ODBC Input Auto Choosing Data Type

[adamholsenbeck]

Hello All, 

Has anyone experience an issue with Alteryx auto selecting a data type when importing a dataset via an ODBC connection? 

For example:

I created a connection from a data source, however, Alteryx auto selected Call ID to a double when importing the data directly into Alteryx. Because of this – we are missing data from the source. We would want this field to be a string instead. I have tried using "Cast" in the SQL statement to change the data type, but that is still populating some of the data as null. 

[apathetichell]

What is the database. How is your ODBC configured. What happens when you use IN-DB? What is your cast statement? There are a variety of reasons this can happen including:

1) Alteryx error.

2) Driver error.

3) Configuration issue in the driver.

[cjaneczko]

You could try using a normal Input tool and then checking the box off that says First Row contains data. This will bring all the fields in as String and then you can update them as needed afterwards. 

[adamholsenbeck]

1. The database I am pulling from Is smartsheet. 

2.

SELECT [Call ID], CAST([Call ID] AS VARCHAR(255)),

                  [Created],

                  [Create Date Trim],

                  [Row ID],

                  [Team Member Name],

                  [EPIC_ID],

                  [Date Of Call],

                  [QA Type],

                  [Evaluation Score],

                  [QA Analyst],

                  [Call Notes],

                  [Manager],

                  [Supervisor],

                  [Queue],

                  [Report Week],

                  [Report Month],

                  [Queue Date],

                  [Name Queue Merge]

FROM "Contact Center QA__4050175611168644s_(Contact Center)"

[adamholsenbeck]

Do you mean export the data from the data source into an excel file and then have the excel file input in the workflow? 

[apathetichell]

The smartsheet ODBC is terrible. I would expect that this is a limitation of that product and look at using the API instead.

FYI - on general issues with casting:

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/115518/how-to-prevent-smartsheet-api-from-converting-cer...

I'd ask on the Smartsheet forum.