.xslb file that contains data, but alteryx makes them [null]

Hi guys, Im new to Alteryx, and have been having trouble with some .xslb files.

I have a column that contains data (ex: X33, X41, and 541) when i open it on excel, but when I import the file to alteryx it only appears "541", while the other ones appear [null]. I know that those fields are not nulls, but alteryx seems to have trouble reading the fields with X33, X41 and the other ones...

Can someone please help me?? When i import the fale as .xls it works perfectly, but i wanted to use .xslb files, since they are much smaller...

Evidence:

on excel:

on alteryx:

1.PNG

2.PNG

Help

Accepted answers

Sntrada

Hi @thatsameguy ,

Figured that might be the issue.

I found this walkaround here -: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer/Force-data-type-of-input-data/idi-p/24656

After you check the box for option 6, it seems Alteryx then forces all columns to be in string data type. You can then create appropriate column names, set appropriate variables, and drop the first row.

Example pictured and attached.

Hope this helps!

Testing XLSB.yxzp

Workflow .jpg

All comments

Sntrada

My guess would be that Alteryx is using the wrong data type for this column. Alteryx may be reading it as number when it should be string.

That's my hunch. If you attached the actual Excel file we can see if this or something else is the issue.

SubratDas5

Hi thesameguy,

You can check on @Sntrada's approach.

Here is something else that i think might be of help to you . - https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer/working-with-xlsb-files-in-Alteryx/td-p/144950

Please share if you have success.

SubratDas5

Another one to add - https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer/xlsb-file-and-rounding-integers/td-p/521154

thatsameguy

unfortunately the excel contains sensitive data... But it comes as null the moment I import the file on Alteryx, so even if I set the column as a string it will still make those cells as nulls...

Sntrada

Hi @thatsameguy,

I downloaded the file you provided and I am not having the same issue.

But I should mention that the file is taking abnormally long to load into the workflow when I hit run. Although the xslb file is about 24% of the size of the xlsx file, the xslb file took 1.06 minutes to load, while the xlsx version only took 1.1 seconds!

Are you also experiencing long load times in your workflow?

Also, how are you importing the file? Are you dragging and dropping it directly into the workflow?

thatsameguy

Hey, thanks for responding... Yeah, when I downloaded the file that I sent here it worked fine as well, I guess the issue is when I extract the file from the data base. But im still having the same issue, fields that contains data are been replaced as null by alteryx when i use xlsb files, but are read when i use xlsx files....

About your time issue, im not having this problem... Both workflows run pretty fast, not depending on the format i import the file. And I do not drag it into the canvas, I open it from the input tool... Do you think that might be the issue?

thatsameguy

I think I solved it! Alteryx is reading the collumn as a number, and all those fields that have a letter (X33, X41, etc.) are been nulled because they are not a number! Do you know how I can set the column as a string when I import it? I am currently using the select tool, but the field is imported as a number, so it comes nulled from the begining... I wanted to import that column as a string, since the start of the workflow.

Tks!

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