Write to a comment box dynamically

[Amsaini15]

Hi 

  Can someone please help me with alteryx flow to write to a comment box (there are few so need to write to particular comment box to avoid creating new comment box on every run) the outcome values of summarize function in a particular way (Expected Outcome below). Please let me know if you have any question. Thank you in advance

Current Setup

 

Outcome of 1st Summarize (TableStarting)

 

Outcome of 2nd Summarize (TabeDr) It could have more rows D,E,F with count.

 

Expected Outcome (Comment Box)

 

 

[Qiu]

@Amsaini15 
Your intention is very understandable but I think Comment Tool is fundamentally not participating in the workflow there can not get data input from upstream. Eventually make it not to be dynamic.

[Amsaini15]

Thanks. Can we do the same and output a notepad. .csv file for the same information if we cannot update comment box. How can we do that in Alteryx flow? 

[Qiu]

@Amsaini15 
I think our best shot is the Auto Documentation

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works/Auto-Documentation/ba-p/545827

[Amsaini15]

Unfortunately I wont be able to install it on my work laptop. I need to create output in .csv using standard Alteryx functions.

[caltang]

If it's fixed, you can format a V_WString that writes out that in the order you want via Reporting tools - Report Text tool to showcase via Browse Tool and also a Render tool that renders it out.

But if you're okay with just a standard text without "enter" space, then you can use a Formula tool to concat everything and output via .csv.

[caltang · Accepted solution]

I've decided to cook something up so let me know if this works...

I'll show you two methods, you can decide which fits but I think the 2nd method gets you the .txt file you want:

Method A:

The trick is to use the Reporting tools to get what you want, the report text tool allows you to write like the above showed, offering greatest flexibility. However, you can't render out to csv or txt in this case since the formats are fixed, but it gets you the closest looking one and lets you style it (background colour, text, bold, etc.)

Method B:

Forces the spacing and nets you what you want as well. Downside is you have to make it a string, so if your numbers need "," commas to feel like numbers, then you'll have to add it in yourself. 

But it nets you what you want and can be exported to a .csv or .txt file easily without hassle.

[caltang]

Another alternative I thought of is by somehow editing the XML of the Comment tool itself, but you need to be very careful with this. I'll do some research to see if this is possible.

I'll write the idea here in case anyone knows or wants to research as well / ideate for Alteryx:

Research Question:

Using my output from the workflow above, is there a way to alter the XML of a specific Comment tool within the workflow itself? 

More information:

• The workflow has to run successfully and produce the output as above
• Once the output is produced, it will then replace the XML of the Comment tool to automatically update the Comment tool to showcase to the end user
• The update must be specific to the Comment tool, and must be formatted accordingly only with regard to the text

[caltang]

Whilst ideating, I decided to write it down as a comment as well here: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Ideas/Comment-Tool-to-have-Report-Text-Fea...

@Amsaini15 & @Qiu - would appreciate your like & support too!! 😁 Thanks for giving me the idea.

[Amsaini15]

Thanks @caltang for your hard work in finding solution for me. I have opted for Method B.

Just one small change I would like to see. Instead of just A,B,C what if it is varying and can be anything from A to G? If there any FOR LOOP function.

I will be keenly following your above newly opened idea page and see if there is some solution to it.