Corrupt File: XML parse failure - cell has no column definition

Question

Hi All,

I have two input files which saved in the format .Xlsx (not sure if its different from .xlsx). When I bring this file to Alteryx designer, it shows "Corrupt File: XML parse failure - cell has no column definition".

I know if I open this and resave it manually, this issue disappear. But I want this to be done through Alteryx workflow. Is there any macro or a workaround to resolve this issue?

Thanks.

KGT · Answer

Where does the file originate from? The file is being corrupted on write. When you open it in Excel, it is then being corrected and you are then resaving the corrected file.

I had this happen a couple times earlier this year out of the blue. The files had been written out of Alteryx, but the sheet names were qualified for the Jet Driver, with quotes etc. I can't remember the exact difference, and so I'm not going to confuse things, but have a look where the files are being written from and how.

Gaurav_Dhama_ · Answer

Read the file using blob tool, add a formula tool to create a new path with correct file extension and use blob output to write it back using new path.

Try if this helps.

If not, maybe share a file if you can.

OTrieger · Answer

Actually Run Command will not be enough in this case, but Run Command and a Power Shell will. I guess python will be simpler solution in this case.

If you will open type to ask ChatGPT for the python code, you should get a proper code, you will need only to modify the path to your file.