Analytic App Error Workaround

Question

Hey all, I have this workflow that I run every month that reads in a batch of excel files with different tab names. I have separate dynamic inputs that allows me to read in each tab in each file that is uploaded to a shared drive. Since not all files have each of the tab names I search for (with some have multiple tabs that I'm searching for), this gives my workflow an error when I'm running the workflow. This is fine for my monthly updates, but now that I'm attempting to add the analytic app, I'm running into troubles. Here is an example:

File A has tab 1,2,3

My workflow has inputs searching for tabs 1,2,3,4 in separate streams of the workflow.

When searching for tab 3, it will read all of File A's tabs (1,2, and 3). When reading tabs 1 and 2 it will throw the error, but continue the workflow.

When my analytic app tries to run the workflow, it gives no output since it runs into the error. Is there any workaround for this? Should I try a different method?

Alteryx App.png

BS_THE_ANALYST · Accepted Answer

@GUTS07

To answer your question which I think really is about error handling, can't you leverage control containers? Control containers will only activate and run if criteria is met.

Additionally, if you use a batch macro to read the sheets of a file and then a subsequent batch macro to read in each sheet from the file, you shouldn't experience any errors as it's dynamic. Design would be like Directory (gets file paths) -> Batch macro to add sheets to file path (creating many rows for one file) -> batch macro to read in each of these rows. You could stack all the outputs or have multiple anchors inside the last batch macro which output sheet1,sheet2,sheet3,sheet4 respectively and stack them (probably leveraging filters to point them to the appropriate output anchor).

Understandably, the path to least resistance may be the best and I'd say control containers could prevent the errors.

All the best,

BS

apathetichell · Accepted Answer

The correct way to do this is to use a Batch Macro.  Do not use any other solution.