Join tool works when run as a Workflow, but not as an Analytic app

[Adam_Dooley]

Hello, I'm seeing something strange.  I've built a workflow that runs fine as a workflow, has a few Joins in it.  However, I'm really designing this as an App because I'm using Interface tools to collect data. 

So if I just create a simple csv file and run the workflow, everything runs fine.  But when I run it as an Analytic App and key in the inputs, I get this error about only able to join string fields to string fields.  I've isolated the issue down to 1 field that's causing the issue, and even that field I can confirm the Left and Right inputs have that field exactly the same data type and length (String and 20).  

Can anybody explain why I'm seeing this issue?  Let me know if I need to provide any more detail.  

Thanks,

-Adam

[morr-co]

Hi @Adam_Dooley : it sounds like the workflow is treating the dynamic data differently. I'd recommend inserting a select tool prior to the join tool (on both the L and R data inputs) and force the field data types to be strings. This should resolve the issue.

[Adam_Dooley]

Thanks you @morr-co for the response.  Unfortunately that didn't work though.  

Even when I re-create it in a new workflow, it still gives the same error.  Below are the Select tools' metadata going into the L and R anchors.  For some reason it only has a problem with the field "Shift", and those are the same types and size.  Any other thoughts?

Left anchor:

Right anchor:

[AkimasaKajitani · Accepted solution]

Do you set the type as "String: Forced"?

If you set it as a String, it will still be changed when the workflow runs that have the data as numeric.

[morr-co · Accepted solution]

Did you select the "String: Forced" option?

This should work. However, another option is to change the name of Shift, then use a formula tool to copy the value into a new field. 

[Adam_Dooley]

Looks like that String:Forced option did the trick!  Weird I've never seen that before.

Thank you all for the responses!