained.html). The target feature is automatically added to every feature list. Once created, the new list becomes available in the Feature List dropdown. DataRobot highlights the active list, which controls the display of features on the page, in blue.

Note that the Project Data tab defaults to showing All Features, which is not actually a feature list but instead a way to view every feature in the dataset.

## Select a feature list

To use a feature list other than the list assigned by DataRobot, select the list to use as the default modeling list from the Feature List dropdown.

To select a different feature list:

1. Scroll down to theProject Datatab. By default, the All Features list displays.
2. Click theFeature Listdropdown menu and select a new feature list (Informative Features in this example) list. The Informative Features list displays below theStartbutton.

## Create feature lists

If you do not want to use one of the [automatically created](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/reference/pred-ai-ref/custom-list-ref.html#automatically-created-feature-lists) feature lists, you can create customized feature lists and train your models on them to see if they yield a better model. You can create these lists from the Data page or the menu. Additionally, you can create lists based on feature impact from the [Feature Impact](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/analyze-models/understand/feature-impact-classic.html#create-a-new-feature-list) tab, including lists with redundant features removed. You can later [manage these lists](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#manage-feature-lists) from the Feature Lists tab.

For more information on creating custom feature lists, see the [Feature lists](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/reference/pred-ai-ref/custom-list-ref.html) reference page.

### Filter and select by var type

Filter and select features by variable data type.

1. ClickMenuon the top left of theProject Datatab and clickSelect features by var type.
2. Add or remove features using the check boxes to the left of the feature names.
3. Click+ Create feature listand enter the new feature list name to save your custom feature list.

## Feature Lists tab

The Feature Lists tab of the Data page provides a mechanism for managing feature lists. It provides a summary (name, number of features, number of models, created date, and description) of DataRobot-created and custom feature lists and allows you to [delete](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#delete-feature-lists) or [rename](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#edit-feature-list-names-and-descriptions) (some) lists to help avoid clutter and confusion. A lock( [https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/images/icon-lock.png](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/images/icon-lock.png)) next to the name indicates the list cannot be [deleted](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#delete-feature-lists).

After building models, the list includes additional automatically created lists (1) as well as any custom lists (2):

## Manage feature lists

DataRobot provides several tools for working with feature lists. Depending on how the list was created (automatically by DataRobot or manually by a user), or whether it has been used to create models on your Leaderboard, the actions may behave differently:

The following table describes the actions:

| Icon | Description |
| --- | --- |
|  | Exports features that are part of the selected list as a CSV file. |
|  | Opens the selected feature list on the Project Data tab. |
|  | Provides a dialog to let you edit the list name and/or description. (Automatically created feature lists cannot be renamed although the description can be changed.)* |
|  | Restarts Autopilot using the selected feature list.* |
| or | Deletes the selected list (or indicates it cannot be deleted). Automatically created feature lists cannot be deleted.* |

* You must have [User-level](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/reference/misc-ref/roles-permissions.html#project-roles) or above project access to delete or rename feature lists, as well as to restart Autopilot.

> [!TIP] Tip
> You cannot add or remove features from a feature list. Instead, create a new feature list with all desired features.

### Delete feature lists

Deleting a feature list also deletes any models in the project that were built with that list. Only custom feature lists can be deleted (no [https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/images/icon-lock.png](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/images/icon-lock.png) next to the name). If you click to delete a custom feature list that has been used for modeling, DataRobot warns with the number of models impacted:

You cannot use the delete function if the feature list is:

- An automatically created list.
- The default modeling list for the project.
- Configured as a monotonic constraint feature list for the project.
- Used as the input feature list to create the modeling dataset for a time series project.
- Used in a model deployment (the model and its feature lists cannot be deleted until after the deployments are deleted).

## Edit names and descriptions

When creating a [custom feature list](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/classic-ui/modeling/build-models/build-basic/feature-lists.html#create-feature-lists-from-the-data-page), you simply name the list in the initial dialog. From the Feature Lists tab you can append a description to the list. To add that description, or edit an existing description, highlight the list and click the pencil icon ( [https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/images/icon-rename.png](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/images/icon-rename.png)).

You can change a description, but not a name, for a DataRobot-created list.

## Rerun Autopilot on a feature list

After you build your models, you rerun Autopilot from the Feature Lists tab. This is helpful if you customized a feature list after running Autopilot and want to generate additional models.

> [!NOTE] Note
> If you restart while models are building for the project, DataRobot halts the feature list that is currently running (i.e., stops building new models with it) and restarts Autopilot, from the beginning, using the selected list.
> 
> This is the same action as rerunning Autopilot from the [Configure modeling settings](https://docs.datarobot.com/en/docs/reference/pred-ai-ref/worker-queue.html#restart-a-model-build) link available in the right-panel Worker Queue.

To rerun Autopilot with a custom feature list:

1. Create a custom feature list.
2. On theDatatab, click theFeature Liststab.
3. Click the menu to the right of the feature list you want to use to build new models and selectRerun Autopilot.
4. In theRerun Modelingwindow, select theModeling modeand clickRerun.

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