What causes Alteryx to replace my input and output file paths with local caches?

[j_hoyt]

I have lots of network files but they often end up pointing to C:\Users\Documents\whatever. What causes it and how do I prevent it?

I just opened another workflow and I'm greeted with an error on an Output tool:

Can't access C:\Users\****\AppData\Local\Temp\Staging\bunch-of-gibberish\_externals\2\*****.xlsx|||Sheet1

That's definitely not where I chose for it to write to before.

I save to and open from Alteryx Gallery; I often cache large inputs when I'm developing a flow; and I often use the Disable Tools That Write to Output option. Are any of these factors?

[DataNath · Accepted solution]

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Server-Knowledge-Base/Avoid-getting-quot-external-1-quot-wh...

Some info on that here @j_hoyt 

[j_hoyt]

Thank you, that looks very helpful.