What is the primary function of the Filter tool in Alteryx?

The primary function of the Filter tool in Alteryx is to separate records by specific conditions. This tool enables users to specify criteria to either include or exclude records from the data stream based on boolean expressions. For instance, if a user wants to extract only those records where sales figures exceed a certain threshold or where the status of a process is 'active', the Filter tool can be configured accordingly. This allows for efficient data manipulation, enabling users to focus on relevant subsets of data for further analysis.

The other options involve different functionalities that do not align with the main purpose of the Filter tool. Joining multiple datasets pertains to the merging of data from different sources, while performing calculations involves tools dedicated to mathematical operations on the data. Formatting data into reports is managed by tools designed specifically for enhancing presentation and layout of the output, such as the Report tools. Therefore, while those functionalities are crucial in the data preparation and analysis process, they are not the primary role of the Filter tool.