We found a problem with some content when opening excel file (using Output)

[crtakacs]

I've seen a few posts about this error message but nothing that I could use as a solution. 

I'm outputting to an excel sheet and specifying that cell range to output to. I'm not sure if it's worth noting that the range I specify in the workflow is much larger than the actual range as I don't ever have the exact same range each time I output. 

I've tried creating a completely new Excel file, and I've tried using both .xlsm and .xlsx. It always opens correctly the first time I run and open the worksheet (after creating a new file to use). And it looks just how I need it to look. But anytime I run again and open I get the error message. 

I've tried running from both Designer and from the gallery. 

Any ideas? 

[apathetichell]

@Raj_007  - your excel file should be:

path\{filename.xlsx}|||`sheet$range`

NOTE - ` is the key when dealing with sheets with special chracters (including space). not ' - not " - `. also - your range is Y500 - not Y(500) - right?

[Raj_007]

Hi, Thank you - I have followed the below link - at least i did not see the error now - will monitor it for few more days

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Desktop-Discussions/Preserve-Formatting-on-Overwri...

[Raj_007]

Hi, i am confused with your note

NOTE - ` is the key when dealing with sheets with special chracters (including space). not ' - not " - `. also - your range is Y500 - not Y(500) - right?

did you mean to use single quotes or the ` - this is the one that is avaialble with tilde sign key on the keyboard - i did not use this

I had to create 2 formula columns

like

SheetName = 'DataExtract.xlsx|||In Progress$A1:W'  +toString([Count]+1)  - this is using single qutotes

Path = 'Shared Drive Location\' + [SheetName]  - this is using single quotes

in the output

attached screenshot

[apathetichell]

YES. I meant to use the ` which is adjacent to the number 1. 

Check this out -> open an excel file in input data. I don't care what the file is- but choose a sheet.

add an action tool.

examine the file location in the action tool. you will notice that the sheet range combo is wrapped in file|||`sheet$range`

agreed?

[Raj_007]

Hi, I tried but was not able to configure on how to use the action tool

[apathetichell]

your action tool hooks into an input data - you look at file value for the excel file you are using. That's it. if you can't do this - just trust me- ` is key - not ' - not" - `

[Raj_007]

You are right - when i look at the file value - it is like this

"T18_35_11+0000.xlsx|||`Sheet3$`"       sheet is between the `` these are not for sure single quotes but the entire file value is in between " " double quotes

[tinio_carmela]

I encountered the same issue but when I removed all the existing links/connections and formulas in the input excel file that I'm using, it worked for me and I was able to open the output file without error message.

[vj28]

It's odd that this issue might have something to do with the file names.

[giorgos_katsou]

Hi

New to Alteryx and just faced this problem. I think the solution is to change the Sheet name to be less than 31 characters which is the maximum allowed length for an Excel sheet name. This in my case solved the problem and I also made some testing and the problem showed up only when the sheet name was more than 31.