How to Ignore Non-existent fields in the Summarize Tool?

Question

I need help handling a weekly workflow with dynamic data columns. Some weeks, these columns contain data that needs to be summarized in the output. Other weeks, these same columns may be empty. I want to ensure that:

1) When data is present, it gets summarized
2) When the column is empty, the summarize function should skip it without causing errors

Right now, if the column doesn't exist in a certain week, the Summarize tool breaks and causes an error.

Thanks!

MinhLO · Answer

@vivaisun11 
One useful very simple trick you can implement in 5 seconds: have an Ensure Field text input. I have attached the sample workflow.

EnsureFields.yxmd

davidskaife · Answer

Hi @vivaisun11

A slightly different approach, using a Batch Macro and the Detour tools.

Assume this is your input normally:

If the summerised 'Count' column is empty, then it generates a 'True' return, otherwise a 'False' return. This is passed into the Batch Macro and updates the Detour tool to either send the data through the left stream (if the return is False) or through the right stream (if the return is True, i.e the summerised 'Count' column is empty)

The Summerize tool inside the macro simply groups by Values, and sums Count :

If there is no data in Count, then it passes the data straight through:

This is obviously an example situation, but you could hopefully tweak it to match your requirements

Bypass Example.yxzp

Qiu · Answer

@vivaisun11 
It depends the way you use Summarize tool but normally we can use the combination of Transpose and Cross-Tab as shown below.
https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/dynamic-summarize/td-p/482985