Alteryx Excel Import, Is there a way to bring through the calculation for the cell?

[TheOC]

Hey,
I'm just looking for a little help regarding an excel import. I have the following file:

Field 3 is populated by a calculation, as you can see, 1+2. Is there a way to bring that calculation through to Alteryx, rather than just the value of the cell?
The data is brought into Alteryx as such:

I've attached the spreadsheet if it helps investigate.
Cheers!
TheOC

[atcodedog05]

Hi @TheOC 

I dont think its possible. Most of the applications when it reads data from the excel file it can read only the data but not the underlying formula.

But lets see if anyone has a hack on how to do this.

[TheOC]

Hey @atcodedog05, long time no see!

That was my assumption, but ran into an issue a couple days ago which may require it - I guarantee someone has a magic method 😁

Cheers!
TheOC

[AngelosPachis · Accepted solution]

Hi @TheOC ,

As a matter of fact, I believe there is a way.

In a post yesterday, @danilang showed how you can read an Excel file as a .zip file and then parse the comments of some cells. I've never seen anything like that before and as he said, "parsing the various xml files within, you can find out all sorts of secrets".

So I tried something similar, using exactly the same inputs; now, I'm no XML master but in just a few minutes I managed to play a bit with the xml tool and I was able to find this

This is the formula I used in the Excel file, to calculate cell B2

So it's doable! Sorry this is not a perfect solution for you but hopefully it can show you the way. With a bit more delicate parsing, you should be able to get there.

Cheers,

Angelos

[TheOC]

oh man, thats an impressive solution!

Massive props to you and @danilang.

I think that should get me the rest of my way, thank you!!

Cheers,
TheOC

[atcodedog05]

Oh my God 😮 This is just mind-blowing 😮

Is there anything that @danilang  cant do ?

Thanks for sharing this with us @AngelosPachis 

[atcodedog05]

And i guess at the end of the day everything is just XML then 😅

[TheOC]

I think this is closer to the truth than we think 😅

[danilang]

Stop it!!

You guys are making me blush!!

Dan

[JokeFun]

Error: Input Data (22): Error reading "xl/worksheets/sheet1.xml": Record #1: Fields must be smaller than 16M

Any solution on this without manual change to the input file? I think there're too many columns there.