Adding columns before a specific columns

[DanielCarro]

Hi,

I need some guidance/advice to approach this task on alteryx.

I have a range of columns from A:CL but columns  A:X can have more columns to be added and require the rest of columns to move to the right.

For example:

COL X	COL Y	COL Z
Pension	ER Pension	Employee ID
10.36	25.36	123
15.69	28.96	456

But if there are any new column updates, these shall need to be taken into account and Col Z to move right.

Expected Result:

COL X	COL Y	COL Z	COL AA	COL AB
Pension	ER Pension	Car App	Car Mileage	Employee ID
10.36	25.36	5.69	5.9	123
15.69	28.96	8.699	5.2	456

Note: Columns from AB to the end always remain the same, just the middle data is 'dynamic'

Kind Regards,

Dan

[DataNath]

Hey @DanielCarro, I'm not sure I'm following the logic properly as the provided desired output doesn't seem to follow this i.e. Col Z doesn't move right as you state. However, I just thought I'd show an example of how you can set up your workflow to accommodate for new fields in a certain position.

The first time you run your workflow with the base order, i.e. fields that will always be there, bring on a select tool like so and move the [*Unknown] field to where you want new fields to be inserted on the next/future runs:

Now, if I do another run and add in two more fields, they'll appear where these previously unknown fields are according to the Select position i.e. before COL Z:

I know the order is different in your example i.e. Z before AA/AB but this shows the functionality in telling Alteryx where to place future/unseen fields.

[DanielCarro]

Hi DataNath,

The columns which are added could be two or more, I will never know. And Col Z always will move to the right, so from Z to CA (these columns are always the same but still need to be shifted to the right as per the new columns are added)

[DataNath]

@DanielCarro ok, so can you try what I've mentioned above and just move the [*Unknown] to above COL Z?

[DanielCarro]

Sorry, forgot to mention that from columns Z towards the right it has formulas in place which need to be in place

[DataNath]

@DanielCarro can you please post a more comprehensive sample of what you're starting with, what can possibly come in as new fields and where you'd expect them to end up then? Thanks

[DanielCarro]

@DataNath, so we have a spreadsheet which has data from columns A:Y and there could be me more column/-s added, but from columns Z onwards up to CY there are columns which have columns which are unique and don't change, but these have formulas which extract data from columns A:Y. I hope this clarifies.

I think I need to use a blob section to retain the formulas