How to read Image/Blob data type from SQL into Alteryx

[bjschwartz3]

I have a SQL table that has a field called Document which contains either a PDF or MSG file. The field type in SQL server is Image and in Alteryx it is a Blob.

Example of one of the fields. I cut off most of the information.

0x504B0304140000000800CD1C704B7DDFB62CE583310000F235003800000043797072657373204368617365204E6F72746820436F6E646F6D696E69756D202332204173736F63696174696F6E2020496E...

Can Alteryx convert this to something readable?

[TheOC]

Hi @bjschwartz3 , yes this is possible!

We do this by using a tool called the Blob Convert Tool:
https://help.alteryx.com/current/designer/blob-convert-tool

I found this article that explains it much better than I could:

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Knowledge-Base/Tool-Mastery-Blob-Convert/ta-p/8615...

[bjschwartz3]

I have tried the Blob Convert tool but I wasn't able to get it to work. I've tried all the options to convert the document field but I haven't been able to get anything readable.

[TheOC]

I know it'll be a super long text, but could you potentially send me an example of one of the blobs, whether thats in workflow or in text on here, and i'll try my best to get this working for you!

[bjschwartz3]

Sure, thanks for looking into this.

[TheOC]

Hi @bjschwartz3 

My apologies, I have been unable to get this working. My thought process was using hte python tool to convert it to something more suitable, however it doesn't seem to be working for me as i am a novice to that tool.

Hopefully someone more experienced than me with this topic can swoop in and show us the way!

Good Luck!