topic Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types in Alteryx Designer Desktop Discussions

error while parsing ODBC column description types

joelharder — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:14:54 GMT

Hello,

I am currently experiencing an error in Alteryx Designer (v24.2). Every input/output data tool I use that accesses my (PostgreSQL) database gives the following errors:

Unexpected error while parsing ODBC column 1 description types: Unexpected error while parsing ODBC column 2 description types: ...

repeated for however many columns are in the table.

This error only started occurring after I updated my PostgreSQL ODBC driver to the latest version (v17.00.00.04).

I could not find any instances of people having this error on the Alteryx community at all, but I did see that it was listed in more than one patch note as being fixed (such as https://help.alteryx.com/release-notes/en/release-notes/designer-release-notes/designer-2023-1-release-notes.html#idp112393 and https://help.alteryx.com/release-notes/en/release-notes/designer-release-notes/designer-2024-1-release-notes.html##).

It floods my output with error messages which is annoying, but everything appears to be working as usual, and the data is getting properly input/output to the database regardless of these errors.

I’ve been playing with it for about a day now, and nothing I can think of gets it to go away. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

apathetichell — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:49:06 GMT

turn on increased logging in your odbc 64 connection. look at the logs. I'd recommend 1) downgrading your driver. 2) opening a support ticket with Alteryx. You have the newest (most likely to have bugs) version of Alteryx. you're also running a newer driver. Get your errors in your logs - and use that to explain your issue to support.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

BLamb — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:34:19 GMT

I have also been seeing the exact same error.

I've tried downgrading the odbc drivers but this didnt work - will raise a ticket with Alteryx also.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

apathetichell — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:02:28 GMT

@BLamb- if you turn on logging in the ODBC you should be able to inspect the logs to see exactly what the error is/where it's being generated.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

spencermerlo — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 19:14:18 GMT

Did you find a resolution to this error? We are experiencing the same issue.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

Arlete — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 13:15:30 GMT

Has anyone found a solution to this error?

We are facing the same issue.

Thanks.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

apathetichell — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 17:16:59 GMT

@Arletehey - I provided instructions on how to troubleshoot this. follow my instructions. see what you see. post the results.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

BLamb — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:13:35 GMT

Hi,

From looking at the logs the error seems to be stemming from:

EXIT SQLGetDescFieldW with return code 100 (SQL_NO_DATA_FOUND)

Im thinking this is something to do with the driver bein a unicode connection but don't know enough to confirm this.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

jrainone — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:36:55 GMT

same issue, same error in logs. this was after upgrading alteryx to 2022.3. i am opening a support ticket and if i get a fix will post it.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

jrainone — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:27:13 GMT

just downgraded to v11.01 and it is not throwing an error.

https://www.postgresql.org/ftp/odbc/versions.old/msi/

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

Arlete — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:00:27 GMT

Thanks jrainone, with this version v11.01, the error doesn't occur.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

BLamb — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:05:59 GMT

This worked for me also! Thanks for sorting

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

Inactive User — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 21:57:15 GMT

Same! Just went back to 11 and I'm all good. Thanks!

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

msant9043 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:21:12 GMT

Downgrading the drivers isn't an option due to NPT concerns. How to fix?

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

Scott_Kane — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:05:13 GMT

I'm using Alteryx to connect to the Tableau postgres database which is updated in newer releases of Tableau. Downgrading is not an option for everyone as older versions of the driver will not work with newer versions of postgres. That is my case so I have to use this driver.

I'm attaching a trace log which has no errors in it. Return code 100 is just a note saying it got everything it could. Since the driver thinks it's working ok I believe this is a bug in Alteryx and should be logged.

Re: error while parsing ODBC column description types

nicnie — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:18:48 GMT

Hello,

I have tested many different versions of the postgresql odbc driver with Alteryx version 2025.1.2.120.

The last working driver is version 16_00_0005-mimalloc.

It can be found here:

https://www.postgresql.org/ftp/odbc/releases/REL-16_00_0005-mimalloc/

The release notes for the postgres odbc driver can be found here:

https://odbc.postgresql.org/docs/release.html

It appears that Alteryx does not like one of these changes:

Change: Build against PostgreSQL 17 RC1
Fix: Double free of COL_INFO object

I assume it is the change relating to COL_INFO that causes problems in Alteryx.