Dynamic Interface Tools with XML Hard Coding

[iwilliams]

Hello Alteryx Community,

I'm am looking for assistance with creating a dynamic interface using chained applications and XML hard coding. The first app will read in a list of n parameters and create the second app using a template of the second app. Completion of the first app should trigger the second app. In the second app, users should be able to enter values for each parameter, preferably all on the same page.

Currently I have this functionality working, but users have to enter in values one page at a time using a "feedback loop" approach (app1 -> app2 (enter value for param1) -> app1 -> app2 (enter value for param2), and so on, until all parameters have values). I also had a version where all parameter names and values were in the same text box. Both these approaches can be ignored/avoided since I already explored those and determined that they weren't optimal.

Just to explain a little further, this is how I would like it to work, but if you have another approach feel free to chime in.

app1

• read list of parameters

Name	Value
param1_name	<default value or empty string>
param2_name	<default value or empty string>
paramN_name	<default value or empty string>

• read template_app2 as xml flat file
• use list of parameters to update xml code of template_app2 
• update should be text box tools for each parameter 
  • "Enter value for paramN_name" as the question
  • <default value or empty string> as the default text
• output updated template_app2 as app2.yxwz
• trigger app2 after completion

app2

• Lets users enter values for all parameters
• sample:

Note: these apps are a part of a bigger chain which is why I need it to be this way

[gautiergodard]

Hi @iwilliams 

What you are describing sounds like a chained analytic application. There is a great tutorial on this at the link below!

Chaining Analytic Apps - Alteryx Community

When I've used analytic apps in the past I would write my outputs for App1 to a YXDB when would then be picked up by App2 .. and so on.

Hope this helps! 

**Please like and mark this thread as resolved if this provides the answer to your question**

[Felipe_Ribeir0]

Hi @iwilliams 

For me, it seems that all you want to do can be adapted from this good example: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Knowledge-Base/Chained-Alteryx-Analytic-Applicatio...

Take a look at this, i used this example before to do similar things, it totally worth it.

If the provided answer helped you to solve the problem/was correct, please accept it as a solution :)

Thanks.

[iwilliams]

Correct, it's a chained app - I just realized I wrote that entire post and didn't mention that it was a chained application, sorry about that. The entire project has 7 chained apps, but I'm just asking for help on two that deal with the parameters I mentioned. And thanks for the tutorial.

[iwilliams]

I used this example to get to where I am right now (I actually still have that example bookmarked). This example is where I got the idea for the feedback loop that I mentioned. However, I want to take this another step forward. The feedback loop approach only lets me enter parameters, 1 per interface, at a time. What I am looking to do is to dynamically create an interface based on the number of parameters I have.

So if there's n parameters, then n text box tools should be created in for the next app. This is where I am kind of stuck, because I understand how to change the contents and configurations of tool via XML hard coding, but I'm not sure how to create tools and make the proper connections via XML hard coding. 

And if there's another approach to achieve the same result I'm open to that as well