Make Columns Tool: Add an Example Workflow to Designer and add to the Transform Category

[ddiesel]

I was just responding to a post about the Make Columns tool, and I noticed that there is not an example workflow for this tool built into Designer. It is also missing from the Transform category, so I never think of it.

@peyton-louden @binuacs @Luke_C 

[marcusblackhill]

I feel like Alteryx is putting most Laboratory tools on the side right now. For example, the Visual layout would be a good way to make reports quickly, but it has been in Beta for a long time.

[ddiesel]

Ah, yes. I didn't realize Make Columns was a laboratory tool. Seems that it's been that way since at least 2017?

[marcusblackhill]

I'm not sure when, @ddiesel, but you're probably correct. 😕

[TheOC]

Great idea - i think the Laboratory tools need some love. As @marcusblackhill mentions, there is also the beta visual layout tool. I recently made an idea to get this out of Beta/Laboratory https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Ideas/Move-Visual-Layout-tool-out-of-Beta/idi-p/94... 

[DavidP]

Super idea @ddiesel , most folks don't even know it exists!

[SeanAdams]

Great observation @ddiesel 

And you make a good point - if something is in the laboratory - there's an implied expectation that this is a time-limited experiment (as the name would imply) and that these tools will then graduate to the main tabs.

cc: @NicoleJ 

[NicoleJ]

It's graduation season, and we're here to celebrate the Make Columns tool, which has officially graduated to the Transform category!! 

(This is secretly one of my favorite Designer tools, so it makes me especially happy to see it get its own One Tool Example and to get to hang out with all its cool buddies in the Transform category... they grow up so fast!! 😉)

Check out the 24.1 Designer release notes for more cool things happening with this release!