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Text Input Tool Icon Text Input Tool

One Tool Example

Text Input has a One Tool Example. Go to Sample Workflows to learn how to access this and many other examples directly in Alteryx Designer.

Use Text Input to manually enter text to create small data files for input. You can also use this tool to test and create Lookup tables while you build your workflow.

The data input from the Text Input tool saves within the workflow, so you can share the workflow without the need to provide an input data file.

Important

Text Input creates different data types depending on whether your workflow uses Alteryx Multi-threaded Processing (AMP) or the original engine.

  • AMP: Text Input creates a V_String data type of maximum length (up to 2,147,483,647 characters).

  • Original Engine: Text Input creates a String data type with a length that matches the longest string entered via the Text Input tool.

Please note that while a V_String only consumes the necessary memory to store the data it contains when processing in Designer, we recommend that you use a Select tool or AutoField tool to set more precise string length before you write to a database.

Configure the Tool

  1. Select cells to enter data values. The tool autoconfigures data types based on the values you enter.

  2. To rename Field Names select a header cell and enter a new header name.

Options Menu

Within the Configuration window, you can perform several actions via the Options toolbar. Options include...

  • Import: Browse for an existing data file or connection. The Text Input tool is limited to 10,000 total cells on import, but you can manually add more cells if needed.

  • Copy: Copy selected values onto the clipboard.

  • Paste: Paste values from the clipboard into a cell.

  • Delete: Options include...

    • All: Deletes all the data in the grid.

    • Rows: Deletes the current, selected rows.

    • Columns: Deletes the current, selected columns.

    • Header: Deletes the entire header row.

  • Insert: Options include Row, Column, and Header insertion.

Any blank cells result in NULL values.

Navigate Cells via Keyboard

  • The Tab key moves the cursor into cells from Left to Right.

  • Shift+Tab moves the cursor into cells from Right to Left.

  • Up and Down Arrow keys move the cursor into cells from row to row.

For information regarding Input, Output, Annotation, and Error Properties, visit Tool Configuration.

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