Block Until Done Output Error -- Output to 1 file with 3 tabs

Question

My question is I'm trying to build an output file in Excel, just one file, with 3 tabs, and am experiencing errors where it won't process because the file is already in use.

Error message reads "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process"

I attached a screenshot of my workflow.

Appreciate your help!!

workflow.JPG

joelmiller66 · Answer

@lkomasara,

As @SPetrie mentioned, the Block Until Done Tool typically used at a single spot that will offshoot to multiple streams.

You also can look at using Control Containers depending on your version of Alteryx.

https://help.alteryx.com/current/en/designer/tools/developer/control-container-tool.html#control-container-tool

Also as @SPetrie mentioned, you can do a batch macro, since you seem to be using the same top input to join to all the other inputs.

SPetrie · Answer

Thats not quite how block until done works.

Its more of a gatekeeper. When output anchor 1 completes, then output 2 will go, then 3.

Having only one output anchor connected with the tool is essentially doing nothing. Turning off AMP may also assist.

How different are the outputs to the different tabs? if they all contain the same columns, you can combine into a single output tool to help alleviate the issue.

There are various other ways to resolve ranging from waterfalling outputs to batch macros. All depends on how fancy we want to get.