Run Command on Success- Error

Hi,

I am trying to get a couple of workflows set up to run in sequence. I did some research and found an article in which the CREW Macro was not recommended or supported by Alteryx to run on the server. I also read up on this post which gives instructions on filling out the workflow events ("after run") using C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin\AlteryxEngineCmd.exe and additional command arguments pointing to my file.

After setting up my event per the instructions in the link, I get the following error:

Error: Designer x64: The Designer x64 reported: Error running Event #2: The external program "C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin\AlteryxEngineCmd.exe" returned an error code: 2: The operation completed successfully. (0)

Therefore the second workflow is never triggered. I initially tried doing this as a chained app, however still doesn't seem that chained apps can run silent since my chained app setup only worked when I ran it manually and I need this to run scheduled on the server.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Workflow

Server

Scheduler

Run Command

Chained App

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mbarone

I believe error code 2 usually is a file is not found. Since it's on your server, have you set up both modules inputs/outputs as full UNC paths? Also, do you know where your engine logs are stored (mine are "W:\Program Files\Alteryx\AppLogFiles") - you can find yours (if set) in the Server Settings, Engine "General" section.

That way you'll see the full logs of both the first module and the second one. But again, I'd be surprised if it wasn't something to do with the Server not being able to access a certain file due to either it doesn't have permissions, or it's not set to a full UNC path.

JMart2135

@mbarone I haven't tried it on the server yet, i was just trying to get it to run locally before i even pushed it to the server. Figured if i could get it running locally then i would work the paths once i publish to the server. I went to the filepath manually to ensure that it was correct and not just copy/pasted from the example page.

The workflow was already running on the server correctly aside from the second flow i am trying to trigger. So really just trying to get the command line step to run correctly once the workflow is complete.

mbarone

I see. What's the configuration of your Event look like?

JMart2135

@mbarone This is a screenshot of the setup that gives the error i mention in the original post. the file i am trying to run is located on a network share that i have access to as well as the server service accounts.

trigger run command.jpg

mbarone

Well that set up looks fine. Only thing I can possibly think of trying next is to up that timeout. I always set it to something large, like 24000. Although that would throw a different error if that's the cause.

Even on your desktop, you can set a logging directory as indicated earlier. Try that, and check the logs - there should be two - one from the initial module, and one from the second one. Those logs should indicate more than the original error.

JMart2135

I tried enabling the logging in the settings and its not liking that. It wont let me "finish" in the menu after i enabled it

mbarone

Ah; I apologize. I'm thinking server again. For plain old designer desktop, in designer, go to options, user settings. It's on the first tab (Defaults). I created my own directory to be easy to get to:

2022-03-09 10_50_17-User Settings.png

JMart2135

Of the two logs that get produced, one is the same that shows in Alteryx. The second (I am assuming is the workflow I am trying to trigger with the run command) produces the following log results.

Started running [Unnamed Module] at Wed Mar 9 12:42:35 2022
00:00:00.768 - ToolId 3: Number of records read: 0
00:00:00.823 - ToolId 6: Number of records read: 0
Finished in 00:00:00.831

I ran the second workflow manually and it does produce results from tool 3/6 so not sure why its saying 0 records are read.

mbarone

Well I'm stumped. I just tried it on my own laptop, and I get the same error. They might have changed the licensing to not allow Alteryx to run from a command line unless you have Server, or Desktop Automation. Are you able to remote into your server and try it there (with the module/files living on the server itself)?

JMart2135

I can try publishing it to the server and then running it to see what happens. if my db table updates then ill know it worked. I did read something about that automation license but i am not sure if i have that or not.

mbarone

That has to be it. I just tried the exact same modules on my server with the exact same locations (C:\users\mbarone\Desktop) and it worked fine. I know there was some back and forth a while ago about allowing run command executions with a base license vs. with either Server or Desktop Automation license. They must have ended up on the "only with server/desktop automation" side.

mbarone

To test, you could set up your initial module with a text input tool with "test" as the data. That can be yxmd_1.yxmd. And then set up yxmd_2.yxmd to be the same thing (dummy text input tool) and connect it to a message tool, and have the message be "IT WORKED". Then code yxmd_1.yxmd to execute yxmd_2.yxmd after completion. Then when you check the logs to see if it worked, you should see the log for that second one with a line of code that shows "IT WORKED".

JMart2135

I tried using my existing workflows since i dont have access to the server logs. I confirmed the path to the Altertyx Engine CMD file with our server admin. I now get a different error running on the server.

Error running Event #2: The external program "E:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin\AlteryxEngineCmd.exe" returned an error code: 2: The system could not find the environment option that was entered. (203)

Wondering if i need to work with the server admin to try this?

mbarone

Worth a shot. At least we now know that it is working on the server, so it must be that on the desktop you need the automation license. I think I did have to do that Environment thing when we first set it up (I do have C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin in the path settings). However, it appears that your path is E:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin, so you might have to enter that. Can you confirm with your admin that they put the engine command on the E:\ drive and not the C:\ drive? I left mine on the C:\ , added the path, and everything worked fine. Never tried it with an E:\ drive though.

JMart2135

Yes i reached out to my admin to verify the path and he said it was installed on the E drive. Ill try and set up some time with him to try and work through the link instructions. I appreciate all of your help with this. Really wish the analytic apps would work with the scheduler.

mbarone

No problem at all. That would make my life easier as well!

JMart2135

@mbarone so it turned out i needed to also follow the instructions here to get the setup in the run command screen completed with the server controller ID and location. Doing this got rid of the error i had, however the second flow still didnt run. So hoping to troubleshoot that further with my server admins

vaughangary

I think you need a scheduler license to run command line on desktop. Alternatively, using the CREW runner macros might be an option.

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