Text tool or dynamic tool

Hello Alteryx Community,

I'm currently working on an Alteryx workflow and need some assistance. My goal is to create a dynamic search feature where, upon entering a name in a textbox or dynamic field, the workflow will retrieve all related data associated with that person from a dataset. The challenge is that the name could be present in any column, not just a specific one.

For instance, if I input the name "Peter H.," the workflow should search across all columns and, if found, it should

display the corresponding 'Req ID' and other related details from those rows.

Here's a brief overview of what my dataset looks like:

(attaching the ss)

I am seeking guidance on how to structure this workflow to effectively search across multiple columns and pull all relevant information based on the input name. Any insights, tools, or functions within Alteryx that could facilitate this would be highly appreciated.

Thank you all

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ed_hayter

Hopefully this gets you started. I've used pivots to search across multiple columns. What probably could still be improved is that we are searching for Peter H. or whatever is put into the text box, but this does not capture the alternative version of the name hpeter

I think maybe turning this into a dropdown of all the names and then finding the alternative version of the name and then looking for ReqIDs with either of those would be good next steps but I've got this one a s a basic one to start off.

Search Multiple Columns.yxzp

SahilArora3139

Thank you so much for the help but i have one question

We have used filter tool for peter H

but if i have 20 names

i have to enter 20 names in filter box?

and how that will be applied on action button as well?

SahilArora3139

Thats right.

i think drop down will resolve our case to enter the names in filter tool again and again

can you help me how to configure dropdown tool please.

how will drop down work if i have to enter

names like

Peter H.

Ryne S.

Hu Q.

etc

thank you so much.

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SahilArora3139

@ed_hayter let me know if you can help me with this drop down as well. I appreciate the guidance and help

thank you so much

alexnajm

Instead of the Contains statement in the filter, I would do [Value] IN (“Placeholder”)

In the Action tool then, you’ll select this statement and then at the bottom, select “Replace a specific String” and only keep “Placeholder” in there.

Lastly your Drop Down tool would have the list of people, but you need to select “Generate List” option rather than the “Select Tool Mode”

SahilArora3139

Thank you so much.

@alexnajm But,
I have made the changes to my workflow

Except for the third one. As i am unable to see the dropdown list of the people in my drop down tool.

please find the attached ss for your reference

840D2AB8-3EFD-4F3A-94BE-1DF366828853.jpeg

1D6DB182-3E34-46FD-8AEE-BBFC10A14172.jpeg

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alexnajm

Make sure to keep the quotes with the “Replace a Specific String”! (only do this if you end up doing the List Box option) And then for your drop down, you can do the manual option instead of “Field Types” - then you just type out the names with one per line.

SahilArora3139

@alexnajm

for replace a specific string

i have mentioned

“Placeholder”

and for drop down

i have selected

attached option still unable to see the names

you mentioned- just type out the names with one per line - you mean where? And how ?

doubt2: as with text box cross tab tool showed two results why with drop down i am unable to see any record output with summarize tool or cross tab or join tool?

and if possible i request if can you just configured the above workflow till summarize. For more clarity .

i apologise for confusion.

C36A3379-3CB6-4152-B8EA-A67551B8E1D5.jpeg

alexnajm

You have to type out the names in that big white box section once you select the “manual” option. See attached based off of @ed_hayter 's workflow.

It’s not going to produce any output since the Filter is configured to keep “Placeholder” - if you want a regular value, you can keep ANY value there in that filter. You just also have to change the “Replace a Specific String” to that new value as well

Search Multiple Columns.yxzp

ed_hayter

I went with contains as we have the name in the notes column that includes a time stamp and a name attached. You could also split the notes column and use the [Value] IN approach but opted for contains for simplicity and to ensure we did not miss cases that only are listed in the notes.

I've gone ahead and made a dropdown list that is generated from names in specific fields (so not very dynamic I've picked the ones with Names in them).

You could also add some complexity by when they selecting a name in the dropdown you generate the alternate name format to search as well. I was previously trying to keep the solution simple. But I have attached a workflow that populates a name dropdown from fields that at the moment are manually inputted but we could potentially use Regex_match to identify fields that are valid by looking at the count of matches in a field for a name structure if it matches the count of all the data then its a name only field. I have parsed the notes section into notes timestamp and notes after time stamp for a sole name in there and also built in logic to look for the alternative name structure.

Search Multiple Columns.yxzp

SahilArora3139

@ed_hayter Can you please share for drop down list too?

i tried so many times but it is not working for me i am not able to get any output.

ed_hayter

The drop down list is in the flow - we summarize the names twice pivot wide and use a dynamic rename to correct names that change due to the pivotting. We then add that to the top of the drop down interface tool and it will populate the dropdown with the fields (which are named after the names)

SahilArora3139

Thank you so much

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