Unable to create backup

Question

I have been trying to export two sheets into one excel file using two different data sources.  I am unable to because it's writing to the file at the same time.  BUD is not appropriate here, as I'm using two different data sources.  I've also looked at other threads and have been unable to implement any of the python tools/scripts to basically tell my workflow to "wait" in middle of the stream.  Does anyone have any good suggestions here, so that I don't have to break this workflow up into two separate workflows?

edavies · Answer

I logged on today and now it's working... I'm not sure why, I didn't change anything, but we are all good now.  Thanks to all that contributed.

rfoster7 · Answer

I'm surprised that doesn't work. Looking at your screenshot it should the way its configured. So I'm guessing there's something else I can't see going on outside of your screenshot. I set up my own test following your screenshot and it worked for me.

On older versions of Alteryx, we discovered this trick which might work for you. Using multiple block until done tools, outputting through the 2 or 3 output on each, this lets us write data to the same workbook but different sheets without running into lock issues.

The trick to this working is that each block until done tool and output tool pair needs to have toolID numberss greater than the ones above it. So you need to create the first two, then the second, and so on. I don't know why this works, but it has to do with how Alteryx processes tools in tool ID order as much as possible. You can see what the toolID number is on each tool by clicking on it and looking in the upper left corner of the configuration panel.

If you still can't get that to work, then download the Parallel block until done tool from the CReW macros. It does exactly what you are trying to do but isn't compatible with the AMP engine/Control Containers like the standard Parallel Block Until Done tool.

Qiu · Answer

@edavies 
If I understand your intention here correctly.
We can some discussion here about writing data to different sheets of one Excel from different data source.
Point here is to use the Count Record tool to link the data source so they can get into a waiting line. 😁

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/Inputting-3-sheets-from-1-workbook-edit-them-and-then-outputting/m-p/1325021#M330491