How to Pivot the Data in Alteryx

Updated on:

May 4, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to reshape and pivot data using the Cross Tab tool in Alteryx.

Quick summary

The Alteryx Cross Tab tool lets you pivot data by transforming rows into columns within a workflow, making it easier to reshape datasets for analysis. Configure column selection, output method, separator, and grouping to control exactly how your pivoted data is structured.

Steps

In the Alteryx workflow designer, find the Cross Tab tool in the left-side panel, drag it onto the canvas, and connect it to your Input Data tool or other data sources.
In the right-hand configuration panel, select the column that contains the data you want to pivot.
Select the column whose values will be used to populate each cell in the pivoted output.
Specify your preferred Output Method for the Cross Tab results.
Set the Separator and Character Length for the output column headers.
Optionally, group columns according to your preferences to further organize the pivoted data.
Review the pivoted results in the workflow output — your data is now reshaped based on your configurations.

📌 Why this matters

Alteryx's Cross Tab tool solves a common data preparation challenge: converting row-based data into a column-based pivot structure without writing code. Analysts working with sales, survey, or time-series data can reshape datasets in seconds directly inside the Alteryx workflow designer. This no-code pivot capability reduces manual data wrangling time and ensures downstream analytics tools receive data in the right format. For teams evaluating Alteryx, this feature demonstrates the platform's ability to handle complex data transformations through a simple, visual configuration interface.

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