Alteryx Reading Columns from Input but NOT the data that is in the columns

[Cbennesn]

I have two legs of a workflow.

The first leg takes an input, manipulates it and outputs the data ("Altreyx Output"), which has three columns (Month & Year, State, Amount). This data is output to an existing workbook that has other tabs that summarize this data by period. For example, a summary tab and 4 tabs that detail amounts by state and month for each quarter (e.g., Q1, Q2, Q3 & Q4). These sheets are formula-driven and populate with data from my 'Alteryx Output' tab.

The second leg uses the existing workbook I noted above as input. I then take the data by period and use it for other downstream reporting which isn't pertinent to my problem.

The Problem: I was able to output to my file and subsequently use it as an input without issue, as they are in separate containers. However, even though the data is correctly populating to my desired files, when I use it as an input, it does not contain the data (amounts). It pulls in the schema as expected with all of the headers and rows, just no underlying data. It should also be noted that I have been running this for days without issue, all of a sudden this is happening.

I copied the sheets into a new workbook, re-ran and it worked. But it only works for the initial run after deleting or putting in a new file, then it reverts back to not showing the data.

Any thoughts on why this is happening?

[apathetichell]

what version of Alteryx are you running and if you declare a path to ouptut your first file can you share the formula tool where you generate that path? does it contain a range?

[Cbennesn]

I am running Version: 2022.1.1.25127.

For the first leg, my output is actually output twice. Once as a true output to a folder location, and another to an "Input" folder. They are the exact same, this way I am not using an output as an input, if that makes any sense.

I do not declare or define a file path using a formula tool, it is just the path where I saved my xlsx file down to. It does not specify a range

[AGilbert]

This sounds suspiciously like issues that crop up with the Output Data - Output Options configuration (attached file for reference).

Agree with @apathetichell, any workflow details you can share is helpful.

[Cbennesn]

I have included a few images. Item A is the true output, Item B is the output that is used for the second leg of the workflow as an input. As I mentioned before, it had been working fine until today. 

For example, if I try to run this workflow for March 2024, the excel file will correctly populate with the data, but when pulling it in via Input B on the second leg, it will not pull in the data, even though it is present in the excel file. My "Alteryx Output" tab has headers in the file so I use the "Append to existing sheet" config. 

Not sure if it matters but both "legs" of the workflow are in separate containers. I understand Alteryx reads top down, left to right, so it shouldn't be an issue with pulling the input before it is written but maybe I am wrong?

[AGilbert]

Thanks for the detail! 

Is Image 3 the output of the B input file anchor in Image 2? If leg one ends with data appended to an existing file, I'd expect your March numbers to be below the 0's in that table.

A separate thought. If the Image 3 table is constructed within one of the legs (rather than read from a file) do you have a Select tool with 'unknown' deselected which would capture data from a new monthly column?

[apathetichell]

can you confirm that AMP is off?

[Cbennesn]

AGilbert - Yes, image 3 is the output of the B input file and AMP is off. I have attached the file for reference so you can better understand the process. The 'Alteryx Results' tab is my output from the first leg of the workflow. and the data is appended every time a user runs it for a new month. 

I then use this same file as my input in the second leg, users can select any of the tabs as input, as they are all updated via formula from the 'Alteryx Results' sheet. 

If I open this file after running the workflow, the data is updated as intended. When using it as an input, the numbers are not present. So using the example file attached, if I ran it for April 2024, the amounts are populated but would show as zero when used as an input. I tried using control containers to solve this in the event it was an ordering issue but that did not solve anything.

[AGilbert]

Thanks @Cbennesn for the helpful explanation. By updating the 'Apr 2024' values to 'Mar 2024' the input tool works as expected. At least that rules out silly things like excel format/formulas. I've attached the workflow package to document for others. 

I did notice the total column in 'Image 3 Alteryx.PNG' is the correct row subtotal for two months. I believe that if the input table were mysteriously dropping the March column the subtotal would be unchanged from the underlying file. In other words, the rows would not reconcile across. Could it be that an outdated file is being selected from the analytic app portion of your workflow? You could troubleshoot this by importing the file with the full path or file name appended. 

Thanks for letting me throw some ideas at the problem. Good luck!

Alex

[Cbennesn]

Thanks for the help. I am still unable to get it to work and not sure what the issue could be at this point. As I mentioned, when I change the month, the data writes to the output as intended with no issue. When using that file as an output, where I would expect the most updated table to be used, it is simply not pulling in the values. 

I created new files, changed locations, did it on a shared drive and my local drive and nothing impacts it. Even using Control Containers had no effect. Is there any reason a formula in my sheet could cause this issue? Also, on my 'Alteryx Results' sheet, the data is not starting on row 2 as I would expect, it's starting on a random row further down in the sheet. Not sure if that would impact it as the VLOOKUP I am using is for the full range.