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Location Data Knowledge Base

Data methodologies, and Release schedules.
The Q2 2023 Business and Location Insights data packages are now available to plug into your analytic processes. The packages include analytics-ready data from a variety of vendors as well as data-specific analysis tools which will empower users to get the most from the packaged data.
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We were recently notified that the Virtual Variable Files (VVF) for Experian US - Total Consumer Expenditure and Five Year Projections Total Consumer Expenditure contain duplicate variable references within formulas for the Q2 2022 and Q3 2022 US Business Insights data packages.
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This is the fourth part of the series "Using the Power of Alteryx Data Packs". In this article we explore demographic report creation using the Allocate Report tools. 
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Have you ever used the Allocate tools and received back some strange looking variable names? You're not alone! The Allocate Rename Fields Macro will allow you to rename your fields into readable variables.
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An Easier Way to Get Point Zip Codes to Show Up in Alteryx (Allocate Geographies)
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After a deeper analysis we have discovered a defect in our US Business Insights package within our US Installer. This package provides users the ability to analyze business locations, types of business', numbers of employees and size of employer.
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We have identified that the Census information for this data is partially updated with 2020 Census data and IDs. Here we present two solutions for those using Census ID with Allocate using either Spatial Match Tool or our new US_2010CensusID_Geocoder Install containing Census IDs from Q1 2021 package.
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We have identified an issue with the Consumer Expenditure variables defined in the VVF files installed with the Q2 2021 Experian US Allocate dataset, specifically Current Year Estimates (2021) - Total Expenditure (TCTOTALEXP) and Five-Year Estimates (2026) – Total Expenditure (TFTOTALEXP).
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The Q2 2021 Business and Location Insights data packages are now available to plug into your analytic processes.
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I have CAPE installed and a newer version of a VGF (with updated names) is available in a new install. I uninstalled that version of the data, ran the new install but the old VGF names are still visible. I reran the install twice. What am I doing incorrectly? I notice when I run the install, the process happening more quickly than usual.
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What we mean by "2015B" demographic estimate?
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Other Name Places area/demographics aren't the same as Places.  Why not?
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Update Allocate Append tool using XML   You’re running a process to select certain variables to be used within a model. You’ve built your process, but you’re getting tired of having to run it twice. Once to pull thousands of variables to check for relevance, and a second time with just the variables you want to include in the final model based on the tests you’ve run.   There’s good news! You can use the Action tool within the Interface toolset to update the Raw XML of the Allocate Append tool to dynamically select the variables you want to use, and it’s not as hard as you might think.   The first thing we need to do is find out what the XML code is for the variables we want to use, and the format it needs to be in for the Allocate Append tool to recognize it. You can enable the XML view from the User Settings menu (Options -> User Settings -> Edit User Settings). On the Advanced tab, there is a check box to “Display XML in Properties Window”:   Once you’ve checked the box, return to your Allocate Append tool, or any tool on your canvas, and you’ll see a new option on the right hand side that will allow you to see the XML code the tool is creating.   From here you can get the format you need for the XML code that we’ll pass into the macro to be created later.   Once you know the variables you want to use, you can use the variable name (code, not description) to build out the XML string as show above. If you select multiple variables, what you’ll notice is that they are each on their own line under the “<Variables>” tag in the XML code. The list you make must follow the same format:   In the sample workflow attached, you’ll see that I am using a Text Input tool to simulate the data stream that contains the fully compiled XML strings needed. As you will most likely see in your data, I have one variable per record. The problem is I need all of the variables in the same cell, on their own line. So how do we combine the records into one, and add a new line?   The answer is we use the Summarize tool. Within the Summarize tool we can use the Concat function to combine the XML strings into a single cell, and in the concatenate Properties section, we can indicate that we want to use a new line as the separator by typing in \n.   Now that the prep work is done, all we need to do is pass this new variable list into the Allocate Append tool through XML. This can be achieved with a simple Batch Macro. For the Control Parameter you want to use the Variable list that we just created. The Control Parameter gets connected to the Allocate Append tool which adds the Action tool as shown below. In your Action tool, select the option to “Update Raw XML with Formula”, expand the options under Allocate Append until you see “Variables” and highlight that section. You’ll want to update the Inner XML, and the formula to use is the connection from the Control Parameter as shown below.        Once you have this set up, simply add your Macro Input (for your incoming data stream) and Macro Output (to feed back into your workflow) to complete the macro set up.   Return to your original workflow, insert your newly created Batch Macro and connect your inputs. Your variable list stream will feed into the ¿ input, and your main data stream to the other.   You’re now set to dynamically change the variables you are pulling! Simply run your process for selecting relevant variables, build your XML strings through the Formula tool and pass them into your macro.
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How to troubleshoot when the Allocate Append tool returns zeros. 
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Do you pull in demographic variables from the Allocate toolset and then use a formula tool for some basic math functions on those variables? Summing them together for example?
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The Q2 2020 Business and Location Insights data packages are now available for your analysis. The packages include analytics-ready data from a variety of vendors as well as data-specific analysis tools which will empower users to get the most from the packaged data. Here’s what you have to look forward to in this release!
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The Q3 2020 Business and Location Insights data packages are now available for your analysis. The packages include analytics-ready data from a variety of vendors as well as data-specific analysis tools which will empower users to get the most from the packaged data. Here’s what you have to look forward to in this release!
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