Read Only Specific fields from Fixed file

Hey Guys, I have an fixed position file as below. From position 1 to 5 some Id, and I have to ignore next 5 characters and position 11 to 15 I have name and again I have to ignore next 5 characters and again I have to read the data. Basically we will accomplish the same in SAS as below

@01 ID $CHAR5.

@11 NAME $CHAR5.

@21 LNAME $CHAR5.

Sample Data

12345XXXXXNAME1XXXXLNAME

54321XXXXXNAME1XXXXLNAME

So how to read similarly in Alteryx

Developer

Data Investigation

Accepted answers

echuong1

You can use regex to achieve this! See attached for an example.

I essentially set it up to take the first 5 characters, skip 5 characters, take the next 5, skip 4, then the last 5.

New Workflow1.yxmd

All comments

afv2688

Hello @cetricelaens,

If you are reading a txt file you can indeed read fixed delimited width columns:

Sin título.png

This should do the trick, if not, you can also use the substring function in the formula tool to achieve it.

Regards

echuong1

You can use regex to achieve this! See attached for an example.

I essentially set it up to take the first 5 characters, skip 5 characters, take the next 5, skip 4, then the last 5.

New Workflow1.yxmd

RolandSchubert

Hi @cetricelaens ,

you can read the file as a "Fixed Width Text File":

You have to select the start of each field visually, fields are created between the selected positions (or last selected position and end of line):

Within the visual field editor, you can change the field names (e.g. "ID" instead of "Field_1":

To remove the fields you do not need, add a select tool and uncheck the selection for the fields you do not need:

I've attached a sample workflow, hope this is helpful.

Best,

Roland

FixedWidth.yxzp

Quick Links

This months top contributors

atcodedog05 19458

Qiu 15866

binu_acs 15708

MarqueeCrew 13708

apathetichell 13703