Alteryx Workflow-Union Tool

[PriyankaShetty]

Hello community

I have prepared multiple workflows and combined them using "Union tool", as I want the final output in single excel as different sheets.

However, if I try to set order of the sheets it shows excel needs repair. Can anyone help.

Also, what are the steps to rename the sheet names?

[Rhys_Cooper]

HI @PriyankaShetty The first thing to pick up on his the output format of the two sheets currently look like xml, not xlsx. Please can you share a screenshot of the configuration of your output tool.

As an example, please see the screenshot below as an example of the config. Here, "placeholder" in the filepath is replaced with the "Record" field which determines what sheet the records are placed into. 

[caltang]

We need more information to advise you @PriyankaShetty 

Questions:

• Are you writing to a formatted template excel file? If yes, it is very sensitive and writing it over certain portions can corrupt an Excel file.
• Are you sure you are writing to .xlsx and not .xml? As per @Rhys_Cooper ‘s observation
• How you format the output path with Sheet names is important too. |||Sheet$ is good.

[PriyankaShetty]

Hello
I am using a render tool (the output format is.xlsx). If I don't set the order in the union sheet there is no error, only if I set the order of the sheets I am getting this error.

Union tool snap

Workflow

[caltang]

You mean each row within the union is supposed to be in different sheets? 

[PriyankaShetty]

Yes, so #1 is one workflow which needs to be in different sheet. Similarly, #2 is different workflow but needs to be in same excel but a different sheet and so on.

Now, if I am changing the output order to #1, 2, 3 and 4 in union tool the excel throws an error to repair. If the order remains unchanged i.e. #2,3,1 and 4 then there is no error.

I also want to name the sheets, at present the render excel output has sheet1, sheet2, etc. Any advice?

[caltang]

To render to different sheets and name them, follow this guide by @DataNath : https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works/How-to-Render-to-Multiple-Named-Excel-Sheets/ba-p/1015...

As to the error you are facing, I see that you are using control containers to execute it via an ordered manner. May I ask, why not attach the outputs to the Union tool based on how you want it rather than manually configuring it via Union tool? 

[PriyankaShetty]

Instead of breaking the workflow I was trying to put everything together in one workflow.

Do you have a workflow for reference, I can try the output and then Union?

Thanks for the link!

[caltang · Accepted solution]

No, what I meant was - instead of manually configuring your Union tool, use the Union tool in its default state and drag the connections in the order you want. Then run and see if there is still an error. If no, great. If yes, that means your #2 control container and #1, #3, and #4 are in conflict and somewhere along the lines, it is overwriting something perhaps.

Without the workflow, I am just speculating. Surely you can upload dummy data?

[PJS]

Genius! That worked, thank you so much😊