Google Sheets Output writing a blank sheet

I am experiencing a bizarre issue with Google Connectors.

I am working with a workflow that pull from multiple Excel sheets as well as several Google sheet inputs. One of the inputs is pulling from a Google Form Response Sheet which is auto-populated from google forms being filled out by end users. Additionally all Google Sheet inputs have been configured as follows so that Alteryx knows that records start at row 2:

I have configured my workflow so that, once the data has been manipulated, it is being output to three places: Google Sheet Output, an Output Data tool (excel sheet), and a Browse Tool for easy viewing.

After the flow is run I do not receive any errors. The flow writes to the excel sheet output without issue, and you can view the final data in the browse tool. But The Google Sheets Output writes out blank. All cells contain no data.

The messages show the following:

Google Sheets Output (344) Tool #402: Sheets API: Payload 1 of 1 posted at 13:07:02 on 2018/05/17
Google Sheets Output (344) Tool #402: Sheets API: Workbook was successfully published
Google Sheets Output (344) Profile Time: 134.39ms, 0.23%

Has anyone experience this problem before? After several hours of troubleshooting it seems the blank data is stemming from my Google Sheet populated by the Google Form Responses so used an ImportRange formula to a new sheet to pull from instead of the original sheet but this had no effect on the outcome. I have tried to troubleshoot this issue a million different ways but cannot seem to find a solution. Thank you for your help!

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Accepted answers

Sbinkley

Hi Probley - thank you for your follow-up! Contrary to what I posted yesterday, it isn't the number of columns, but what was in the headers of those last columns that were causing my issue. Apologies for the mislead.

I did some further research and have found the following:

1. The field names for those last columns contained the word "Total" followed by lengthy text that included parentheses and ampersands.

2. Once I changed my field names to something simpler and removed special characters, the issue disappeared.

I do need to do some additional testing today (is it the word "Total" or the length of the text or the special characters) but my issue disappeared when I simplified my field names.

Interested to hear any similar experiences from the Community.

Paul-Evans

@Sbinkley - Ampersands was the problem for me and it works just fine now. Thank you!

All comments

jessbartlett

Having the exact same issue. Very interested to hear the fix. Cheers.

BlakeFox

Glad to know I'm not alone with this issue. If anyone reads this and finds the problem I've detailed here is not clear feel free to let me know, I'd be happy to provide any additional detail possible. Thank you for your help!

ango858

Has anyone figured out what's going on?

I am running into the same issue, but found I am able to write to the Google sheet when I keep my record count at 100 rows. Anything above updates the sheet and it is blank with only the first header.

I am curious if anyone else has tried limiting their records with success as well.

Please keep me posted if anyone make0s progress.

PaulN

Hi @BlakeFox and @jessbartlett,

Are you stil facing same issue please?

Kind regards,

Paul Noirel

Sr Customer Support Engineer, Alteryx

briantalla

Hi Paul,

Yes, this issue persists. I had removed the google output from this workflow, just now added it back. Just like before, it works for three of my vendors, but outputs a blank sheet for the fourth.

Thanks,

Brian

Sbinkley

Would your number of columns by chance happen to be greater than 26? If I output a dataset using Google Outputs with less than or equal to 26 columns it's fine, but any greater number I get a blank sheet.

Paul-Evans

@Sbinkley I have the issue with only 16 fields and 70 records.

Sbinkley

I did some further research and have found the following:

1. The field names for those last columns contained the word "Total" followed by lengthy text that included parentheses and ampersands.

2. Once I changed my field names to something simpler and removed special characters, the issue disappeared.

I do need to do some additional testing today (is it the word "Total" or the length of the text or the special characters) but my issue disappeared when I simplified my field names.

Interested to hear any similar experiences from the Community.

KevinHarrison

I am having this problem with no luck from what other had solve this. Field title is simple, I have done a data cleanse on the field. I have narrow it down to one field that is causing the issue but I can't for the life of me fine how to get rid of the blank output. If I remove that field then it will upload fine. I went as far as data cleanse everything to where it is just blank and it still does it. Remove the field in a select tool, data uploads fine.

I tried putting a Block Until Done right before the Google output, that didn't help. I am really at a loss because it is obvious it is this field that is causing it but I can't find out why or find a solution.

If anyone has found other solutions, I would love to hear them.

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