Switch Connector

[aduplessie]

Hello,

I think it would be extremely useful to have a switch connector available in Alteryx. What I mean by a switch connector is a connecting line with an on/off state that will block the data stream through it when off. Something like below:


Switch Connector in an "Off" state

This would be extremely useful when you only want data to flow down some of the paths. In the example above, I might turn the switch connector to off because I want to see the Summarize results without outputting to a document.

The current methods for having a path/set of tools present but unused are insufficient for my needs. The two methods I and Alteryx support were able to find were:

1. Deleting the connecting line - This works, but throws up errors. Even though this is functional, it looks bad when I need to present my Alteryx module and there are errors.
2. Putting the tools in a disabled tool container - I cannot see the tools when the container is disabled. I want to be able to see my tool set-up even when I am not using it.

This is inspired by the use of switches in electrical circuit design, such as:

Please comment if you also think this would be useful, or if you have ideas for ways to improve it further. Thank you!

[Ned]

The Detour tool is almost exactly what you are describing...  You can leave 1 side of it unconnected.

[aduplessie]

Thank you for the suggestion. Using a detour tool does allow me to leave a path without having data flow through it, which is very handy.

I believe a switch-style connector or tool may still be useful so that I don't have to delete and re-add detour tools when I want to turn sections on and off. For the moment, though, this accomplishes what I need it to. Thanks again!

Link to a copy of the original post for which pictures worked: https://alteryx-community.force.com/Connectors/Switch-Connector

[aduplessie]

Correction to my previous comment: so that I don't have to delete and re-add detour tools to have an easy visual cue that a section is on or off. A visual cue on the detour tool might also accomplish this.

[Community_Admin]

The status of this idea has been changed to 'Inactive'. This status indicates that:

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2. The idea has not reached ten likes.

3. The idea is still in the 'New Idea' status. 

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