SQL Query/Script Automation

[hulloswin]

Why is there no tool for executing sql scripts? I have had several issues where I had a script I needed to be ran which contains 20+ individual SQL statements. Why can Alteryx not just execute the script in the database?

[gnans19]

Are you from SSIS background?

Alteryx is not a pure ETL platform. You can compare Alteryx workflow as one data flow task in SSIS. You cannot have Execute SQL inside a data flow task.

[adm510]

Unfortunately this is a use case that Alteryx does not want to implement. 

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Product-Ideas/Have-an-SQL-Tool/idi-p/5392

[hulloswin · Accepted solution]

The solution I am currently using is to create an automation script with Toad Datapoint to execute the script then execute the toad automation script in alteryx like a batch file. It just makes no sense that alteryx can't execute an sql. Seems like it should be really simple. 

[bbtak]

Totally agree. I'm new to Alteryx and having just come back feeling fired-up from Alteryx Inspire 2018, I feel my spirits somewhat dampened by this glaring omission. I'm also trying to work on a "local solution" similar to what you describe.

If running a sql script is not considered to be part of a "data flow", then why does Alteryx incorporate pre and post-sql statements at all in the "Output Data" tool. Surely the need for such pre/post statements is acknowledgement that there is definitely a use case for running sql scripts within a dataflow.

The absence of such a facility potentially means I have to go to a dedicated ETL tool for my full end-to-end process, (and face some embarrassing questions from management about why I didn't spot this in my two week evaluation.)

There's no point in me constructing "half a flow" in Alteryx and then having to drop out to a different tool for part of the data manipulation. That just adds complexity that I was hoping to Alteryx would help me avoid.