Update value with formula action not working

I am trying to pull files from a directory where the filepath will change each day. The current date will be in the filepath so I am trying to use an Update value with formula action so I can dynamically have this pull each day. The directory does not change based on what is in the action, however. It just runs for what is in the directory tool and ignores the action attached to it.

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apathetichell

your action tool is not configured properly - you have to select the part of the connected tool you are trying to change. if you include a screen grab of your action tool - someone can help out.

jhustin

danilang

Hi @jhustin

Include the formula line in your screen shot

Dan

apathetichell

do you have a folder-browse tool attached to your action tool? it should go folder browse-action-directory.

jhustin

"C:\Reports\"+tostring(DateTimeFormat(DateTimeToday(),"%d-%m-%Y"))+"\POSD039 - Customer - Monthly Shipment Data"

apathetichell

@jhustin- action tool needs a trigger. You aren't supplying a trigger. Your formula could work - but your action tool won't be triggered without something (ie folder browse/text-box/date tool) etc to trigger it.

the easiest way to do what you want might be to set up your dynamic directory listing in a formula tool and feed that into a macro - and have that update the directory tool via control parameter-action tool -directory tool in your macro. You wouldn't need the formula in your action tool there and could do error checking.

jhustin

I added a folder browse input to update value but same results

apathetichell

so it's not feeding to

C:\Reports\07-04-2022\POSD039 - Customer - Monthly Shipment Data

are you running as an app? try debug.

jhustin

update - if I add text box or folder browse as an input and run as an analytic app it works after I put some dummy data in that I don't use. It does not work if I just run the workflow. Is there a way to use the directory tool with a dynamic folder name without having manual input from a user?

apathetichell

Yes,. See my post re: macro - 10 minutes ago.

jhustin

Thank you. I am not quite sure I follow. Would you be able to help with a basic exmaple?

apathetichell

Try this - if you have an older version of Alteryx just ignore the newer version errors. Open the file manually after unzipping.

dynamic directory tool worfklow.yxzp

michaelhimmel

Could you just use the "Include Subdirectories" option on the Directory tool and move the directory up a level? So instead of having this formula

"C:\Reports\"+tostring(DateTimeFormat(DateTimeToday(),"%d-%m-%Y"))+"\POSD039 - Customer - Monthly Shipment Data"

on the directory field, just have "C:\Reports\" as the directory:

Screenshot for directory question alteryx.png

And then filter on the output field "Directory" using your formula to limit it to the particular date/value needed.

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