How do you handle 'set' data types in Alteryx?

[JunePark]

Hi,

I often have situations where I really wish I could make a field with a data type of "set".

For example, I have a table of pets owned by each person.

The "Pets" Field would be perfect if it could be processed as a "set" type.

Person	Pets
John	Dog, Cat
Susan	Fish

How to you manage these kinds of situations in Alteryx?

(I sort the pet values in alphabetical order, and concatenate the string values using the summarize tool. This is the best I could think of)

[atcodedog05]

Hi @JunePark 

If are looking set datatype, set as in collection.

Sorry Alteryx doesnt have a "Set" datatype.

If you tell us what action you are looking to do we can suggest you a workaround.

[PhilipMannering · Accepted solution]

If you split your data to rows/columns (Text to Columns Tool) you can probably get any outcome you want from there,

Person	Pets
John	Dog
John	Cat
Susan	Fish

Or to get to this stage you can use the Summarize Tool and have two group bys (on Person and Pets) to get a unique list.

Then could get to your set list by doing a Summarize group by Person and Concatenate Pets.

Basically, if you provide a specific output you'd like to achieve you probably can do it with the Transform Tools without logical sets of the form {dog, cat}.

Hope some of this helps.

Thanks,

Philip

[JunePark]

Thanks for the reply!

I also think this is the best workaround

[atcodedog05]

@JunePark 

Groupby of summarize would be the best workaround if you want to add things up.

Text to Column split on commas is best workaround if you want to split things back.

[atcodedog05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @JunePark 

Here is a handy workflow of what i was speaking above.

Hope this helps 🙂