Windows Security Updates are Blocking Excel

Security Updates KB4524135 and KB4524157 are blocking exporting in Alteryx to excel. Is there a hot fix?

Error: Output Data (8): The 2017-10-10 Windows security patch prevents the Jet driver from reading .xls files; install the 2010 32-bit Access driver

Error Message

Accepted answers

JoeS

Hi @JohnMaty

The details you need should be here: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works-Blog/Access-Driver-Install-for-xls-File-Acess/ba-p/90145

Thanks

Joe

All comments

JoeS

Hi @JohnMaty

The details you need should be here: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Engine-Works-Blog/Access-Driver-Install-for-xls-File-Acess/ba-p/90145

Thanks

Joe

kurtwz

The simplest solution I've found to this problem involves changing the exact way you tell Alteryx to connect to the file. When I would try to paste the path of the file into the Input Data tool in the Connect a File or Database box, I would get this error.

Instead do this:

1. Click the Input Data dropdown,

2. On the Data connections window, select Files on the left side

3. Drag and drop the file to the Select a File space.

After you release it to that space, you should see the Data connections disappear and the Select Excel Input window appear. If it does, you're good to go. Somehow Alteryx Designer doesn't like the path paste method, but luckily there was an easy workaround for me. Hope it works for you too!

271828

My IT dept installed some patches over the weekend, and lo and behold, my workflow that imports XLS files is completely broken now. I used to get that warning around the 'list of sheet names' option, but now my access to XLS files is 100% blocked.

I just tried your suggestion but unfortunately it doesn't work - I still get the lovely message below. So now I'm looking into converting all my XLS files into XLSX before input.

Error: Input Data (18): The 2017-10-10 Windows security patch prevents the Jet driver from reading .xls files; install the 2010 32-bit Access driver

Baradomas

Worked easily! Thanks @kurtwz

Kardasz

So, I have to pay a yearly fee for this fix?

JoeS

@kurtwz wrote:
The simplest solution I've found to this problem involves changing the exact way you tell Alteryx to connect to the file. When I would try to paste the path of the file into the Input Data tool in the Connect a File or Database box, I would get this error.
Instead do this:
1. Click the Input Data dropdown,
2. On the Data connections window, select Files on the left side
3. Drag and drop the file to the Select a File space.
After you release it to that space, you should see the Data connections disappear and the Select Excel Input window appear. If it does, you're good to go. Somehow Alteryx Designer doesn't like the path paste method, but luckily there was an easy workaround for me. Hope it works for you too!

The paste of the path method is likely to not be working due to when you paste the path there is no sheet information in the path?

The image of your error isn't displaying so I have to say this is a guess.

With regards to needing to change files to XLSX @271828.

If you install the driver in my link this should fix the issue. IT will be able to install it. When they patch the server that shouldn't reverse the installation of the driver, so should only be a one off task for your IT that then no longer impacts xls when the server has future patches. - I appreciate I am a little late in replying though!

And in reply to @Kardasz - I don't know what you mean by a yearly cost? The driver is free from Microsoft and should be a 1 off install for IT (maybe you referring to the internal IT cost?)

aasmith8116

If you have tried the steps above and are still unable to use .xls files there are two other options

1. Open the file as .txt and see if it appears as a tab delimited flat file, if it does, then change the "File Format" of the input tool to say "Comma separated Value (*.csv)

You will then be able to read the file in as a tab delimited csv

2. If you open the file in text and it appears to be html format: example:

Then you will need to convert the file to a .xlsx file which can be done in command line with something like this

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\excelcnv.exe" -oice "c:\temp\TestCodes.xls" "c:\temp\Output.xlsx"

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\excelcnv.exe is a windows file that will convert xls to xlsx for you (You might check that directory on your local machine or somewhere within the same vacinity of the mentioned path in case it isn't labeled in a folder called Office16 in later releases of office.
the second file path listed in the context above is the input location and filename
the third path in the statement above is the output location and filename

Quick Links

This months top contributors

atcodedog05 19458

Qiu 15866

binu_acs 15708

MarqueeCrew 13708

apathetichell 13703