What does the Append Fields Tool do in Alteryx?

The Append Fields Tool in Alteryx is designed to effectively combine fields from a source input with every record in a target input. This allows users to enrich their datasets by adding relevant information from one data source into another, facilitating data analysis and reporting.

When utilizing the Append Fields Tool, each record in the target input receives the fields from the source input, replicating those fields across all records in the target dataset. This is particularly useful in scenarios where additional attributes or context are needed for analysis, and it simplifies the integration of different datasets into a cohesive and comprehensive format.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of the Append Fields Tool. Sorting records is handled by tools specifically designed to organize data. Outputting data is the role of output tools in Alteryx, which facilitate exporting datasets to various file formats or databases. Processing specific records and ranges would typically involve filtering or dataset manipulation tools, rather than appending fields across entire datasets.