Dynamic select Columns based on Field Number or Entry result in same Alteryx

Hello,

I want to dynamically select (reduce) Headers/Columns from my 1st input Excel File (the selection comes from another flow in the same alteryx file)

STEP 1: I have an input Excel File that has many columns & headers

STEP 2: I take the column headers and compare them with another input in same Alteryx workflow

STEP 3: I want to take the result (Join) and filter out the headers from the Excel Input File

See pic of what I was thinking should work ... but somehow I cannot "tell" the dynamic select tool to take the headers (names) from the list ...

and then filter my table down to the sub-set of columns....

Thanks already

Petra

Screenshot 2025-06-18 211628.png

Workflow

Dynamic Processing

Accepted answers

KGT

In short, that won't work. Your interface tools are initialised and configured before the workflow runs and so the results of part of a workflow will NEVER populate an interface tool in the same workflow. It may look like it works sometimes, but the selections are actually metadata from an upstream tool.

You would need to separate and chain the apps to do this. In that scenario, you can have the field list saved out to a YXDB, and use that YXDB to populate the list on the second workflow.

Take a look at these links to learn more about Chained Apps:

All comments

alexnajm

@pohrt you said "the selection comes from another flow in the same alteryx file" but I see the list box connected to the end of your flow? Can you clarify?

pohrt

That Selection item at the end of that flow gives me the reduced values.

I want to take those values or the Field Numbers ... bring them somehow back into the dynamic selection filter and filter the Columns of the Input Table ...(scereen shot of table at bottom of my picture) ... Does that make sense ....???

KGT

You would need to separate and chain the apps to do this. In that scenario, you can have the field list saved out to a YXDB, and use that YXDB to populate the list on the second workflow.

Take a look at these links to learn more about Chained Apps:

pohrt

OK Thanks for your reply! I will check the linked topics.

Hmmm ... so if I were to do two different YXDBs ... I could probably work this with a Macro ... but have not looked into this at all ...

Or ... thinking loud ... could I schedule 2 Containers? Maybe not with Input ... into a list or such ...

I found this now today ... that will do what I wanted ...

Screenshot 2025-06-19 151815.jpg

alexnajm

As long as it's doing what you want, then good 👍 otherwise I was about to say the same thing as @KGT

Otherwise you could also connect a File Browse to a List Box and configure it - that way the user selects a file and then the list box should populate

Quick Links

This months top contributors

AkimasaKajitani 388

mceleavey 388

mbarone 337

Hollingsworth 335

LanisC 335