creating password protected zip

[tanvir_khan]

Hi all:

I need to zip excel files, protect with password and share thru mail. Can anyone tell me how to create password protected zip in alteryx? 

Thanks,

Tanvir

[BrandonB · Accepted solution]

Ben Moss from the Information Lab created a macro to do exactly that: https://gallery.alteryx.com/#!app/Output-Password-Protected-XLSX/5a9d074e0462d716682045a9 

More information and Ben's writeup can be found here: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Input-and-Output-password-protected-XL... 

[tanvir_khan]

Hi @BrandonB thanks for your suggestion. i'm not quite sure how to use this. it'd be really helpful if there is any documentation regarding macro configuration? 

[BrandonB]

Here are all of our interactive lessons on how to build and use macros: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Interactive-Lessons/tkb-p/interactive-lessons/label-name/Macros 

Another lesson that walks you through the process of building one: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Videos/Build-Your-First-Batch-Macro/td-p/52900 

You download the macro to a location and then inside your workflow you right click -> insert -> macro and then navigate to the location that you saved it

[tanvir_khan]

Hi @BrandonB 

This macro creates password protected excel but it doesn't zip the file. But still it'll be ok for me for the time being. I've used it in a separate workflow like below and it worked but

1. Can you please give me an idea how can I use it in my original workflow without creating a separate flow like this?

2. How can pick files dynamically as I create file dynamically with date. So, I need to pick the latest file, make it password protected and send thru email. File creation and mail sending task is done, need to create password protected in between.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks!

[BrandonB · Accepted solution]

The missing piece in your desired outcome seems to be the dynamic generation of the file name+date. You could either wrap this macro as another macro, or you could adjust the existing macro.

To dynamically pick a latest file and run it through a workflow I like to use this approach: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Knowledge-Base/The-Ultimate-Input-Data-Flowchart/t... 

 

If you add a sort tool where you sort by creation date and then a sample tool afterwards where you have it sample the first record before going into the Dynamic Input, you are able to dynamically feed in the latest file every single time the workflow runs.  

[Gihans]

Hi @BrandonB 

This Macro is good , however I found it doesn't work in Alteryx Server.

Can I pls check if you have a server version of the Macro ?

Also, I think it’ll be really good if Alteryx can convert this Macro into a standard tool in the future.

Best Regards,

Gihan 

[StatMan15]

Hello, is there anyway the workflow can be shared in here for the macro that password protects excel files. It seems the links referenced were removed and I have been searching everywhere for a solution. Thanks

[Gihans]

Hi Chrisressler - Please find attached the Macro and Workflow.