Alteryx Core Flashcards
View data from a connected tool and view data profile information, reporting snippets, maps, and behavior analysis information in the data.
Browse Tool
Manually add data which will be stored in the workflow.
Methods of Use:
(1) Copy & Paste
(2) Import a File
(3*) Enter values in cells
- Data lives WITHIN the workflow
- Values are static
- Can be shared by sharing the workflow
- Data is automatically categorized to smallest type and size
Text Input Tool
Bring data into your workflow by selecting a file or connecting to a database (optionally, using a query).
- Data lives OUTSIDE the workflow
- Values update (are dynamic)
- Must export workflow to share files
- Data is configured based on the file type being imported
-Close all input files to avoid errors - Previews the first 100 rows of data from the selected file
Input Data Tool
Output the contents of a data stream to a file or database
- Has only 1 anchor for INPUT
- Take File/Table Name From Field
Output Data Tool
Search for data in one field from one data stream and replace it with a specified field from a different stream. Similar to an Excel VLOOKUP
Find Replace Tool
Append the fields from a source input to every record of a target input. Each record of the target input will be duplicated for every record in the source input.
Append Fields Tool
Combine two data streams based on common fields (or record position). In the joined output, each row will contain the data from both inputs.
Join Tool
Combine two or more data streams with similar structures based on field names or position. In the output, each column will contain the data from each input.
- Can accept multiple inputs
- First input connected determines output column names and data types
- Re-name the connections to help identify data sources
- Re-organize the order in which data is combined
Joins Data by stacking vertically based on:
(1) Column Name
Union Tool
Select, deselect, reorder, and rename fields, change field type or size, and assign a description.
Select Tool
Select specific records and/or ranges of records including discontinuous ranges. Useful for troubleshooting and sampling.
Select Records Tool
Create or update columns using one or more expressions to perform a broad variety of calculations and/or operations.
Formula Tool
Sort records based on the values in one or more fields.
Sort Tool
Query records based on an expression to split data into two streams. True (records that satisfy the expression) and False (those that do not).
Filter Tool
Perform basic data cleansing operations such as replacing null values, removing punctuation, and modifying case.
Data Cleansing Tool
Pivot the orientation of data in a table by moving vertical data onto a horizontal axis and summarizing selected data.
Cross Tab Tool
Pivot the orientation of the data in a table by moving horizontal data are on the vertical axis.
Transpose Tool
Summarize data by grouping, summing, counting, spatial processing, string concatenation, and much more. The output contains only the results of the calculation(s).
Summarize Tool
Count the records passing through the data stream. A count of zero is returned if no records pass through.
Count Records Tool
Transform date/time data to and from a variety of formats, including both expression-friendly and human readable formats.
DateTime Tool
Split the text from one field into separate rows of columns.
Text to Columns Tool
Organize tools into a single box which can be collapsed or disabled.
Tool Container
Add annotation or images to the workflow canvas to capture notes or explain processes for later reference.
Comment Tool
(1) Transparency
(2) Repeatability
(3) Safety
(4) Scalability
4 Benefits of Alteryx Designer
You have visibility of all the actions performed on the data set. The workflow shows what steps were taken and the order in which they were performed.
Transparency
Use a workflow to transform manual steps into an automated process. With a repeatable workflow, simply change the input data and click “Run”.
Repeatability
Designer offers a safe development environment for testing, exploring and solving. By simply inputting data into the workflow, you are not overwriting the existing file. You choose where and how to save results.
Safety
- Canvas
- Configuration Window
- Tool Palette
- Results Window
4 Components of Alteryx Designer
- Drag from tool palette
- Search for tools
- [ Right Click ] Canvas and INSERT
3 Ways to Add Tools to the Workflow
The tool is not configured correctly & needs to be corrected in order for the workflow to run correctly.
What do Exclamation Marks on Tools mean?
(1) Record Limit
- Improve run times
- Manually type number of records to input
(4) Output File Name As Field
- Add a column showing source file name or full path
- Easy to identify and use source info in workflow
(5) Delimiters
- Manually enter delimiters
(6) First Row Contains Field Names
- Deselect if columns do not have names
(7) Field Length
- Default is 254 Characters
- Manually change the length of a column to avoid truncated values
(8) Start Data Import on Line
- Avoid importing extraneous information from data sources
- Enter the line on which data values start
(9) Ignore delimiters in
(10) Treat Read Errors as Warnings
(11) Code Page
- Data can be encoded with a particular format (ex. UTF-8 or Language)
- Select the correct code page for your data
(12) Allow Shared Write Access
CSV Configuration
Data is stored in a tabular (table) format/structure in sheets or a named range
(1) Record Limit
- Limit the number of rows to import
(2) File Format
(3) Table or Query
- Displays your configuration selection
- Click the Ellipses (…) to edit this setting
(4) Search Sub Dirs
Excel Workbook Configuration
- The most efficient file type for reading data into Alteryx
- Fast, Efficient, Clean
Options:
(1) Record Limit
- Limit the number of rows to import to improve runtimes
- Manually type the number of records to read in
(2) File Format
(3) Search SubDirs
- Search Subdirectories to input other files with the same name, type or structure
(4) Output File Name on Field
- Add a column showing source file name or full path
- By default, none of this information will be included with the input data
YXDB (Alteryx Database) Configuration
- Reads multiple Sheets of Data from source .xlsx workbooks
-Templates set the guidelines for what information is imported and how the information appears when all of the sheets are read in
- If a sheet DOES NOT MATCH the template, it WILL NOT BE IMPORTED
- Imported data is stacked VERTICALLY
- Sheets that are not imported or are imported POSITIONALLY will display a WARNING Message
- Alteryx Designer users Two (2) Attributes when evaluating Sheets against the Template
(1) Number of Columns
(2) Names of the Columns
Dynamic Input Data Tool
- Limited number of rows & types of data
- Spatial objects are not supported
Configuration Output Options:
(1) Max Records Per File
(2) File Format
(3) Output Options
(4) Append Field Map
“Create New Sheet” When writing data for the first time
Change your selection to overwrite or modify existing files on subsequent runs
Output Data Tool: Excel Workbooks
- Stores all data values as string data types
- Any unsupported data types (ex. spatial objects) will be dropped from the outputted file
Configuration Output Options:
(1) Max Records Per File
- Limit the number of rows exported in a single file
- Creates multiple files when there are more rows than you specify
(2) File Format
(3) Delimiters
- Specify how the data should be separated in the output
(4) First Row Contains Field Names
(5) Quote Output Fields
(6) Code Page
- Select a code page to convert text upon output
(7) Line Ending Style
(8) Write BOM
Output Data Tool: CSV File
To move data through a workflow, which action should be taken?
A. Press “Enter” on the keyboard
B. Click the “Run” Button
C. Drag a tool onto the Canvas
B. Click the “Run” Button
Select all the ways in which a tool can be added to the Canvas in Designer
A. Right click on the canvas and insert a tool from a list of tool categories
B. Drag a tool from the Tool Palette onto the canvas
C. Drag a tool from the search results onto the canvas
D. Double clicking a tool in the tool palette
A,B,C
(T/F) The workflow below has resulted in an error (shows exclamamation point)
True
Which of the following options is not a data type recognized in Designer?
A. Numeric
B. String
C. Auto
C. Auto
Select all of the values that are included in a data stream’s metadata in Designer.
A. Name
B. Source
C. Size
D. Type
All of the above
(T/F) A column’s datatype can change in the course of a workflow.
True
(T/F) The input data tool can only connect to files
False
Configure the input data tool to limit the number of input rows to 10
Set record limit to 10
Which of the following are present in the configuration options for Alteryx Databases, Microsoft Excel workbooks, and CSVs?
A. Output file name as field
B. Record limit
C. Delimiters
D. First row contains data
A and B only
(T/F) Any value entered into the text input tool is characterized as a string data type
False
Cells that are left blank in the text input tool are assigned what value?
Null
How can data be added to a workflow with the text input tool?
A. Manually enter values in cells
B. Copy and paste values from another source
C. Input data from a file or database
All of the above
Choose all of the following processes that can be performed with a Select Tool
A. Change a column size
B. Remove columns
C. Rename columns
D. Change a data type
All of the above
Select the column in the select tool’s configuration that is used to rename a column of data and click submit
Select “rename” column
Select all the ways in which a browse tool can be added to the canvas
A. select a tool on the canvas and hit CTRL
+ Shift +B
B. Drag a browse tool on the canvas from the tool palette
C. Right click a tool on the canvas and select “add browse after”
All of the above
(T/F) A browse tool is required to view the entire dataset below in the Results window
True (can’t see all data)
Click the icon in the results window to view the data prior to changes applied by the sort tool
Click input anchor tab
Which of the following is not an available option for combining data in the Union tool?
A. Column name
B. Column position
C. Manual configuration
D. Data type
Data Type
Two inputs have been combined with a Union tool to produce an output. Based on the results, which configuration option was used to output the data?
A. Output common subset of fields
B. Output all fields
B
Based on the configuration tool below, how many rows will be output from the Union tool?
A. 5
B. 3
C. 4
D. 0
A
(T/F) The filter tool includes two output anchors
True
Drag the components of a Basic Filter into the appropriate places in the Configuration Window
A. CONTAINS
B. “Oak”
C. [Common Name]
C,A,B
Select the expression that was used in the Filter Tool to create the True output below
A. [Borough Code] > 1
B. [Borough Code] = 1 OR [Health] = “Good”
C. [Borough Code] = 1 AND [Health] = “Good”
B
(T/F) Columns classified as a numeric data type may be joined to columns classified as any data type when joining by specific fields
False
Select the area in the diagram that represents the data from the Join tool’s L output anchor
A. Left input
B. Join
C. Right Input
A
Based on the results below, select the method that was used to join the two tables
Join by Position
Record ID
Assigns a unique numeric value to each row of data
Record ID
Applies the same expression to all selected columns
Multi-Field Formula
Test if a string matches the specified regular expression
Match
Both sides have to match, only those records are returned
Inner Join
Show records (and their attributes) that only exist in the left table
Left Unjoin
Bool, byte, int16, int32, int64
Integer Numbers
Float (32), double (64)
Real Numbers
- Return N rows
- Return N of every N rows (Not random- every 10th row)
- Return N% of Rows: The first 10% of the rows (the first 9 rows) are returned.
Sample Tool
“Split to columns”, which requires you to specify the number of columns to be created, “Split to rows” will create as many rows as necessary for each string being split
Difference between split to columns and split to rows
Which of the following ways can tools be added to a tool container? Select all that apply:
A. Highlight the desired tools, then right click and select “Add to the new container”
B. Drag a ToolContainer onto the canvas, highlight the desired tools, and drag the hightlighed group inside the container all at once.
C. Highlight the desired tools, then press CNTL+ALT+C
Both A and B (?)
Which of the following statements about tool conversions are true? Select all that apply.
O A) An Input Data tool can be convened to a Map Input tool.
B) An Output Data tool can be converted to Input Data tool.
C) A Text Input tool can be converted to a Macro Input tool.
D) An Input Data tool converted to an Output Data tool.
B and C (?)
What file types match these extensions?
.yxmd
.yxwz
.yxmc
.yxdb
.yxzp
.yxft
.yxmd (Workflow)
.yxwz (Analytic App)
.yxmc (Macro)
.yxdb (Alteryx Database)
.yxzp (Packaged Workflow)
.yxft (Field Types)
Differences between numbers:
1. Byte
2. Int16
3. Int32
4. Int64
5. FixedDecimal
6. Float not on exam
7. Double- most precision!
How can you change a number to a date?
You can use the Formula tool:
ToDateTime(x): Converts a string, number, or date-time to a date.
