Txt format Import to Alteryx

Hi Community,

May I know how to import txt. file into the alteryx and how to build the workflow so that alteryx will read the information inside the file.

Kindly refer to the txt file below and i would like to import multiple txt file inside the Alteryx. May i know what the better way to import and how to build the workflow so that the information are captured correctly.

Common Use Cases

Accepted answers

SeanAdams

absolutely - if you know that the data starts on column 10 and ends on column 20, then you just use a formula tool to split this up using the SubString function

(substring([myField],10,20)

there's also quite a lot of training under the Academy on data parsing, and many of the weekly challenges focus on data parsing (like this one https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Weekly-Challenge/Challenge-2-Preparing-Delimited-Data/td-p/36622) so you can see how other people solved this and get some solution ideas.

I can't recommend the weekly challenges enough - they are one of the best ways to learn Alteryx.

All comments

Emil_Kos

Hi @SH_94,

this article will show you How to input txt files

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Knowledge-Base/Input-txt-Files-and-Other-File-Types-as-Plain-Text/ta-p/38407

Reagrding importing multiple files into alteryx I am assuming they are in the Same folder. If that is the case the easiest way to do it is using wildcard. Please check the article below for few words of guidance:

https://www.thedataschool.co.uk/jonathan-sherman/alteryx-importing-multiple-files-at-once/

both of them should be really easy to implement😅

SH_94

Hi @Emil_Kos ,

Is it applicable to txt format as well? As the example given are only xlsx. Do you have any example of workflow that importing the txt file and editing the text file in alteryx?

Emil_Kos

Hi @SH_94,

This is an example in which I have imported a text file:

this is the configuration that I have used:

The output:

This is only for tests but the guide that I found advises to import the data without delimiters and clean the data with the text to columns function afterwards.

In your particular example, I think it will take you a while to clean the data in a way that will be useful.

Maybe you can use start importing a function from the input file to minimize the amount of unnecessary data.

What I would do is I would focus on importing one file properly and after it will work I would come back to the idea of importing all the files at once.

Text.yxmd

SH_94

Hi @Emil_Kos ,

Thanks a lot for the advise. May i know what should i choose for the following options to import the txt file?

Emil_Kos

Hi @SH_94,

Change read option to csv file.

SeanAdams

Hey @SH_94

Normally CSV is Character (or comma) separated values.

What you're trying to do here is import data that is in a flat file - there are two options:

- use CSV type, but set the delimiter to \0. This tells Alteryx that there is no character being used to separate columns, just use the end of line as the stopping point, and bring it all into one row

- use flat Ascii as a type.

Looking at your file - you may also want to set the value of the "start import on row XX" so that you avoid bringing in all the header information.

If your file is always in the same format - it may be worth setting up a file specification for the file using ASCII flat - more info is here: https://help.alteryx.com/current/designer/flat-ascii-files#:~:text=The%20flat%20file%20type%20(.,data%20types%20of%20those%20fields.

SH_94

Hi @SeanAdams ,

Based on the options available, i feel like the first option is more suitable in this case as my file the format sometimes will be vary with one another.

May i know how should i spilt the words/ number into column in this case if i choose the first option?

SeanAdams

absolutely - if you know that the data starts on column 10 and ends on column 20, then you just use a formula tool to split this up using the SubString function

(substring([myField],10,20)

I can't recommend the weekly challenges enough - they are one of the best ways to learn Alteryx.

jacob_kahn

Great thread!

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