Action Tool - Split to rows

[Mario36]

Hi, I am using a 'Text Box' Tool to input multiline data. I want to know how the Action Tool can be configured to split this data into multiple rows. Currently, they are being embed within the same line.

[Mario36]

@DawnDuong 

Please see below, hope this explains why I cannot use the Text to Columns or Text Input Tool. 

I can create a wrapper around the macro and add a Control Parameter to connect the above tools, but I don't want to.

[DawnDuong]

hi @Mario36 

If you can share a bit more about what you want the macro to do, perhaps i can think with you to find a solution.

Currently, the macro is such that it does not have any macro input. Just curious, are you looking for the inputs to be entirely captured by the Text Box interface tool? 

Still not sure why you need a Control Parameter which is only needed for Batch macro. You can connect user input or other input to macro without a Control Parameter. Just take this case for example, it can be a standard macro (see attached).

I'm super curious what solution you are trying to achieve. Is it transforming the data (i.e. from 1 cell to multi rows) or to dynamically capture user input.

[apathetichell]

If you can post a sample workflow I can get you something - but basically you could always use a nest macro approach. interface takes in the text to column and sends to a new macro via control parameter that macro has control parameter, action tool and your macro. It feeds it into your macro via action tool from control parameter. I'm not quite sure why your macro is only taking in via action tool - but still - that should work.

[Mario36]

@DawnDuong 
I want to transform my data by splitting the contents in the cell to multiple rows and I want to know if this is achievable on the Action Tool or Not.

[Mario36]

@apathetichell  Like I mentioned earlier,
I wanted to know if the Action Tool can split a text in a cell to multiple rows or no.
I can revamp my macro to accommodate the Text To Columns Tool, but I don't want to use that tool.

[DawnDuong]

@Mario36 

I see, you are exploring what's possible with a specific tool without referring to an actual use case (i.e. trying to solve for an output from an input). 

I don't think you can use an Action tool (more correctly called an Action Interface Tool) without another tool such as Regex or Text to Columns to split a multi-line cell into multiple rows. But maybe there is a way that I am unaware of 🙂

Cheers,
Dawn.

[Mario36]

Yeah, you got me right. I am exploring the options.
I have a strong instinct that there should be a way, not sure if a RegEx would help.

[mceleavey · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mario36 ,

The answer here is "no". The text input field will always populate the first row, and works in conjunction with the text to columns or Regex tool to then split the subsequent results.

As @apathetichell points out, this is the most efficient way of doing it.

Technically you could do it by updating the XML from the Action tool, but this would be far less efficient and far more prone to error than the standard method.

The only way you could do it to directly update different rows would be to create the number of Text Inputs you want and have each assigned their own action tool to update a subsequent row.

This is far less efficient than the method already identified.

If you want the functionality included in the tool I would recommend raising it as an idea, but given the current method is so straightfoward I doubt the Devs are going to look at it.

M.

[Mario36]

@mceleavey  Makes sense. Thanks for your answer.