How to identify Columns which are not selected in "SELECT" Tool

[ardsilva]

Hello,

I have created a user interface , where the user can select certain columns using LIST BOX. These selections are then passed on to the SELECT tool using ACTION tool , and then they move on for further processing. This works fine.

My doubt is, how do I now access the columns which were not selected in the LIST BOX. 

Basically I need two branches, one with the columns I selected and one with columns which were not selected. 

Let me know if someone can guide me on the same.

Thanks

Antony.

[jdunkerley79 · Accepted solution]

Not sure if there is a simpler way but if you use action tools to rewrite XML of select directly can achieve what you want.

The attached macro takes an input and output the selected and other columns.

[ardsilva]

Thank you, this was new to me :)

Can I use this same approach(editing raw xml) , if I want to connect ACTION button to a MACRO instead of SELECT tool (So LISTBOX ->ACTION ->MACRO) ? . How do I go about editing the XML ? Do you know if any documentation is available for this ?

Should my approach be :

1. Create the workflow

2. Open the workflow in text editor and understand the xml block I need to change

3. Write the formula to replace the xml 

Basically my Macro needs to know what I have selected and not selected in the LISTBOX. So am assuming I just need to toggle the True/False flag.

Thanks

Antony.

[jdunkerley79]

No reason why you couldn't alter the XML for a macro in the same way, but I have never tried.

I haven't seen much documentation on this (it's a pretty low-level approach). 

I did a blog on this when I started playing with this approach: https://jdunkerley.co.uk/2016/06/10/creating-user-controlled-groupings-in-a-weighted-median-alteryx-...

I've been meaning to do a follow-up post to my original one with examples of different tools but haven't had time yet.

No need to use a text editor, Alteryx has the capability to show XML within the designer. It can be a faff to work out the XML to inject.

Happy to help further if you need.

[ardsilva]

Thanks James.

XML of my macro is of the below format :

<Configuration>
<Value name="List Box (25)">ColumnA=False,ColumnB=False,ColumnC=False</Value>
</Configuration>

I guess I will need the value to be updated to 

<Value name="List Box (25)">ColumnA=True,ColumnB=True,ColumnC=False</Value>

if I select ColumnA and ColumnB from LIST BOX. 

I am trying out from my side based on the solution that you provided early, but nothing has worked until now. It will be of great help if you can give some pointers.

[ardsilva]

Posting my second query as a new Topic as my original query was answered.

Thanks

Antony.