The Flat File Layout box allows the user to determine column breaks
of a flat file where the columns are fixed width. This box displays when
an Unknown File Types is brought
into Alteryx via the Input Data Tool, and it is designated a "Fixed
Width" file.
Data Preview
The top section of this box reveals a preview of the data file. The
ruler along the top indicates the field length, so the user can visualize
where a column will break.
To assign column breaks, place your cursor where the
break should be. Alteryx will automatically determine the appropriate
field length and the grid section will populate based on these breaks.
Delete the column break lines by clicking on them.
Use the scroll bars beneath the file preview to reveal
additional data within the file and assign the appropriate column
breaks.
File Settings
Below the data preview there are a few check boxes. These settings are
explained below.
Allow
Short Lines: Indicates if record can end before all fields
are read. This is valid only for data with line ends. By default,
this box is not checked.
Allow
Long Lines: Indicates if there can be extra characters after
the last field for the current record. This extra data will be discarded.
By default, this box is not checked.
Trim
Spaces: Removes blank characters from field data. By
default, this box is checked.
Record
Length: This is the total character width of the longest record
in the file.
EOL:End
of Line. This refers to the type of Line ends used. Default is CRLF.
Options include: None,
CRLF (Windows), LF (Unix), CR (mac).
Column (Field) Settings
Below the file settings there is a section that describes the field
information the user is assigning. These settings are completely editable
and described below.
Name:
The name of the field. Default is Field_1 or the next sequential number.
The user can assign their own field Name by selecting the default
name and typing in the box.
Type:
The type of the data field. Default is V_String.
To change the data field, click on the default. A dropdown list will
appear with supported field types.
Length:
The width of the data field. The default is what is manually set by
the user's cursor placement in the preview section above. To change
this value, click on the default and type in the appropriate value
for a field's length. The column break will automatically be reflected
in the preview pane above.
Scale:
The scale field references the level of precision for a fixed decimal
field. Default is 0. To change this value, the user must change the
Type to fixed decimal and
adjust the length and scale accordingly by clicking on the defaults
and typing the new values.
File Handling Options
The next section allows the user to specify how these configurations
will be handled, saved or executed. These settings are described below.
Embed
Field Settings in the Workflow: The
field settings will save with the workflow.
Use
Field Settings from File: The user can open a Flat ASCII file
(*.flat) to read in the field settings for the data
Import/Export Options
There are Import and Export buttons in the bottom left corner of the
dialog box. The buttons can be used in combination with the File Handling
Options above.
Import:
This button
is active when Embed Field Settings in Workflow is selected. Clicking
the Import Button will allow the user to browse to aFlat ASCII file
(*.flat) that contains the field settings to be applied to the data.
These settings will then be saved in the workflow.
Export:
The user
can save the field settings to a Flat ASCII file (*.flat) to be applied
again either to a different file that follows the same layout or to
the same file to be utilized in a different workflow. This option
is available when either radio button above is selected.
After the user configures this box, they can return
to these setting at anytime via the Input tool's Configuration Properties
Window. In the Options Pane, #5: File/Field Layout - Has Value.
Click the to be returned to Flat File Field Settings.
to be returned to Flat File Field Settings.