topic Re: CSV Formatting Challenge in Workato Pros Discussion Board

CSV Formatting Challenge

spencerstone — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 21:10:24 GMT

Hey all - I need to compose a CSV in Workato that I am not sure is possible, here is my criteria (screenshot below):

Row 1 has to be as follows: EmployeeManagerImport,,,,,,

Row 2 has to be as follows: H,EmployeeManager,EmployeeManager,EmployeeXRefCode,ManagerXRefCode,EffectiveStart,EffectiveEnd

Row 3 has to be as follows: D,EmployeeManager,EmployeeManager,{dataPillValue},{dataPillValue},{dataPillValue},{dataPillValue}

As you can imagine, row 1 is really where issues are being caused. Row 2 is effectively the header row, however I need the value in A1 and the subsequent blank cells in order to tell the system what action to perform.

Has anyone else run into a similar custom CSV formatting challenge like this?

#automation #hrTech #SFTP

Re: CSV Formatting Challenge

gary1 — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 21:44:12 GMT

Assuming you can make the CSV for rows 2 and onward without issue, all you need to do is add the header row -- like, literally "text add" the row to the beginning of the CSV.

Action 1 - Make your CSV using a CSV action or however you want. The output should be a data pill of text
Action 2 - Make a logger action, switch to formula mode, and do this:

"EmployeeManagerImport,,,,,,\n" + [CSV data pill]

The "\n" is just a line break so it doesn't merge with row 2.

I just tested this and it works.

Re: CSV Formatting Challenge

spencerstone — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:51:24 GMT

@gary1 Ah wonderful, this was exactly what I needed! This worked a charm, thank you. I have one related CSV puzzle I am working through that I was wondering if you had any insight on. I need my header row to remain static (XrefCode,EffectiveStart,Value,Employee_Id), that part is simple enough. However, I need the structure of the CSV to always have 4 rows, with the 4 values in Column A being static and the rest being dynamic. Sample desired CSV output attached below:

I took what you presented before, using a Logger Action, and pretty much tried to simply build the CSV from scratch (below). That said, I am presented with the fact that the formula has errors. I am not sure where I went wrong here... Let me know if anything jumps out at you!

Re: CSV Formatting Challenge

shivakumara — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:01:06 GMT

Hi @spencerstone ,

I could see Concatenation operator is missing at the last row. Here I am providing the screenshot for the same.

Add "+" after the comma, it should work. Please let me know if you need further information.

Thanks and Regards,
Shivakumara Avadhani

Re: CSV Formatting Challenge

spencerstone — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:49:56 GMT

I was looking at it for so long that the commas and plus signs were floating!! Thanks for the sanity check