User Workflow Constant Update

could this entry be reading an excel file for example?

Hi @geraldo

Unfortunately, the workflow is huge and complicated so it would not make sense to rebuild it. Also, we don't want to hook up all the changes to the specific locations where the user workflow constant is being used. We want to see if there's a way to use the iterative macro as a replacement of the user workflow constant so that we can run the workflow through the number of years indicated via the user workflow constant.

Thanks,

kwl

I would need to have an example of how the workflow that makes the first activation is, without this it is difficult to identify which is the best solution for your problem

@geraldo

Here's a sample example. While this is just a simple example, you can tell that it can get quick intricate to replace everything manually if you already have a workflow setup to depend on the user workflow constant.

We just want to figure out a way to update the user workflow constant in the Workflow configuration from the canvas so that we don't have to update the value at every single location.

Appreciate your help.

Thanks,

kwl

Sample Workflow.yxzp

Could this sample stream instead of yxmd become batch macro yxmc?

and this iterative macro that you created could not pass a parameter to this workflow, but it would become a batch macro.

I made a change in the workflow parameters and in the filter tool

\Just an idea to generate several years

Sample Workflow2.yxmd

flying008

Hi, @knnwndlm

IMHO, The user workflow constant only must be modify by manual input. so maybe you need to use a batch macro or append parameters.

@geraldo - While the workflow does what I want, it doesn't change the user workflow constant - something that needs to be updated.

@flying008 - From my research, it looks like this is the only way to do it. Perhaps, I can set a user workflow to one year and create another variable to enable the Batch Macro to do this.

Thank you Both!

How is this flow executed?
Does it run on the server?
Depending on how it is executed, you can make this first flow an app and pass a parameter to it.

@geraldo - The workflow runs on a desktop. We thought about creating an app to get the parameters pass through; however, we don't want to hook up at each node where the parameters occur - way too many. That's why we want to update the user workflow constant. One way I thought of doing this is to leave the user workflow constant alone and create a batch macro that takes a list of years and months to run through workflow to append the results. I'm re-learning the Batch Macro again as I keep forgetting how to use it. Thank you much!

I thought I didn't want to turn the first stream into a batch macro. This makes changing parameters very simple.
good luck

Thank you @geraldo

@geraldo - Since I have two values to send to the Batch Macro - Year (From/To) and Month (Current - otherwise 12 months) - do I have to create two columns for the Year and incorporate the month into a formula? In other words, for the Year, do I have to create one called Name and the other value - both of which just pick up the year such as Year1 = 2015 and Year2 = 2016? In other words, can I leave it as one column with the year and feed it into the Batch Macro?

@geraldo - Is there a way that I can use the Formula tool to update the user workflow constant? I can update a current field or create a new one to pick up the user workflow constant, but it's unclear how I can set up the user workflow constant to pick up a designated value. I kept going in circle, but at the end, I still need to update the user workflow constant. For example, if I have the user workflow constant set at 2023 for Year, I would need to somehow update User.Year with the input value from the Numeric Up Down tool. Right now, I can only set the [Year] = ToNumber("%User.Year%") but not the other way around.

ChrisTX

You cannot update the value of a User Constant.

I only use User Constants when I'm certain the values will be relatively static, like OutputFolder or OutputFileName, never for something like a Year or Date parameter.

You need a Global Value that you can update easily, and use easily in many places. That's not something you can do in one place, without getting the updated value from a Formula tool or a batch macro input parameter, and "touching" each place you need to use that value. (touching with a tool like an Append)

One option would be to review the actual XML of your main workflow... open the YXMD file in Notepad or Notepad++ and find the section for <Constants>

Create a new workflow that reads in your main workflow as a CSV file, no Delimiters, no field names on first row.

Then use Alteryx tools to update the XML for the main workflow: change the Constant value found in a line like this: <Value>XYZ</Value>

Then save the updated XML file.

Then call the main workflow using one of the CReW Runner macros. Or try Chained Apps.

This is a risky approach, so make sure you have backups.

Long term, suggest you re-design your main workflow to not use User Constants for things like Date or Year parameters, if you want to automate updating those values.

XML file:

Read in YXMD file as a CSV file, no Delimiter

Chris

User Constant.yxzp

@geraldo - I couldn't agree with you more. I wouldn't have built the workflow the way it was built. Unfortunately, it was out of my hands, and it's way too complicated to fix the workflow or have the many touching points with a macro - and I don't have the liberty to do so. I believe this workflow was built when the group was still in its infancy without any knowledge on using macros and analytic apps. In any case, here's what I'm trying to now with the attached workflow as an example. I'll work on an iterative macro to build out a table of current month/year and end year based on input. Then, using the table to feed into the batch macro by changing the user workflow constants. The batch macro will output the end results by grouping the year. I'll play around with the suggestions made @ChrisTX .

@ChrisTX - Thank you. Will give it a try.

Sample workflow with constant.yxzp

@geraldo - What if I use the user workflow constants as a starting point meaning the user.year is the current year and user.month the current month? The user is responsible to update the user workflow constants manually. Then create a control parameter table to go from the current year/month to a specified year such as 2015/12. Feed this into the upside down question in the batch macro with the big workflow attached to the other anchor to run through the batch macro to get the appended outputs. I'm modifying the iterative macro you had helped me before to see if I can get this to work. Many thanks!

@geraldo - This is my attempt at creating an iterative macro for the control parameter table. I kept getting an error at generating the rows. Could you please help me take a look? Thanks!

Iterative Macro Example.yxzp

dho111

I would take a step back and rebuild the workflow if possible. First create the user input in a Text Input tool then append the fields to the dataset. That way the user can easily find and update the Year. If you need to turn this into an app/macro, you can easily update the value in the user input fields.

I can't tell how complex is your workflow. I just used Find "%User.Year%" and Replace ALL [User_Year]. Hope this helps.

Sample Workflow3.yxmd

aren't these 2 parentheses
remove 1 of them

@dho111 - In the Find/Replace tool, I don't have the options to write out the expression %User.Year%. Everything's in a dropdown. Don't see the Search Location and Replacement where I can write a full expression. I'm using version 2023.1.1.123 - about to upgrade to the one that was released yesterday.

@geraldo - I did remove one of the parenthesis but still got an error. Didn't like the reference to the user workflow constants.