Why Macro gives different output, when Drop Down was used, instead of the List Box ?

[jwang357]

This is a simple macro exercise , aiming to add the dollar sign "$" in-front of the numeric field; 

So, when I select "Total revenue", I would expect to see the output reflecting "Total Revenue" ; 

It was intriguing, can somebody kindly shed light on why the column field "Total Revenue" had vanished from the output , when I had used the Drop Down tool.

But , when I had used the List Box tool, I had actually obtained the perfect output . See picture below.

I attached herein the relevant macro and the workflow.

[nagakavyasri · Accepted solution]

@jwang357 Change the macro with Dynamic select

[jwang357 · Accepted solution]

Thank you v much nagakavyasr;

Actually, macro was what I needed for the day ; 

My options were the List Box Tool,  or the Drop Down Tool, as these two were something I can interchange with.  

So, hopefully somebody out there was an Alteryx genius, and could figure out the rationale, why Macro works perfectly with the List Box tool, but not with the Drop Down tool.

Let me attach herein my workflows as yxmd and yxmc.

Thanking you.

[apathetichell · Accepted solution]

2 things:

1) you must edit your macro in interface designer to allow schema changes. 

2) Dropdown is a singular --- one field selected tool. In the current mode you are using it in --- selecting a field via the drop down will deselect that field from the output--- listbox provides multiple fields and actions on multiple fields. I would recommend that you A) drop the dropdown tool here and use listbox --- b) use dynamic select which is a superior tool for controlling this.

so the way how this works via dropdown is user selects field - field flows through action tool --- if field is selected in select tool field selected in action tool is DESELECTED and does not flow to multi-field formula and output data. Listbox is providing an inclusive --- 'these are the fields I want' --- drop down is providing a singular --- 'this is the field I don't want to' to the select tool. 

[jwang357]

Awesome... thank you v much for your explanation :)

Both answers are very effective and efficient, to solve the strange phenomenon in the output.

Thanking you !!!

[jwang357]

Sorry for my quick-finger typo , Apathetic,

I actually want to mark both of the answers above as the Accepted Solution, including yours.

So could you please re-post your reply again ? ( so the button can re-appear for me to click on )

Many thanks !!