Get excel output with data type as 'Text' instead of 'General'

Question

I have an excel having all General format. I want it to be having the format as 'Text'.

How do I convert it in alteryx. How do I create a template with specific format or datatype and then append the data as it to it.

In is my input file

out is my desired output format file (.xls)

in.xlsx

out.xls

RyanWade · Answer

Just wondering @hf14 if you used any of these solutions since this post or tried something else.  I am having empty cells in my excel output from Alteryx that the output tool creates as general format.  When I load this data into Postgres, the cells become [Null].  Long story short is that Nulls are not accepted into where the next stage of the data transformation occurs.  Of course temporarily I updated these cells to '' empty strings and everything worked fine, but now I am trying to include that automation in my alteryx workflow.  Otherwise manual updates after defeats the purpose of an automated scheduled workflow for ETL.

Manoj_k · Answer

* Connect the appropriate input tool based on your file format.
* Use the Formula tool to convert desired columns to "Text" format.
* Use either the Dynamic Format tool (recommended for finer control) or the Append tool with a template to define the formats and append data.
* Connect the final tool to an Output Data tool to save the results.

cjaneczko · Answer

You cant. The best way to do it would be to setup the template in excel and then have Alteryx populate the template and preserve the formatting upon output. But if your columns are dynamic and change its going to be come trickier.

You can convert an entire column in excel to Text by using the Text to Columns in Excel if that is the only thing you are looking to do with the file.