Manage Parameters Dialog
Within a flow, you can create and manage flow parameters, including specifying override values. From the flow menu, select Parameters.
A flow parameter is a reference token that can be invoked from within the flow.
A flow parameter can be one of the following types:
Variable flow parameter, which can be:
A string value
A Alteryx parameter
A regular expression
Selector flow parameter.
A selector type parameter is a set of one or more permitted values.
Where it is invoked, the default value for the parameter is applied or, if an override value has been set, the override value is applied.
For more information, see Overview of Parameterization.
You specify flow parameters at the flow level. They can be invoked in any recipe within the flow.
Tip
Override values apply to all parameters in the flow that share the same name, even if they are output object parameters.
Tip
Flow parameters can be inherited from upstream flows. For example, if you create a reference dataset that references flow parameters from its flow, those parameters are passed to the downstream flow. While you cannot change the default value for the downstream instance of the parameter, you can apply override values for all recipes in the downstream flow.
Parameters Tab
In the Parameters tab, you can manage the flow parameters in your flow.
Note
Non-flow parameters cannot be edited or deleted from the Parameters tab. These parameters must be modified in the interface for the object to which they apply. Overrides can be applied to these types of parameters through the Overrides tab.
Parameters for plans: When reviewing parameters for your plan, you may notice that a parameter has multiple values:
Parameter values that do not conflict are ok. For example, if the parameter is applied to an imported dataset and to an output object which are attached to different recipes, these values are not in conflict.
If the parameter values are in conflict, then a warning icon is displayed. For example, if a parameter is applied to an imported dataset and to an output object attached to the same recipe, then the conflicting parameter values must be overridden to fix them.
Note
When a parameter has conflicting values from objects in a plan task, you must fix them by applying a single override value. If these values are not fixed, then the plan fails to execute.
Figure: Parameters tab
To create a new parameter, click Add parameter.
Specify the parameter details as needed. Additional information is below.
Click Save.
To edit a parameter's default value, hover over its entry, and click the Pencil icon.
Additional options are available in the context menu.
Select Edit description to modify the Description value.
(Selector type only) Select Edit choices to modify the permitted values for the parameter.
To delete a parameter, hover over its entry and click the Trash icon.
Warning
Deleting a parameter cannot be undone. When you delete a parameter, all recipe steps that reference it are broken.
Tip
If you accidentally delete a flow parameter, you can recreate it with the same case-sensitive name. All references to it should work again.
Variable type parameters
Variable type parameters are single values. Values can be specified as String values, Alteryx patterns, or regular expression patterns.
Figure: Specify a flow parameter of variable type
Specify the Name value and optional Description value.
Note
Name values are case-sensitive. After saving a parameter, you cannot change its name.
For type, select Variable.
Specify the default Value for the parameter. Examples by parameter type:
String literal:
This is my string.
Note
Flow parameter values that are literal values are String values. You can convert them to other data types after they have been referenced in your recipe.
Wrangle : Patterns can be used to find matches in your recipes. The following pattern matches for two consecutive digits:
`{digit}{digit}`For more information on Wrangle , see Text Matching.
Regular expression: These patterns also can be used for finding matches. The following pattern matches for two consecutive digits:
/[0-9][0-9]/
Regular expressions are a standard method for identifying patterns in data. The syntax is based on RE2 and PCRE regular expressions.
After you create a parameter, you can insert it into your recipes using the following type of reference:
${myRecipeParameterName}For more information, see Create Flow Parameter.
Selector type parameters
Figure: Specify a flow parameter of Selector type
Specify the Name value and optional Description value.
Note
Name values are case-sensitive. After saving a parameter, you cannot change its name.
For type, select Selector.
For Choices, type or paste the permitted values for your selector type parameter.
Tip
The first value that you add is the default value.
Each value must be added separately.
Click the X next to a value to remove it from the permitted list.
After you create a parameter, you can insert it into your recipes using the following type of reference and then selecting a value from the list of permitted values:
${myRecipeParameterName} == <selected_value>For more information, see Create Flow Parameter.
Overrides Tab
In the Overrides tab, you can apply override values to any parameters referenced in your flow, including:
Flow parameters
Output object parameters
Dataset parameters
Parameters that are available through reference datasets
Note
The parameters listed in this tab have override values applied to them. Parameters that are using their default values in this flow are not listed.
Figure: Overrides tab
All of the available parameter overrides are listed.
To apply an override to all references of a parameter within the flow, click Add override.
Select the name of the parameter.
Enter its override value. Click Save.
To edit a parameter override, hover over its entry and click the Pencil icon. Enter a new value.
Note
The override value is applied to all subsequent operations in the platform. When a job is submitted to the job queue, any overrides are applied at that time. Changes to override values do not affect jobs that are already in flight.
To delete an override, hover over its entry and click the Trash icon.
A note on upgraded parameters
If you have upgraded from a version of the product before Release 7.1, any parameters that were defined in the previous version appear grayed out in the Parameters tab.
The Parameters tab is used for defining new flow parameters, which is a new type of parameter. These parameters can be referenced inside your recipe steps. See above.
Note
Parameters that are not of flow parameter type cannot be edited in the Parameters tab. You can apply override values to these parameters through the Overrides tab.
The Overrides tab is used to specify overrides to the default values for parameters, including parameters defined outside of Flow View.
If you add an override using the name of the parameter that was upgraded, the override is applied, based on the matching name.
Manage Parameters for Plans
You can also specify parameter overrides at the plan level. For the recipes in your plan, you can pass in parameter overrides values, which are used during plan runs.
Figure: Manage Parameters Dialog for plans
In the Manage Parameters dialog, you can review the parameters that are defined for the flows that are part of your plan.
Note
You cannot create parameters through Plan View. You must create the parameters within the flows that are part of your plan. After they are created, they are available for overrides through Plan View.
Note
In a plan, parameters and their overrides apply only to the flow task from where they are sourced. They do not apply to other flow tasks. They do not apply back to the source flows.
Tip
To pass a flow parameter value from one recipe to another, you can insert the parameter value in a column in a recipe, export the results as a reference dataset, and then ingest that reference into another flow.
Columns:
Parameter: The name of the parameter
From: The source flow in your plan for the parameter
Created in: The object in the source flow where the parameter is defined
Value: The current value for the parameter