Passing User Prompted Variables to Output Path

Hello everyone. I am trying to figure out where in my workflow I need to place tools that will allow me to pass user prompted variables to my output path.

For example, the final output path needs to be BOOK_ABC_1234_CASH_062718, with the variables being 1234 and the date at the end, 062718.

I tried to use a Text Input Tool/Action Tool/Output Tool combination, but this is not working. When the user runs the workflow, I would like for them to be prompted for the values that need to go in the 1234 section, and the date section at the end.

Workflow

Accepted answers

mbarone

Hi Robert,

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, wouldn't the attached work? Basically you just want to update a couple strings the final output path, with user-entered strings; no?

YXWZ1.yxwz

mbarone

Opps - wait - forgot to adjust my Action tool. The YXWZ I attached will be fine, but go into the Action tool. Right now, the "@MaxRecords" is the field that I had selected. You'll want to change that to the "File" field. Meaning just click on the the first highlighted line in my picture below.

All comments

patrick_digan

@robertfishel I think this post from yesterday is a similar question and I provided a couple good solutions. Try looking through that and seeing if you can apply it to your situation. If you want the user to be prompted, that is done through interface tools in alteryx. For the 1234 you would need a text box interface tool. For the date at the end, you could use a text box tool or a date tool.

Once you have your two interface tools added to your canvas, there are a few different methods to "pass" that data to your output tool. The standard method is using action tools. So you would connect the interface tool to the action tool to the output tool. I assume you can use the community and the help docs if you need to learn the basics of using action tools.

I prefer a different method called reference shortcuts where you don't need action tools. I find it easier to test and debug. I demonstrated both the action tool and reference shortcuts in the post i mentioned.

Post back here if you get stuck along the way!

DavidP

I think this will do what you want.

user defined output file path.png

robertfishel

patrick_digan, DavidP

I am not getting this, after spending most of yesterday

sad homer2.PNG

I am a visual person, so I wrote out on paper what I "think" it is that I am supposed to be doing. Am I missing a step?

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