Export to Excel where Excel expands column to lengths of field

[FreeRangeDingo]

I use Alteryx to Export to Excel and send the export to users.  When the user opens the Excel file, several of the columns show "###" when the column width is not wide enough to show the full value.  Users are complaining about this.  Is there any way to create the export to the full length of the columns???  Thanks in advance.  

[AngelosPachis · Accepted solution]

Hi @FreeRangeDingo ,

I think the answer in the following post applies to your case as well and might be what you are looking for

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Is-there-a-way-to-setup-Excel-cells-he...

What I suggested was the use of the reporting tools, that allow you some flexibility in defining column width. It's a matter of trial and error, so if the defined width is not large enough, you will still see #### so you have to increase it further.

Regards,

Angelos

[skeen503979]

@FreeRangeDingo Well it may just be me, but that complaint says more about the end user's capabilities than your output.  haha  Alteryx outputs data, Excel decides how it interprets that format.  Teach them the following 2 steps to make the columns auto-size to each.

Click the top left box between column A and row 1

Once all columns and rows are highlighted, double click between columns (when the cursor turns black)

Tada!

[FreeRangeDingo]

@skeen503979 You aren't wrong about the user.  Unfortunately, I still have to try to please them.  The user knows those steps and is angry that he has to do them.  They want me to eliminate those exact steps.

[FreeRangeDingo]

@AngelosPachis I added in the Basic Table tool, a Layout tool, and a Render tool.  I've been modifying the custom size, but Alteryx is taking all but the last column and squishing them up really tiny and then expanding the last columns really big.  See screenshot.

[FreeRangeDingo]

@AngelosPachis I did eventually get better spacing but had to increase by an order of magnitude that seemed nonsensical.  

[MCDR929]

@skeen503979 

THIS.  This is the most correct answer here lol.  

I just received a complaint that reps have to "open the columns and add a filter bar".  So.. 3 clicks and a Ctrl+shift+L. Got it.  I was asked to have the report sent to me first, make the change, and then send it to reps "corrected". 

No.

You can lead a horse to water, yada yada.