Fixed width text file - increasing data available to preview in Flat File Layout screen

[oracleoftemple]

I'm trying to import a fixed width text file, but I can only preview the first 15 rows of data on the Flat File Layout screen where I define my column widths.  Is there any way to increase the amount of data available for preview at this point?

[kat · Accepted solution]

Hi @oracleoftemple

Setting up fixed widths for a text file in Alteryx is not great! I've been there... 

2 options I can suggest that I've done before:

1. Open the file in Excel and do the fixed width spacing there. Note the widths and apply them in Alteryx (if I remember correctly you had to slightly edit them, plus 1 or so - just watch out for that)

2. Import it as having no delimiters and then use regex and other forms of parsing to break it into columns.

Hope that helps!

Kat

[BenMoss · Accepted solution]

I echo @kat's statements, especially the last one.

I don't particularly enjoy using the width spacing tool in Alteryx so when I have had to do a similar task in the past I have used, rather than Regex as Kat suggested, a lookup table which allows me to acknowledge what characters are associated with what field.

I've attached a very crude example but you get the gist :)

Perhaps one reason I would choose this over a regex solution as it's very easy for someone external to maintain the mapping table if the fixed widths change.

Ben

[oracleoftemple]

Thanks! I went with option 1.  Not quite at the regex level yet.

[oracleoftemple]

I LOVE that workflow!

[kwilkins]

Love this workflow!!! I'm sure I'll be reusing it!!!