Specifying the Field Names You Want

[bgottdener]

Many databases that are imported into Alteryx incorporate a great deal of header information in the first few rows of data. Some of this information is desirable, and some can be removed. Additionally, some of this header information may actually be contained in multiple rows.

The following module outlines a process for specifying the field names that You Want to have in your module.

Attached are four files:
-The Module (.yxdb)
-The Input file (.csv)
-Before Processing Image (.jpg)
-After Processing Image (.jpg)

1) An initial Browse of our data shows that we have a few issues to address. The row currently used for field names is not needed in the file. There are two rows containing the information we wish to use for our field names. Note that we must declare that the first row contains data.

2) The Sample Tools at left are used to select the Rows for which we wish to concatenate cell data together. The first Sample tool selects the first three rows, the second skips the the first of the three rows.

3) The Summarize tool is used to Concatenate the values in our rows. Each row is Selected in the upper selection window, and then Added by clicking Add > String > Concatenate. Note that a delimiter can be specified, in this case I have used " - ", where the default is ","

4) The Dynamic Rename tool is used to rename the fields according to a user specified method. In this case, we have selected a Rename Mode of "Take Field Names from First Row of Data". Note that all fields have been selected or 'checked'.

5) The Sample tool at left selects all of the rows that are the actual records (data) in our file.

6) The Union tool is used to unite our newly defined field names with the actual data records of our Input file. Note the "Auto Config by Position" selection, in addition to the check mark next to "Set a Specific Output Order".

7) The result of our processing is a database with clearly defined fields.


Please let me know if you have any questions about the process, or how it can be applied to your module. I would be more than happy to speak with you.

-Brett Gottdener