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Constants

Constants are global variables for a workflow. They are defined on the Workflow tab in the Workflow Configuration window and make it possible to change a value in a single location and have that change apply to the rest of the workflow.

There are 3 types of constants:

  1. Engine: Five Engine constants display in every workflow and an additional constant, IterationNumber, displays when the Workflow Type is a Batch, Iterative, or Location Optimizer macro.

    • TempFilePath: The directory where the engine writes temporary files.

    • Version: The version number of the Alteryx Engine installed on the machine.

    • WorkflowDirectory: The directory of the current workflow. If no workflow is open, the value is the Alteryx installation directory.

    • WorkflowFileName: The file name of the workflow, which is only available if the workflow has been saved.

    • GuiInteraction: A Boolean value that indicates whether or not a workflow is being run from the GUI.

      • When a workflow is run from the Alteryx Designer or Analytic App interface, the returned value is True, or 1.

      • When a workflow is run from the command line, the returned value is False, or 0.

    • IterationNumber: An integer that corresponds to the number of times a macro has run, starting at 0.

  2. Question: When the Workflow Type is Analytic App or Macro, many of the Interface tools display as Question constants. The name of the constant corresponds to the name of the Question tool. Go to Interface Tools for more information.

  3. User: User constants can be created and edited via the Workflow Configuration window.

Add a User Constant

In the Workflow tab of the Workflow - Configuration window...

  1. Select the add (+) button.

  2. Enter a Name and Value.

  3. Select the check box in the # column if the value is a number. By default, constants are strings.

Delete a Constant

  1. Highlight the constant.

  2. Select the delete (-) button.

Use a Constant

There are a couple of ways to use a constant.

Use a Constant in an Expression

Engine and user constants display as variables that you can use to build an expression in any tool that uses an expression editor.

use-constant.png

The data type for a constant is based on whether the constant is designated as a number or a string on the Workflow tab in the Workflow - Configuration window.

Note that question constants do not display in the expression editor. Go to Expression Editor for more information.

Use a Constant via a Reference Shortcut

You can use a reference shortcut to use any constant in the configuration of a tool. To specify a constant variable, add a % (percent sign) at the beginning and end of the name: %ConstantType.ConstantName%.

The reference shortcut can then be used in an expression editor or in a text box, and the constant can be updated via a Question tool or modified on the Workflow tab in the Workflow - Configuration window.

Be cautious when you use this method, as it might not always produce the expected results.

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