Analytic app should run based on date filter

[hansfinesse]

Hi guys,

I have an analytic app in which the user enters a budget file and then the workflow should check whether the file is entered on a date which is less than a specific date. If date<specific date then the app should run another analytic app else it should ask the user some questions regarding why the file was uploaded late.

Also I want to make dynamic selections based on the output of the filter tool but all the app selections are coming on the same app page.

How do we achieve this in alteryx dynamically?

[Carlithian]

So it sounds like you are wanting to set up a chained app, but the workflow would take you one of two routes. So you need to have two additional workflows in the package (one for each of the interface options)

At run time you rename the workflow that you want to call based of the logic check, to align with the name of the assigned chained app.

[hansfinesse]

@Carlithian Could you please show how to achieve this? I tried the way you mentioned but I want the dropdown and text box to come after the workflow has checked the filter condition and not in the same page.

[mceleavey]

Hi @hansfinesse ,

as @Carlithian says you are looking at Chained Apps. This is where a second app runs on completion of the first. However, you are also looking to chain to a different app based upon logic.

To do this, you will need to amend the app to which the first one will change, but this is not possible as you must hardcode the name of the second app into the Interface Designer. However, there are always ways around this. 

To do this, the best way is to create two apps, one which will be for when the date is before and one where it is after (for example). Save these apps as Template 1 and Template 2.

In you first app you will always chain to App 2. In you first app, load in one of these templates as a Flat ASCII file and save it as App 2. Overwrite the input path to load in the required Template based upon logic. Save this as App 2, to which you will then chain. This makes the app essentially dynamic.

This is too complex to build here, but reach out if you need any additional help (DM me).

Start by reading the following resources on Chained Apps:

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Interactive-Lessons/Chaining-Analytic-Apps/ta-p/243120

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Videos/Building-Chained-Apps/td-p/823431

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works/Dynamic-Hard-Coding-Chained-App-Sorcery/ba-p/764585

I hope this helps.

M.

[Carlithian]

This is quite a complex process, so I'm attaching some links that will explain the chaining process better than I can here.

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Interactive-Lessons/Chaining-Analytic-Apps/ta-p/243120#done

https://www.thedataschool.co.uk/brian-scally/chaining-apps-in-alteryx/

Since this is a new process for you I recommend taking it in steps.

1. Have a workflow that pull in the input file, this should chain to a second workflow that allows the user to select an entity from the data in this file

2. Have that same initial workflow chain to a second workflow that asks for the reason

3. build the logic to switch between the two options for the secondary workflow

I hope this helps, if you can get chaining apps down you unlock so much with Alteryx

[hansfinesse]

@Carlithian Can a single app chain to multiple apps? I can only see one workflow chained to another app in the interface designer.

[Carlithian]

@hansfinesse 

We can make it work with some shannangans. 

For ease, the starting process is A, and the two potential follows ups are B and C. A is configured to have a chained app, this is blank and will be reffered to as Z, and on this given run the correct follow up is C.

Idea One 

Use command line to rename the files, so C is renamed to Z and Z is given a dud name. So when Z is called it is actully the C file. 

You would need to include logic in C and B to reset the names, this could be messy 

Idea Two 

Use two input tools in workflow A to bring in the XML of B and C. During the run overwrite the XML of Z with C. This way when Z is called it has the functionality of C

Hope this helps