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Alteryx Designer Desktop Knowledge Base

Definitive answers from Designer Desktop experts.

Designer is working slower when working from home

MichaelAd
Alteryx
Alteryx
Created

Environment Details


In some cases Designer is very slow when working from home. This can have several root causes.
  • Alteryx Designer
    • All versions
When working from home workflows are running very slow.

Cause


Cause 1

While there can be multiple root causes this is often caused by a slower network connection sometimes exacerbated by slower VPN. If the autoconfigure setting is enabled (see Help Doc ) Alteryx Designer will automatically configure tools in the workflow. If the tools need to connect to the network this can slow down the workflow if the network is slow. Additionally, when autoconfigure is enabled Designer uses metadata from the data source tool for configurations and referencing this metadata might take some time.

Check whether you have workflows connecting to the internal and external network that might slow down the workflow if autoconfigure is enabled.

Cause 2

Check whether you have Macro folder configured and whether it is on a network drive. This can slow down Designer as Designer will check for the Macro folder every 30 seconds.

Check in Alteryx Designer > Options > User Settings > Edit User Settings > Macros whether a Macro path is set.



Resolution


Solution 1

In many cases it helps to check the disable autoconfigure option in Alteryx Designer > Options User Settings > Edit User Settings >  Advanced.

idea Skyscrapers


Solution 2

If not required disable the Macro folder in Alteryx Designer > Options User Settings > Edit User Settings > Macros. If it is on a network drive change it to a local drive to increase performance ideally the same drive as Alteryx Designer.

As always if the above does not solve the issue feel free to reach out to Alteryx Customer Support



Solution 3

   1. From the Windows File Explorer, right-click on This PC and choose Add a network location.

       


   2. Run through the wizard, add the Macro network path, and give the network location a name.   





   3. A folder show be created under This PC with the name you gave to the network location.    



   4. Open the created folder and copy that path which should look something like this:
            
          C:\Users\<your_user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts\<name of network location>
 
    5. Use that path as the Macro path in the Alteryx User Settings. 







 
Comments
Linas
8 - Asteroid

Thank you for a detailed explanation! Is it possible to change how often Designer checks the macro folder? For example, from 30 sec to 30 min.

sd4w95sf8e
5 - Atom

Unfortunately solution #3 doesn't seem to work anymore.  I can go through all the steps correctly but Alteryx isn't loading any macros from that location.  I am using version 2023.1.1.123.  Referencing the macros folder through a unc path or mapped network drive works but causes Alteryx to take 5-10 minutes to open.