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Parameters are not overridden in Input Steps when running a flow with Command Line and parameters override .json file


Published: 04 Oct 2022
Last Modified Date: 09 Dec 2022

Issue

The parameters in a flow file could not be applied to the Input steps when using the command line to override ​the current (default) parameter values.

For example, a parameter is applied in both the input and output step.
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And using a command line to override the parameter value in the flow.
Command:

"C:\Program Files\Tableau\Tableau Prep Builder 2021.4\scripts"\tableau-prep-cli.bat -t "C:\Users\nlu\Downloads\parameter_repro\parameter.tfl" -p "C:\Users\nlu\Downloads\parameter_repro\Parameters.json"
Parameters.json:
{"YEAR":"2021"}

The output should use the [Input2021.xlsx] and output to [Output2021.xlsx].
However, when using the command line, the flow is using the default parameter value [2022] in the Input step.
The output file will look as follows:
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Environment

  • Tableau Prep Builder 2021.4
  • Tableau Prep Builder 2022.1
  • Tableau Prep Builder 2022.2.1, 2022.2.2
  • Parameter 
  • Command Line

Resolution

Option 1
Upgrade to Tableau Prep 2022.2.3.
Option 2
Avoid using the parameters in the Input step.

Steps:
Instead of using the parameters in the Input Step to specify the input files, use wildcard unions to unionize multiple files, then use the parameters in the cleaning step to filter only the necessary data.
Please also refer to the image below for the wild union and filter settings.
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Please also check the attached sample flow [Parameter_Workaround.tfl] and data.

Cause

This has been resolved in Tableau Prep 2022.2.3.
 
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