How to control sequence in Alteryx Flow

Question

Hi Folks!!

I have four folders say:

1. Template

2. Output

3. Archive.

4. INPUT

Alteryx will execute everyday with below detail:

1. Move the file named Output.xls from OUTPUT folder to ARCHIVE folder.

2. To move the file named Output.xls from TEMPLATE folder to OUTPUT.folder.

3. Process the file named source.xls from INPUT folder and load the data into Output.xls on different sheets.

In order to achieve this, I have used CONTROL CONTROLLER so that I can perform execution in sequence, flow running fine for step 1 and step 2 however I am getting issue in STEP 3

In STEP 3, I need to load the data into WORKSHEET1 of OUTPUT.xls file, then i want to use data for WORKSHEET1 as a input and load the data into WORKSHEET2 of OUTPUT.xls, in order to do so, i tried to use  "BLOCK UNTIL DONE" but it say "BLOCK UNTIL DONE cant be used with CONTROL CONTAINER.

Please suggest how to perform this activity.

Thanks

Amit

amsrivastav · Answer

Hi Welli,

Understood, that in order to pass the control sequentially, Control container will be used.

However, for Step -3 where I need to use one WORKSHEET1 data and load into same file but WORKSHEET2, I have to use BLOCK UNTIL DONE.

Understood that it can be achieved using chain of Control Containers but it will lead to multiple read of same data again and again as I have few more worksheet to load with the data of WORKSHEET1.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

Amit

WeiLi · Answer

just dont use block until done. use Control Container and chain the containers. each container has an output on the top right.

this is the container output, not the output from the tools inside the container.

side note: if you are using an archive structure, i would suggest you do not save archive data in Excel or CSV. instead you should use a proper data base solution like SQL. reading / writing to SQL is much more prudent, for sake of avoiding problems down the road.

you can still use Excel if you need to extract a portion of the records and send it to an external party. but for archive storage, use SQL or a suitable RDBMS