Browse to Input

Question

Totally random logistical question but why can't a Browse tool become an Input tool - or a Macro Input (for development/debug purposes)? Obviously we can get around this by creating an output at that point in a workflow and turning that into an input as needed but I'm just curious why the direct functionality isn't there. Kind of like how I wish Union (specifically by name) had field mapping optionality.

apathetichell · Answer

for UNION - The functionality to manually map one field to another - especially in cases where the field names are similar by not exactly the same like say "sum_expenses" and "sum expenses" on auto-configure by name.

Yeah- I did realize that this entire thread should have been in ideas instead of discussion.

danilang · Answer

Hi @apathetichell

When you say

Kind of like how I wish Union (specifically by name) had field mapping optionality.

Are you referring to a combination of the functionality contained in the Auto Configure by Name and Manually Configure Fields options in the Union tool?  I'm asking because the Manual option already lines up matching columns and allows you to move the rest manually.

Dan

Emil_Kos · Answer

Hi @apathetichell,

I think you can already do it with some clicking. This is the output from the browse tool. Copy everything to the clipboard

Click on the canvas and use a shortcut(ctrl +v) or right-click to paste the data from the clipboard. Thanks to that you will get get the text input tool which you can later use for your testing:

If you think it can be improved you can share your suggestions in the ideas section:

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/*/idb-p/product-ideas