In an Analytic App do the Questions run before any Workflow?

I have an Analytic App in which I'm trying to read a directory to populate a drop down (picture attached). The idea is for the user to pick from a drop down among the last 10 files which have been touched in a specific directory. The problem seems to be that the list doesn't get refreshed unless I run it as a workflow. If I just run it as an analytic app the list seems static no matter what new files are added to the directory. This leads me to believe that the questions are asked of the user *before* any part of the workflow is run even if the user interface component is downstream of some of the tools. Is this correct?

If so, how else might I approach this situation? The goal is to read the list of files available and feed that into the users choice at least somewhat dynamically.

Your collective thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

-Hayes

Annotation 2019-11-20 093620.png

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Jonathan-Sherman

Hi @willhaye,

In order to achieve this you'll need to break the workflow up and create a chained app. Essentially you need to write out the output of the list in the first workflow and read it into the drop down list and use the value for the second workflow. Take a look at a blog post on chained apps by one of my colleagues Brian Scally which should help you create the chained app. https://www.thedataschool.co.uk/brian-scally/chaining-apps-in-alteryx/

Also take a look at weekly challenge 175 https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Weekly-Challenge/Challenge-175-Tire-Size-Calculator/td-p/447639 and download some of the solutions to look into writing out data for a dynamic drop down box.

If this solves your issue please mark the answer as correct, if not let me know!

Regards,

Jonathan

Jonathan-Sherman

The interface tools in essence create "parameters" to allow user inputs. The list box in your example has been filled with data from an earlier stream in the workflow and since the workflow is not run until the interface questions section has been completed the list box wouldn't be able to take new data. So in answer to your question the questions are asked before the workflow is run yes.

If this solves your issue please mark the answer as correct, if not let me know!

Regards,

Jonathan

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willhaye

Annotation 2019-11-20 093620.png

(sorry, this is the picture. I didn't mean to make it an attachment.)

Jonathan-Sherman

Hi @willhaye,

If this solves your issue please mark the answer as correct, if not let me know!

Regards,

Jonathan

willhaye

Thanks Jonathan. Appreciate the quick reply. So it is true, then? The questions are asked of the user before any part of the workflow is run? Just confirming.

patrick_digan

@willhaye I have an idea here suggesting that they should make it dynamic like you would want.

I also have this idea that is similar about allowing a new option called data from connected tool. Since it would be a new feature, the ideal implementation would allow the data to be refreshed at runtime. Perhaps it would work for you as well if Alteryx builds it.

cc: @AdamR_AYX

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