Free Trial

Alteryx Server Discussions

Find answers, ask questions, and share expertise about Alteryx Server.

Pushing Files from Alteryx Server to UNC path

Kamal_Chaurasia
5 - Atom

We are trying to push files from Alteryx server to UNC path. I would like to know if there is any documentation around this. We need to pass username/password along with UNC path in the Alteryx script/workflow but I have no idea on this since I'm just a beginner.

 

UNC is an acronym for Universal Naming Convention or Uniform Naming Convention. Similar to a URL, a UNC path is a format for specifying the location of resources on a local network (LAN).

UNC uses the following format: \\server-name\shared-resource-pathname

 

Any help on this would be appreciated.

4 REPLIES 4
Hub119
11 - Bolide
11 - Bolide

I'm assuming you are referring to writing files from (or even reading in) a network server location via workflows or apps you have deployed to your Alteryx Gallery/Server?  Assuming this is the case, there is an easy fix for this.  Before saving your workflow/analytic app to your Gallery, first go into your workflow dependencies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From here you can either convert all file paths to UNC with the "All UNC" button:

Picture2.png

Or, click on the edit button next to individual files paths to update them individually (where again there is a convert to UNC option):

Picture3.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clicking in either location will update your file paths to UNC which will then work on your Server/Gallery deployment:

Picture4.png

Last, but not least... when uploading the file to the server, you will want to again update things with your workflow dependencies by clicking into the "manage workflow assets" option:

Picture5.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unchecking the boxes on the next screen will make it so when your workflow/app runs it will read inputs from the designated location (instead of packaging a static copy of the file with the workflow upload) and write out to that designated location on your network as well (instead of giving you a file you need to download after running the workflow from the Gallery):

Picture6.png

Hub119
11 - Bolide
11 - Bolide

It appears the first image in my post didn't attach... here is where you get to your workflow dependencies via the drop down menus:

Picture1.png

Hub119
11 - Bolide
11 - Bolide

As far as passing username/password credentials there are a few ways to do this.  If this is needed for accessing certain network storage locations, your Gallery admin can either set-up the Gallery to run its Designer instance as a different user and set that to someone that has all the access you need (works, but not ideal for security and tracking purposes), or they can set it up to pass the users credentials (if accessing using Windows Authentication for instance) when running a workflow.  Meanwhile, if you need credentials to run an automated email or a database credential, Tableau output, etc. you also have a few options... You can hardcode them into an app/workflow (not recommended, but works), or you can utilize the DCM (data connection manager) to build these connections and store credentials in one place.  You will need to make sure your Gallery instance is synced with the Designer instance uploading the workflow however, to ensure that it has the right credentials mapped (this can then be updated within the Gallery DCM interface when credentials change).  Hope all that helped!

jenifers1129
6 - Meteoroid

Thanks! Found this post very helpful as I get my first app ready to upload to the Gallery!