Special latin alphabet is taken as 2 characters instead of 1 in Input tool

[vamshiyemula]

Using input tool to convert flat file data to tabular format, using fixed width settings. But few names with special characters like 'Dené' are read with more than assigned characters. Though this text is of 4 characters, it is read as 5 characters during execution due to é. This is causing issues for other width settings ahead in sequence. As a result, all further extraction ranges in line are shifting one step backwards.

Flat file text:

Input tool result:

Expectation:

As per the width settings, in first row, Amount1 should be 1500.34 and Amount2 should be 788.86

Attaching sample workflow for clarity.

[Jonny]

Hi @vamshiyemula 

I would try to use some Alteryx tools instead of the fixed with import, i.e. I changed the import format to csv. so I can read data as is.

see if the attached meets your needs? one scenario this would not cater is for composite 1st names like "Jean Charles" for instance ...

let me know know your thoughts,

BR/Jonny.

[vamshiyemula]

Thanks for the response @Jonny,

I created a sample input file with 5 columns just for the sake of asking this query. Originally in the usecase, I have more than 100 columns. Hence, fixed width was chosen.

Sorry to not inform this earlier.

It works perfectly if we do Text-To-Columns with fixed width in excel for the same data. But alteryx reads it improperly. Why do you think? Is there a direct setting in alteryx that i am missing?

[Jonny]

Hi @vamshiyemula ,

okay thanks for the additional input. I played a little bit with the File Layout, and I think I did it.

there was some "strange" characters at the end of line 1 so I changed the EOL - End of line to crlf which is right one for windows. this resolved the issue of one extra character on line 2 - see this: Flat File Layout | Alteryx Help 

then I re did the mapping to avoid the F2 column, and had to move the Amount 1 Delimiter one character to the right, as if to include "one zero"  of Amount2. however the output is correct!

check it out:

[vamshiyemula]

HI Jonny,

Watching you workflow, the issue of one extra character for Dené, was resolved because you moved the fixed width range one step towards right. EOL change is not effecting the results. I cant move the width one step right, because you don't know how many such alphabets will be there in first/last name. Moreover, Amount2 might start from the point where Amount1 ended without any additional 0s.

Please look into and let me know.

Thanks!

[Jonny]

Hi @vamshiyemula ,

it is hard to trouble shoot this without the data to illustrate the scenarios you describe,

1 I have manually added some more data cover the additional scenarios

2. I found that the EOL setting DOES affect the data, see below w/o the EOL and with the EOL

w/o EOL setting

with EOL Setting

3. because the issue was affecting the Amounts columns I left them as one and used a RegEx tool to parse them instead

4. it worked for me:

I hope this helps. if still does not solve your problem, the only way I can help is if you include some more data.

cheers!

BR/Jonny

[vamshiyemula]

Hi Jonny,

Thanks a lot for trying out possibilities. I really appreciate.

Understood that EOL is making difference, but might not be exactly related to the issue in hand.

Using regex is very difficult because as I told you, the input data is huge with more than 100 columns with combination of text and numbers like eg  000000006.00D 000001250.01W where D and W are codes and others are amounts. Still.. will definitely try that approach.

Meanwhile, I feel there is something wrong in Alteryx as seen below, when I try to cut it exactly at the acute e, see how it reads 2 question marks. Any thoughts?

[Jonny]

HI @vamshiyemula,

I am sorry I cannot be of more help. Regarding the issue you are having I suggest you try Alteryx Support <support@alteryx.com>. if you have not tried already?

best of luck figuring this one out!

BR/Jonny