Alteryx Designer Desktop Knowledge Base

Definitive answers from Designer Desktop experts.
In this article, we demonstrate how to import multiple worksheets from one Excel file, how to import multiple worksheets from multiple Excel files, and how to import a specific range of cells from an Excel sheet.
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One of the best things about Alteryx is the ability to read in multiple files very easily and automatically combine them into a single dataset. This becomes a bit trickier when dealing with files that have different schemas or Excel files with multiple tabs. Adding both multiple excel files with multiple tabs, and having the schema change within each tab takes it to another level.
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  We get quite a few requests asking how to add the current date to Excel spreadsheet file names. The difference in adding information to your file name in Excel and other output configurations is that you have to use the Reporting tools for Excel to accept the new file name.   Why would I have to use the Reporting tools, you ask? Simply put, Excel thinks that when you are adding a prefix or suffix to the file name that you are stating that additional information is the “Sheet Name” and not appending the file name from the Output Tool. The Render tool in the Reporting tab on your palette basically tricks Excel into thinking that you are creating a separate report and is able to append the date.   In order to add the date to the file name you will connect these tools to your workflow in the order, you see below.      In the Formula Tool, create a new field that is a String type.  Go to the DateTime functions and add the DateTimeToday() expression. No configuration of the expression is necessary.      The Table tool will allow you to Group By this new field. In the GroupBy Configuration, choose the Date field you created in the Formula. In the Per Column Configuration, uncheck the new field. This will allow you to group by the new field name in the Render Tool and still remove it from the data so that your new field does not appear in your report.          Use the Render Tool to output your Excel spreadsheet with today’s date in the file name.   Output Mode - Choose a Specific Output File. Output File - Specify the Excel 2007 Spreadsheet (xlsx) and point to where you would like to save the documents. The file name you specify will be replaced with the date in step 5 below. You will then check the box that says Group Data into Separate Reports. Field to Group on - You will choose your new field that you created. Modify Filename By – Replacing Filename With Group. Report Data – You will choose Table and can leave the rest as defaults.  
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Alteryx does a great job of simplifying our business processes, eliminating the need to maintain, document, and use Excel Macros. However, for that one workbook with 100’s (or even 1000’s) of lines of VBA code + months of development behind it, we have a simple way to integrate that Excel Macro within your workflow. This can greatly ease the transition from Excel to Alteryx and save you rework or buy you time to convert the process.
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This article explains how to run workflows referencing excel files that are open by another user. This can be a requirement where multiple users are using the same file to update information
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Adding or overwriting a worksheet in a workbook that contains a pivot table, corrupts the file and an attempt to repair the excel sheet removes the pivot.
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When using a python tool with pandas package, xlrd is unable to read .xlsx files, only .xls.
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Error: "Windows Security patch prevents the Jet driver from reading .xls files; install the 2010 32-bit Access driver" when loading an Excel .xls file
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This article details on the steps to read/extract password protected excel file in Alteryx Designer using the R code.
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When publishing a workflow to Gallery or Scheduler (Designer + Desktop Automation) or when packaging a workflow for export, checking the boxes for what to include and what to exclude seems to work inconsistently as of Designer 2020.2. The workaround will tide you over until you can upgrade to 2021.2.
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You may already know how to use the MIN() and MAX() functions to find the smallest and largest values in a list. But what if you needed the second smallest number or 3rd largest number in the list? Excel has a function for this. Using the =SMALL function, you would specify the data range followed by 'x' smallest number you want to find.
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To find the full path and filename of a saved file in Excel, you use the =CELL function.
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How To: Read XLS files – with several tabs that contain diacritics Information
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Sometimes we just rely on tools because we know how to use them. Case in point Excel. Excel is great because it is a program that most people know how to use and you can be sure that if you send someone an Excel file, they can read it.
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This issue appears when an App writes to an Excel document. When the results are displayed and the Excel document opened, it will show as empty. As soon as the Excel document is closed, an Unhandled exception error will display, and the App cannot be closed.
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Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce to you the beautiful functionality of the Run Command Tool. With this trick, you never have to go into the directory to manually open the saved file again.
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