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Inputting excel but is not being read as excel. Transform file type at source?

Jes
8 - Asteroid

I have a process that generates a daily file that is being recognized as a MS Excel 97-2003 worksheet file on my computer.

JH0123_2-1610729769869.png

 

I am able to open the excel file and interact with the data in the file without any issues outside of Alteryx.

 

When I use Input Data tool to input the excel file, I see the following error. 

JH0123_0-1610729433906.png

 

I have suspicions that the MS 97-2003 file is not actually an excel file given that when I try to save the excel file, I see the following message.

JH0123_1-1610729583268.png

If I save the excel file by changing the format to .xlsx for example, Alteryx has no issue reading the file. However, this adds a manual step to the process, which I am trying to avoid.

 

Any suggestions on how to read the source file as is, or if I can somehow transform the file using Alteryx to get to the underlying data?

 

9 REPLIES 9
Emil_Kos
17 - Castor
17 - Castor

Hi @Jes,

 

I searched for it in the community and it looks like this might be related to some kind of driver issues but I am not sure how to get the correct drivers:

 

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Alteryx-will-not-read-in-xls-files/m-p...

Jes
8 - Asteroid

@Emil_Kos 

I've tried downloading 'Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable' drive but had 0 luck.

Emil_Kos
17 - Castor
17 - Castor

Hi @Jes,

 

Do your colleagues have the same issue?

 

Maybe your process will save the data in a different format if that is possible.

danilang
19 - Altair
19 - Altair

Hi @Jes 

 

Can you post a sample of the excel file?  We may be able to help you get the underlying data.

 

Dan

Jes
8 - Asteroid

@danilang 

Unfortunately I won't be able to share the actual file because it contains sensitive data. I also can't remove & save the excel without compromising the integrity of the file as well.

 

I have suspicions that the table  within the excel file is causing the issue.

Here is a screen print of the file. No idea how this will be helpful though:

JH0123_0-1611088283852.png

 

Emil_Kos
17 - Castor
17 - Castor

Hi @Jes,


This looks similar to this document 🙂 

 

Emil_Kos_0-1611088423228.png

I am not sure if this could be helpful 😛

 

I have an alternative idea. Maybe you can use CMD + VBA in order to open the excel file and save it without using Alteryx.

Afterwards, you can open the file with Alteryx without any issues.

 

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Using-Events-or-Run-Command-to-open-am...

smoskowitz
12 - Quasar

Hi @Jes 

 

What system is the file being generated from?

 

Seth

Jes
8 - Asteroid

@smoskowitz 

I am triggering a SQL query in the SFTP environment, which outputs an excel file in the same SFTP environment.

I copy & paste the excel file over to my Sharepoint directory, after which I have the issue mentioned above.

Jes
8 - Asteroid

@Emil_Kos 

Ahaha you got me there. As I was prepping the screen print, I felt quite silly.

 

I tried opening the file straight from SFTP and can confirm it is clearly a HTML table. Is there any way for Alteryx to read in such table contained in a .xls file?

JH0123_0-1612537737452.png

 

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