Unique Column Headers

[skotian1289]

Hi All,

I know this could be a simple solution but I need help as I am quite new to Alteryx.

My input file has 100s of column headers and some column headers are repeated multiple times. I want to give a unique numbers to each column headers because I want to reconcile them. In excel I am able to perform that step by using the below formula.

A2&"/"&COUNTIF(A$2:A2,A2)          (A2 value being 1)

See sample of what I am trying to achieve in alteryx, let me know if anyone can help me

Input File Column headers:

Blue     Green    Red   Blue    Red   Blue   Yellow    Green

Expected Resuts:

Blue/1     Green/1    Red/1    Blue/2    Red/2    Blue/3    Yellow/1    Green/2

Thanks

[RolandSchubert]

Hi @skotian1289 ,

Alteryx does a kind of "rename" on import adding a count to the header, but the result would not be exactly what you want (e.g. Green, Green1, Green2),

but of course you can add a unique identifier to your headers. I've added a sample workflow, let me know it if works for you.

Best,

Roland

[vizAlter]

Hi @skotian1289 — Are you looking for this:

Please mark it "Solved" or "Solved" with a Like if it resolved your query. This will help other users find the same answer/resolution.  Thank you.

[grazitti_sapna]

Hi @skotian1289 , alteryx has the capability to rename duplicate fields of its own. Please refer to the screenshots.

Thanks.

[skotian1289]

Hi Viz Alter,

This is exactly what I was looking for however a small issue, when a column header is repeated for more than 9 times the column name changes to Blue9_/2 or Blue9_/3 . Is it possible similar to excel formula output the name captures Blue/10, Blue/11, Blue/12 , Blue/13 and so on ?

Thanks

[grazitti_sapna · Accepted solution]

Hi @skotian1289 , is this what you are looking for?

If yes, then please mark this post as solution.

Thanks.

[vizAlter · Accepted solution]

@skotian1289 — Try this solution:

Please mark it "Solved" or "Solved" with a Like if it resolved your query. This will help other users find the same answer/resolution.  Thank you.

[skotian1289]

Hi Viz Alter,

A quick question on the solution below, the Regex formula which you have used in your worklflow is not working for few samples like below cases.

Formula used: IF REGEX_Match([Name], "^[^0-9]+$") THEN [Name]+"1" ELSE [Name] ENDIF

                        REGEX_Replace([Name_new], "(.*)([0-9]+$)", "$1"+"/"+"$2")

Cases where the above formula is changing our headers completely.

1.) Original Header name:  User 1                 Post Formula header name: User/1         Instead of:  User 1/1

2.) Original Header name:  User 1 Name                 Post Formula header name: User 1  Name       Instead of:  User 1 Name/1

Apologies I am not a pro in regex expression, M I not using the formula correctly ?

Thanks

[skotian1289]

@vizAlter 

A quick question on the solution below, the Regex formula which you have used in your worklflow is not working for few samples like below cases.

Formula used: IF REGEX_Match([Name], "^[^0-9]+$") THEN [Name]+"1" ELSE [Name] ENDIF

                        REGEX_Replace([Name_new], "(.*)([0-9]+$)", "$1"+"/"+"$2")

Cases where the above formula is changing our headers completely.

1.) Original Header name:  User 1                 Post Formula header name: User/1         Instead of:  User 1/1

2.) Original Header name:  User 1 Name                 Post Formula header name: User 1  Name       Instead of:  User 1 Name/1

Apologies I am not a pro in regex expression, M I not using the formula correctly ?

Thanks

[atcodedog05]

Hi @skotian1289 ,

Can you please try it out.

Input

Output

I feel this will be much more flexible then the regex.

Workflow

Please check and let me know.

Hope this helps : )

Reply back if there is any issues.