Select Tool

The Select tool includes, excludes, and reorders the columns of data that pass through a workflow. Excluding columns can limit the data passing through a workflow and improve performance. You can also use the Select tool to modify the type and size of data, rename a column, or add a description.

Other tools include the Select tool functionality, including Append Fields Tool, Find Nearest Tool, Join Tool, Join Multiple Tool, Select In-DB Tool, and Spatial Match Tool.

Configure the tool

Use the table to modify the incoming data stream. Each row in the table represents a column in the data.

To include a column in data, select the check box to the left of the column name. Deselect the check box to exclude the column.

To sort the columns of data based on the column name:

  1. Click on the column name to sort in ascending order.
  2. Click on the column name a second time to sort in descending order.

Sort Method

Depending on the language of your Designer instance, a different default sort order might be used. Consult the Localization User Settings to read more about the default Sort Method.

To reorder the columns of data:

  1. Click to highlight a row, or click and drag down to highlight multiple rows.
  2. Click the or arrows, or right-click and drag, to move the rows to a new location.

The Unknown column is selected by default. It allows new columns in the data. Move the column to the location where you want a new column to be.

To change the supported length (characters for string and numeric fixed decimal types) or measurement (bytes for other numeric types) of data in a column, click Size and type a number. Size varies by data type and can be edited for fixed decimal numeric types and all string types. See Data Types.

Use the [data type]: Forced option to ensure a column always contains the expected data type; this is helpful when creating macros. See Macros.

To change the name of a column, click Rename and type the new name.

To add a description, click Description and type a description.

After selecting or highlighting rows (columns of data) in the table, click Options to view more configuration options:

  • Save/Load: Save Field Configuration as a .yxft file. The Alteryx Field Type File is a text file can be used in other workflows using the Load Field Names or Load File Names and Types options.
  • Select: Select or deselect all or highlight columns. Options include Select All and Deselect All.
  • Change Field Type of Highlighted Fields: Change the data type of all highlighted columns at once.
  • Sort: Sort the column order in ascending or descending order. Options include Sort on Original Field Name, Sort on New Field Name, and Sort on Field Type, or Revert to Incoming Field Order. Depending on the language of your Designer instance, a different sort order might be used. Consult the Localization User Settings to read more about the default Sort Method.
  • Move: Move highlighted columns to the top or bottom of the list.
  • Add Prefix to Field Names: Add a prefix to the selected or highlighted column name.
  • Add Suffix to Field Names: Add a suffix to the selected or highlighted column name.
  • Remove Prefix or Suffix: Remove the prefix or suffix from the selected or highlighted column name.
  • Clear All Renames: Remove the new name for all column.
  • Clear Highlighted Renames: Remove the new name for all highlighted columns.
  • Revert All to Original Type and Size: Undo all changes to type and size in all columns and use the original values.
  • Revert Highlighted to Original Type and Size: Undo changes to type and size in the selected or highlighted columns and use the original values.
  • Forget All Missing Fields: Remove all columns that are no longer included in the data.
  • Forget Highlighted Missing Fields: Remove all highlighted columns that are no longer included in the data.
  • Deselect Duplicate Fields: Deselect the second column when duplicate column names exist; this optional is only available with multiple inputs.
  • Use commas as decimal separators: For string and numeric data type conversions only, select this option to use commas as decimal separators instead of periods.

    • 1776,45 read as a String data type and converted to a Double will output as 1776.45 with this option selected.

    1776.45 read as a Double data type and converted to a String will output 1776,45 with this option selected.