Dynamic date input from Directory

[Kaish]

Hi all, I have a condition where in a directory I have many files but I want only the selected excel date file to be imported, the files have specific date format Ex. xxxxx_20240920, which is yyyymmdd format , so here I want only the files to be imported when I dynamically choose date from interface tool,

Ex. Files in Directory -  Book_20240917 , Book_20240918, Book_20240919, Book_20240920, Book

You can create a sample excel files with these names, now my condition is I will select a date in interface tool for suppose 19th Sept, So the input will have only data from Book_20240919, excluding any other data, I want all the data from Book_20240919, Or else if I select 20th Sept in interface tool it will select only data from Book_20240920, so here the most important factor is extracting only those files which I have selected as my date in interface tool, need to use interface tool to manually select the date. Can this be done ?

[alexnajm]

Yes it can - use a Date interface tool connected to your Input Data tool, and use an Action with Update Value with Formula to convert the original date into this formatted date (2024-09-01 to 20240901) to then update the portion of the file name that needs updating

[Kaish]

Hello @alexnajm, thank you for your reply, could you help me with a attached wf as I am new to Alteryx and I am unable to perform these tasks, if a reference wf can be provided I can then apply the logic to my flow.

[alexnajm]

I think you should try it first and attach your workflow so that help can be provided from there

[alexnajm]

Something like this would give you a start: Solved: How to use Interface tools to update date value in... - Alteryx Community

[ChrisTX]

Also check out  Action Tool (alteryx.com)

[Kaish]

I am not able to get the solution as the required post is for a single input file but I am working for a directory, and apologies for not sharing the data as I am working with organizational system and data, kindly guide me through the steps I can surely perform the task 

[ChrisTX]

If you just want to type in a date value, you can use a Text Box.  See attached app.

If you want to read a list of existing files and display a list of dates to choose from using a Drop Down tool, I think you'll need to use Chained Apps.  Because interface tools are populated before the workflow/app starts running.

 

Chris

[binuacs · Accepted solution]

@Kaish one way of doing with the date time interface tool

[Kaish]

Hi @binuacs , My data is in .txt format how can I perform this is Alteryx? I am currently working on it but it is giving error in dynamic input tool, same text fle I am able to read in input tool data with my configuration as required in delimiters "\t" so in input file my data is loading correctly but in my dynamic input it is reflecting error, how can I resolve this ?