Trigger different workflow outcome if specific columns are ALL Null.

Question

Hello,

I'm trying to modify a workflow to build in a redundancy that would halt the workflow and send out an email if anyone of a set of columns are completely Null.

Does anyone have any ideas how I could achieve this?

Currently the workflow outputs a file and send an email.

Thanks,

Phill

Denise_Santos · Answer

Hi @Phill ,

Unfortunately, it looks like it does need to be contained within a macro. As for Roland's post being in German, turning translation on in Google Chrome has allowed me to examine the steps he took in English. However, as an additional point of reference, he provides the same guidance (in English, with the workflow template in English as well) in this post: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Enable-Disable-Containter-based-on-condition/td-p/822702.

Hope this helps!

davidskaife · Answer

Hi @Phill

Sure, here you go - a very basic example using three columns.

Using the Test Type of Expression is True for All Records, this expression will check to see if any of of the selected columns are null. This expression can be written directly into the Test tool:

!isnull([A]) and !isnull([B]) and !isnull([C])

This will fail even if you have values in a column , along with nulls. If you're wanting to check if all rows in the column(s) are null, and not just one (for example) then something like the below should work. A Summerise tool to count and count null, then a formula in the Test tool to check:

[CountNull_A] != [Count A] 
and 
[CountNull_B] != [Count B] 
and 
[CountNull_C] != [Count C]

I've attached the example workflow for you to look at, obviously it's very rough but I'm sure you can use it to tailor towards your exact use case.

Null Checks.yxmd

Phill · Answer

Thanks @Denise_Santos, the post looks to be in German but I've done some resarch into this method. Looks like the workflows have to be nested in a macro? I'm not sure that would work for my purpose. Do you know of a way to have conditional containers within the same workflow?