Batch Macro with a Dynamic Rename for Record ID

[quaid_besing]

Hello,

I have a batch macro that is dynamically filtering a group of data for our company. However, the data needs to be filtered on a 'price' value I have renamed earlier in the workflow. The excel files come in with all different names for this price variable, so I have to dynamically rename it to make it usable in the formulas later in the workflow.

However, the macro does not give me the option to select 'price' because it's not initially a variable so every time I run the debug it crashes on the first try before I switch the drop down of the 'Record ID' field to 'price'. I have searched on the community page for the better part of a day and not seeing anything that really fits this issue. If I missed something on this site or if anyone has any ideas or solutions, please let me know! I've also included a screenshot of the workflow to help.

Let me know if I can provide anymore information.

Thanks!

[grossal]

Hi @quaid_besing,

are you able to provide the workflow or at least the first part including the interface tools? We could make some guesses, but it's easier to solve if we can checkout the workflow and all the settings.

Best

Alex

[DavidP]

I would explore the capabilities of the Dynamic Rename tool to find a way to rename the field to a known value that you can then use in the rest of your workflow. There are various options, for instance, if the number of columns are always the same and the price field is always in the same position, you could create a static list with a text input tool and use the option "Take field names from right input rows" for instance. You might have to play around with it a bit if it is not so straightforward. At the end of your macro you can then rename the fields again to their original values using the same technique, if need be.

[quaid_besing]

Hi @grossal

Here is the entire workflow, sorry about that!

[grossal · Accepted solution]

Hi @quaid_besing,

thanks for the workflow! This helped a lot.

The main problem is, that the Interface Tools are executed at the same time, therefore you don't have the "column" information, because the file wasn't picked at that moment in time. Or as my colleague would say "The Interface can't be interactive (unless you use chained Apps)"

The solution would be Chained Apps. The first app just reads in the data and saves two extracts. One is the full sheet again and the second extract is the column name information. You configure the first App so that it runs the second App right after it. You can do this in the Interface Designer.

In the second App, you will use the Data Input from the first App and read in the column information from the second extract. This time when the Inferface tools are executed the column information is already there. You don't have to change anything else. All other Interface tools kann stay in the second App.

Hope this helps.

Best

Alex

[quaid_besing]

Thank you! I'm fairly new to Alteryx, so that didn't even cross my mind.

[grossal]

Fairly new? Your workflow/App is amazing!