The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

[Niki_90]

I've had an Alteryx workflow scheduled with the scheduler for a long time now. Recently, I've been getting the same error each night when trying to write out.

"The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

- The file I'm trying to output is a qvx.

- I find it hard to believe someone would have this file open since limited users have access to Alteryx.

- The file is written to a shared drive.

- My workflow is linear, so using a block tool is not the issue here.

I'm not sure what else to do besides rename the file, which did successfully output, but it would just be tedious to then fix it in the scheduler and all documentation.

Thanks for any help!

[Aura_P]

This worked for me. Thank you!

[aavillatoro]

I went through this issue when inputting file into a workflow but it was because i had the file opened in another application, so just make sure the file is only opened in Alteryx. 

[haphan_tran]

You can take a look at this.
Writing to multiple Excel Sheets in the same files... - Alteryx Community

[Genevieve]

There is now a new solution: the Conditional Containers. They allow to run the AMP engine and save about 3-4 times the time.

You need to put your output tool alone in a control container and then daisy chain them. In this way Alteryx will run one container at a time.

Personally I also name the control container with their step order: Output 1 of x, output 2 of x etc.

The first control container will receive the dataflow in the container and only run once it has all the data, the second container will receive the dataflow once the first container has finished, etc. It is the Use case #1 in Conditional Containers.