Using Command Prompt to Run Alteryx Workflow

I am testing out the possibility of using the Command Prompt to run my Alteryx workflows

My first hurdle is to get it to actually run. Every time I run the simple code of "C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin\AlteryxEngineCmd.exe" MyWorkflow.yxmd I get the following error.

Can someone help in explaining the Error - Alteryx Engine: Can't red the file "TESTWORKFLOW.yxmd". It appears that my computer recognizes Alteryx and runs it but then the file doesn't run. I have attached the simple test workflow as well.

TESTWORKFLOW.yxmd

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Accepted answers

BrianR

In your case, try wrapping that whole directory, including the workflow name in quotation marks and try running your command again - such as -

AlteryxEngineCmd.exe "C:\Users\MYUSERID\Desktop\Automation Files\TESTS\TESTWORKFLOW.yxmd"

Also worth looking into what @bharatandalam mentioned via the Run Command dialog.

bharatandalam

@agcruz

Most probable reasoning is that your license is expired.

AlteryxUserFL

Have you considered using Python? Using Python + pyautogui, will give you a lot more control in comparison to command prompt. I'm using Python to refresh Alteryx, Tableau Prep, and Tableau. I also use python to pull down flat files into a shared drive where Alteryx can find them, filter Tableau workbooks and transform them into edible PowerPoint files.

AlteryxUserFL

If you send me a private message, I can share my email and I can walk you through what I did. My office does not like us to post code online.

agcruz

@AlteryxUserFL

I am just following up on your comment about sharing your python code to help in replacing the command prompt.

The code doesn't have to be extensive in terms of detail so feel free to hide sensitive information. I want to give it a look and play with it. I will reach out if I have questions, sounds good?

Here is my email: andres.cruz[at]iriworldwide.com

Thank you for your help!

All comments

BrianR

It's not clear from the screenshot you attached, but are you calling the workflow using a fully qualified path? i.e., something like this - from the Alteryx\bin folder, running AlteryxEngineCmd.exe and then...

AlteryxEngineCmd.exe "C:\MyWorkflowFolder\TESTWORKFLOW.yxmd"

bharatandalam

@agcruz

when using the command tool, you should always use a absolute path rather than relative path.

Please use the complete path of the file

C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin\AlteryxEngineCmd.exe

or you can provide the working directory and then provide the workflow name

agcruz

Below is the information:

C:\Users\MYUSERID\Desktop\Automation Files\TESTS

File name is TESTWORKFLOW

FYI: I am trying to run the workflow directly in the Command Prompt and not in Alteryx Command tool, but if you find it easier to use the tool then I'll give your process a shot.

Thanks

AlteryxUserFL

agcruz

I appreciate everyone's help. I will reach out to my Alteryx contact to see if I am able to upgrade my licence.

@AlteryxUserFL Python is my next challenge. Do you mind sharing some of your code for running Alteryx?

Thank you!

sergeyzh

Hi, can you please direct me on how to use Python with Alteryx and Tableau? Currently, we manually open the Alteryx Designer and run workflows. For Tableau, we work with Tableau API using javascript. It would be really nice to learn from your experience how to programmatically run the whole process (from Alteryx workflows to Tableau refresh extracts) with Python. Thanks

Sri9

Can you please show sample how to call workflows using pyautogui?

ACurtis

I am trying to do the same thing..but with the Task Scheduler..which is the wizard for the Command Prompt.

What I am hitting is that the program runs and opens the file and then a popup opens that says "what program do you want to use to open this file?" So, for the sake of Command Prompt, it did its job, but there is yet another task to be done in order to get the workflow to open.

bharatandalam

Hi @ACurtis

can you please provide more info, if your goal to execute the workflow then you straight away use the command prompt and provide the workflow location. You can refer my solution

when using the command tool, you should always use a absolute path rather than relative path.

Please use the complete path of the file

C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin\AlteryxEngineCmd.exe

or you can provide the working directory and then provide the workflow name

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