Disclaimer:
This macro was based on CReW Wildcard Input Macro from CReW Macros set and is in no way related with or quality checked by CReW team.
The CReW Macro pack credit belongs to its original developers.
Credits for original CReW Wildcard Input Macro:
Macro Author: Ned Harding
Macro Layout and Annotation: Adam Riley
While this enhanced version of the Wildcard Input Macro named CSV Friendly Multi-Input was not built by CReW team, the macro file structure was built in a way similar to CReW Macro tools for easy integration with existing CReW Macros.
The network path bug (posted by @haraldharders) is also fixed in this version of the macro. Please write in the comments below if you encounter any unexpected behavior.
Recommended installation path:
1. Download and install CReW Macros following the instructions on this page (You can skip downloading the macro from the linked page as it is now included as a part of this package).
My recommendation for the installation process is that the downloaded ZIP file is renamed to "CReW_Macros.zip" so that the extracted folder will also have the same name and the folder is located in the Documents folder. After this, you can perform the installation by opening the Analytic App Installation.yxwz.
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As asked by a user in the linked page for the CReW Macros package, should you come across the following error while performing the installation of the macro pack:
DbFileOutput (7): Error creating the file " C:\ProgramData\Alteryx\DataProducts\AddOnData\Macros\CReW.ini ": Access is denied. (5)
DbFileOutput (8): Error creating the file " C:\ProgramData\Alteryx\DataProducts\AddOnData\Samples\CReW.ini ": Access is denied. (5)
DbFileOutput (24): Error creating the file " C:\ProgramData\Alteryx\DataProducts\AddOnData\Macros\CReWTest.ini ": Access is denied. (5)
Please follow the instructions below, also provided as an answer in that page to solve the issue:
To fix this issue, you will need to first start Alteryx Designer with right clicking its icon and select "Run As Administrator". If you are in a corporate environment and do not have the necessary privileges (i.e. if Windows asks you to enter your username and password when you select "Run As Administrator"), somebody who has the privileges (likely from the IT department) will need to do it for you (by opening a ticket for this issue if necessary).
After Alteryx Designer is started with Run As Administrator option, you will first need to verify that it is running in elevated mode by navigating to Help > About. In the window that will open, you should see that it says "Running Elevated".
Close the window after confirming the "Running Elevated" status and navigate to the folder where the CReW macros are located (as an additional note, I recommend that it is stored in Documents folder with the name CReW_Macros, but the most important thing is to never delete the folder or change the folder's name after performing the installation).
Copy the path of this folder (the parent folder which contains the app "Install.yxwz") and navigate to File > Open Workflow > Browse (Ctrl + O) in Alteryx Designer. Paste the copied path into the address bar and press Enter. Double click on the "Install.yxwz" app. When the analytic app finishes loading, you will see a wand symbol appear on the left of the "Run" button. Click on the wand symbol to open the Analytic App interface. When it opens, ensure that the "Install" option is selected and click the "Finish" button to perform the installation.
You should not run into any issues if you follow this method.
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2. Download this macro set (YXZP file).
3. After importing the YXZP package in a location you choose, move its contents into the Macros folder of the CReW Macros installation directory where other macros (.yxmc and .yxmcbatch files) are also found.
Differences from original version:
1. Still supports wildcard data processing with a focus on configuration of the text files (only CSV and TXT extensions are supported for text files).
2. Automatically detects the delimiter character (should work successfully for 95% of the text files containing only Latin alphabet characters) for each individual file with CSV or TXT extension (supporting macro for this feature [CReW_AutoDelimiterDetection.yxmcbatch] was additionally built ("CReW_" prefix was added only for file sorting convenience) and has no documentation, please open the supporting macro to see additional notes).
3. Outputs file name as field by default.
4. Adds a AYX_CFMI_RecordID field that resets for each FileName.
5. Allows users to specify the Ignore Delimiters in Quotes setting (Quotes by default, applies to all text files).
6. Allows users to specify a code page (Unicode UTF-8 by default, applies to all text files).
7. Allows users to optionally specify a Dynamic Rename formula which is individually applied to all input files.
Update v2.5 (2024-06-28): The batch macro that automatically detects the delimiter was updated to account for delimiter mismatch, especially when space characters equal or surpass the actual delimiter character while still allowing the space character to be properly detected as a delimiter, based on this link provided in this discussion by @apathetichell.
Update v2.7 (2024-07-01): Provided an option to use the previous RegEx pattern for delimiter detection, named as Prioritize space over other delimiters.
Update v2.9 (2025-05-09): Added the functionality to read in the text files without headers (currently not available as an individual setting).
Update v3.0 (2025-07-03): Major update, provides several new options separately for Non-Excel and Excel files. For this reason, it is now also necessary to specify which formats are being read in by choosing between Hybrid mode and Single format mode (only Excel files or only non-Excel files).
Update v4.1 (2025-07-12): Another update now allowing user to apply Multi-Field Formula, Custom Filter and Dynamic Select to the input data. File mode specification is no longer necessary.
Update v4.2 (2025-08-18): New update incorporating the use of the new Data Cleanse Pro tool introduced in Alteryx Designer 2025.1 to remove letter and number characters from any language, made possible by the Unicode ICU support in the tool. Also includes fixes for the final Dynamic Select formula generation. All macros in the package now use AMP Engine with Engine Compatibility Mode enabled.
Update v5.0 (2025-08-20): Sorting logic refinement and logo update to align with NeoInfiniTech branding.
Update v5.1 (2025-08-21): Added backwards compatibility to work with Alteryx Designer versions 2023.x and above.
Update v5.2 (2025-08-22): Added custom filter functionality for Excel files, making it possible to fine tune the file and sheet selection.
Update v5.3 (2025-09-07): Added the capability to force a delimiter character and assign a name to the read in data for use with control containers and log parsing.
Update v5.4 (2025-09-15): Added alternative delimiter detection options to handle rare cases encountered while parsing text files.
Update v5.5 (2025-09-19): Specifying \0 (none) or the [Delimiter] column itself as the delimiter in the "Specify a formula" mode (when the "Force specific delimiter" option in the "Non-Excel Specific Settings" tab is selected) no longer results in an error message.
Update v6.0 (2025-09-22): Added options regarding checking the first row read in for automatic delimiter detection, in addition to enhancing messages for detected and specified delimiter information & filtering "attempting to read" and "detected delimiter" messages for files that are not read in due to specified custom filter.
Update v7.0 (2025-09-30): Added support for environment variables and optional FullPath list input (L anchor) in addition to various bug fixes, QoL improvements and interface overhaul.
Update v8.0 (2025-10-09): Implementation of detour logic for improved performance (This update is only valid for Alteryx Designer 2025.x and above).
Additional release notes can be found in the Comment tool present in the main macro CReW_CSVSupportedMultiInput.yxmc.
Important Note: It is not recommended to directly replace the old macros in your workflows with the new one as all the parameters are now named and it might break the old workflows. You can instead place this macro separately for each input, configure the new macro based on the old one and then delete the old version.
The two most recent versions of this macro (7.0 and 8.0), the only versions available for download, are only compatible with Alteryx Designer 2023.1 and above.
Important Note: Due to an error regarding the Detour tools (which may or may not be related to GENG-4803) in Alteryx Designer 2023.2 (not tested on these versions: 2023.1, 2024.1 and 2024.2), it is recommended that you use version 7.0 if your Alteryx Designer version is below 2025.1. The only difference is the detour logic. For this reason, performance might be lower in version 7.0 than in version 8.0, however functionality is exactly the same.
For the sake of convenience and preservation, a copy of CReW Macros will be downloaded with the name CReW_Macros.zip when you click the Download button.
