Joining databases

[jonathangonzales]

Hello,

 I just signed up for alteryx and I have a couple questions on my first workflow.

I am joining 2 databeses and I need to add a column to identify each database.

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks

[jack_morgan · Accepted solution]

Hey Jonathan,

Use a formula tool immediately after each of your inputs from you DBs to add that column. I usually do this and create a column named SOURCE that way as I blend and create things, i know where it came from. In the formula tool, your expression would be literal: "Database Name 1" or whatever you want to name it.

Hope that helps!

Jack

[jdunkerley79 · Accepted solution]

Use a formula tool to create a new field after each input with a database name field. Have attached a simple demo of this with a Union and a Join tool.

If you are reading from flat files you can make the input tool add the filename as field.

[tom_montpool]

You can also use the "Output File Name as Field" option in the Input Data tool -- that way you can get either the file name or the full path.

Have fun with the File function set in the Formula tool to parse the file name/path!

Good luck.