Output Data - new tab with date of run

I would like my output to be to an excel file, but create a new tab with a timestamp of the run as the sheet name.

I've tried a number of different ways. It seems like it needs a sheet identified, but doesn't like it when I make the name dynamic (or my coding is off). I seem to get errors unless I just have it replace the file entirely.

Output

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Accepted answers

mceleavey

You don't need the todatetime() function. If you want the datetime, use datetimenow() and if you want just the date, use datetimetoday().

All comments

rafalolbert

Hi @KyleF,

This should do the trick, formulate filename|tab using Formula Tool: "output.xlsx|" + DateTimeFormat(DateTimeNow(),"%Y_%m_%d_%H_%M_%S") and Change File/Table Name for the Output Data Tool. Example is attached.

Thanks,

Rafal

#Excuse me, do you speak Alteryx?

workflow.yxmd

CharlieS

Hi @KyleF

This should be possible, so let's start with a basic example. Here's how I would write an Excel file with a sheet named with today's date. Here's an example Formula to create your file path string that include a sheet name of today's date:

"%temp%\TestOutput.xlsx|||"+DateTimeToday()

This will return ""%temp%\TestOutput.xlsx|||2021-03-01" and this value can be used by the Output tool as the path. I've attached an example of this in action.

Now this is just a general case, there may be other complications like if you're writing to a file that already exists or using Render tools. Let us know how this goes and we'll take it from there.

20210301-TodaysSheet.yxmd

KyleF

It worked the first run, but then it has an error because the "sheet already exists" if run a second time. Does DateTimeToday() only return the date or the time as well? My file location is a LONG string, so I wasn't sure if the size of my string was just too small and truncating.

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