Allocate Input Tool

The Allocate Input tool allows you to pick geographies and data variables from any Allocate dataset installed on your system. The most recent dataset used in Allocate will always be the default dataset that opens within this tool.

Configure the tool

Choose a Dataset: Use the dropdown list to select an installed Allocate dataset.

You can specify the default dataset from User Settings. Go to Options > User Settings > Edit User Settings and click the Dataset Defaults tab.

You can optionally read in an existing Allocate Workspace (*.aws) file:

1. Select the Use Allocate Workspace checkbox.
2. Click Import to navigate to the workspace file.
3. Select a file and click Open. Alteryx will read the file and make the appropriate variable and geography selections.

Pick Geography Tab: The selection box on the Pick Geography tab lists all of the standard geography types available.

1. Expand the geography trees to reveal the desired geographies.
2. Check the box to select the appropriate geographies.

Pick Variables Tab:The selection box on the Pick Variables tab lists all of the data variables in the selected Dataset.

• Expand the variable trees to reveal the data to append. Check the box to select the appropriate variable(s).
• To view variable names alongside their descriptions, right click on the description, select Show Field Names and the field names will appear to the right of the description.

Special Fields Tab: Use the checkboxes to return any of the following additional fields:

Spatial Object field: Returns the Spatial Object (Polygon) of the selected geography. The Spatial Object is necessary for down stream spatial processing or for map creation.

Raw Key Field: Returns the Raw Key for the selected geography. For many geography types, the RawKey is identical to the Key. For any geography that has a classification 'by State' or 'by County,' the RawKey will contain a concatenated key of both geographies.

State Name	State Key	County Name	County Key	ZIP Codes by County	Key	RawKey
New Jersey	34	Monmouth	34025	08736 Manasquan	08736	3402508736
New Jersey	34	Ocean	34029	08742 Point Pleasant Beach	08742	3402908742

When specifying the Geography Type in an Allocate Append tool, you will want to ensure to use the RawKey when specifying any geography type that is 'by State' or 'by County.'

Geography Short Name: Returns the Short Name of the selected geography. The Short Name is how Allocate refers to the type of geography chosen. This field is useful for updating geographies in an Analytic App or Macro and for creating reports with mixed geographies.

Geography	ShortName
Block Groups	BG
CCDs/MCDs by County	MCDbyCNTY
Census Tracts	TR
Congressional Districts	CONG_DIST
Counties	County
DMA	DMA
DMAs by State	DMAbySt
Entire US	FullUS
Metro CBSAs	CBSAMET
Metro CBSAs By State	CBSAMETBYSTATE
Micro CBSAs	CBSAMIC
Micro CBSAs By State	CBSAMICBYSTATE
Places	PLACES
Sectional Centers	SC
States	State
ZIP Codes	ZIP
ZIP Codes by County	ZipByCN
ZIP Codes by DMA	ZipByDma