Dynamic input - connecting to databases

Question

Hey everyone, had a question about connecting to databases.

we are seeing alot of scenarios where the connection string server details keep changing over 3-6 months. now since, the workflows have the connection details hardcoded in the dynamic input, we have to keep making the change to string manually.

is there a way to direct the workflow to a location and pick up the connection string from the mentioned location.

options tried:
we tried using the interface tools, text input but in that scenario the end user will have to manually update the string, is there any other way?

olimpio · Answer

Hey Thanks for responding,

we used a different approach, using a drop down interface tool we connected an excel file which stores the connection string to the data base. and picks it up on running the workflow as an analytical applcation

FrederikE · Answer

Like @davidskaife  explained it could work. A better idea might be to solve it with a normal App. You can use any regular Output of a tool to connect it to a dropdown Interface tool and feed the values in there. The user will end up with the selection options coming directly from the tool.

See the attached approach. Changing a Filter based on a dropdown depending on the input.

New Workflow4.yxwz

davidskaife · Answer

Hi @olimpio

You can turn the input into a macro, and dynamically feed in the connection string as part of the control parameter - there is a community post here that has a similar use case (cycling through a list of connections, but the theory should be the same) which might be of help - https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Dynamic-Data-Connections/td-p/506853