Auto Field Tool

Hi All,

I have been under the impression that the auto field tool acts as an auto fit tool for columns.. is this correct? If so, i have been trying to use it and have had no luck. I have followed about all guides in the community. Please let me know, thanks for the help

Optimization

Accepted answers

KOBoyle

When I have heard the term autofit with Excel and other tools, it refers to column width and adjusting the width so the widest value is visible. The Auto Field tool sets the smallest data type and field size. That is not the same thing. The purpose of the tool is to reduce resource consumption and improve workflow performance. In some cases it will also update a field initially interpreted as a string type to a numeric type. In your case it is simply shortening the string size as the number fields were interpreted correctly as Double. You can see this be clicking on Metadata in the Results pane. The Auto Field tool will not affect how Excel behaves.

Input Metadata

Auto Field 1 2018-11-2018.png

Auto Field Metadata

Auto Field 2 2018-11-2018.png

All comments

tcroberts

Yes, it chooses the smallest data type for each field in your data stream.

Could you provide some more information about what you're trying to do, the output you're getting, and what the issue is?

Cheers

AustinRiggs94

Alteryx Auto Field tool.JPG

Thanks for replying,

I have columns that contain both V_String and Double (see attached). What i would like is the output to have "autofitted" columns instead of me using a macro in Excel. However this the result i get when i use the auto field tool.

I am probably misusing the tool but wanted clarification, thanks.

Auto Field Tool Example Output.xlsx

Auto Field Tool Example.xlsx

siddharthsinghal01

Is there a way to extract/export the metadata output from the auto field tool?

Thanks is advance!

apathetichell

Field Info tool creates the metadata from the auto field tool in your workflow - note, it includes non-autofield types ie numeric types.

Quick Links

This months top contributors

FláviaB 262

JORGE4900 235

caltang 177

DanM 167

IraWatt 157