Help with Make Columns Tool

Question

Hi Alteryx Community

Is there any way to make the make column tool dynamic?  By that I mean, if the data is going to change and that changes the number of columns needed is that possible?

If I have something like the below I can crosstab and the make columns based on the fact that I know there are rows of data that will become 10 columns based on my input on the make columns tool.

DateQuantityPriceCommission3/1/2025195103/2/20252105113/3/20253115123/4/20254125133/5/2025513514

But if this data changes tomorrow to say 2 rows of data, is it possible to then tell the workflow to read less data into the crosstab tool and then onwards to the make columns tool?

DateQuantityPriceCommission3/6/2025195103/7/2025210511

Thank you for your time

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Mike_at_CG · Answer

Just putting some helper information below.  The attachments are of the current workflow.  The tables below are when the underlying data changes and the number of columns in the make columns tool stays the same.

DateQuantityPriceCommission3/1/2025

195103/2/2025

2105113/3/20253115123/4/20254125133/5/20255135143/6/2025614515

NameValueDate3/1/2025Quantity1Price95Commission10Date3/2/2025Quantity2Price105Commission11Date3/3/2025Quantity3Price115Commission12Date3/4/2025Quantity4Price125Commission13Date3/5/2025Quantity5Price135Commission14Date3/6/2025Quantity6Price145Commission15Date Quantity Price Commission

Column_1_NameColumn_1_ValueColumn_2_NameColumn_2_ValueColumn_3_NameColumn_3_ValueColumn_4_NameColumn_4_ValueColumn_5_NameColumn_5_ValueDate3/1/2025Price105Date3/4/2025Price135Date Quantity1Commission11Quantity4Commission14Quantity Price95Date3/3/2025Price125Date3/6/2025Price Commission10Quantity3Commission13Quantity6Commission Date3/2/2025Price115Date3/5/2025Price145  Quantity2Commission12Quantity5Commission15

Thank you

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Mike_at_CG · Answer

@OTrieger  - Thank you for the response.  Would you happen to have an example of something like that?

OTrieger · Answer

@Mike_at_CG

Yes, you can set it as variable and then the number of rows will be created by that variable to that specific row.