Output template

[Al_ani]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding the output design. I need to have my output in a certain excel template which requires colors, empty rows, merged cells etc. It seems like transforming the output in Alteryx is almost impossible. So is there a way to tell Alteryx to take an empty excel template and copy the data in there without overwriting the original template format and design? Thank you in advance! 

[atcodedog05]

Hi @Al_ani 

You can try out preserve output formatting. This way it overwrites to an existing excel template. $C6:AM2000 is the range that you want to write to.

Hope this helps : )

[Luke_C]

Hi @Al_ani 

This is definitely possible. Take a look at the solution to the below post and see if that helps:

Solved: Clearing Data in Template before Overwrite - Alteryx Community

[Al_ani]

Hi atcodedog05, 

thank you for your answer. Unfortunately I cannot overwrite, as I have a DateTime in my file title, so I always need to create a new sheet. If I select overwrite, I receive an error. To make it even more complicated I also have to sheets which are copied into the same file. Could you explain fürther what you mean by "$C6:AM2000 is the range"? Isn't that the name of the sheet of a file?

[Al_ani]

Hi Luke,

thank you very much for the link. It seems like the "Run command" tool could be an answer. Unfortunately, my alteryx version is too old to open the examples of your link. I suppose I will have to copy the output manually into my template each time.

[atcodedog05]

Hi @Al_ani 

You can use this guide to downgrade the workflow

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works/Making-Workflows-Apps-amp-Macros-Backwards-Compatible/...

Hope this helps : )

[Al_ani · Accepted solution]

Thank you all for your replies! So what I did now to solve my problem:

1. I took Luke's workflow from here: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Clearing-Data-in-Template-before-Overw... 

2. I downgraded it with atcodedog05's solution to to get a workflow downgraded: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works/Making-Workflows-Apps-amp-Macros-Backwards-Compatible/...

3. I now can use my own template and copy paste my rawdata into it. What first gave me an error, is special selection symbols such as $ or % which are part of my filepaths and filenames and normally do not throw an error in my workflows. By remvoing them I was able to run this specific workflow. Also I wanted to name my template by adding the date and time to it. Normally I can use : or / as separators which also did not work this time. By strictly using underscores I was able to name my filled template correctly.