Boston, MA (New England)

The Boston Alteryx Group concluded 2024 with presentations from Mikael & Rebecca 😊   Mikael, a senior data engineer from NKT Photonics, presented on scaling Alteryx for cost-effective enterprise computing. He detailed his company's transition from cloud-based Alteryx Server to on-premise Alteryx Designer, highlighting significant cost savings and performance improvements. Mikael's tests showed that on-premise machines, particularly powerful workstations, outperformed cloud solutions by a factor of 10 in terms of cost and runtime efficiency.   Rebecca, a Senior Business Intelligence Analyst from Staples, followed with a presentation on dynamic scheduling using Alteryx Server and control containers. She emphasized efficient resource utilization for large, infrequently updated workflows. Rebecca's presentation walked us through how macros can be used to implement dynamic scheduling within Alteryx workflows. She also detailed the latest changes with control containers and how these have benefited in dynamically controlling scheduling.    ... View more

If you are attending virtually, join here: https://community-alteryx.zoom.us/j/98981954960?pwd=U0AubYA7HSqN2UFusfeyPYVKQmOUkc.1 Meeting ID: 989 8195 4960 Passcode: 283221 We are closing out the year with networking and SWAG!   Join us for an engaging User Group meeting on October 17th at The Center for Computing & Data Sciences, located at 665 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215.   Food and refreshments will be provided   Agenda: 6:00 to 6:30 pm: Check-in, networking 6:30 to 7:00 pm: Scaling Alteryx: Insights on Cost-Effective Enterprise Computing 7:00 to 7:30 pm: Dynamic Scheduling: Scheduling Workflows to Run Based on Conditions     This session is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the powerful capabilities of Alteryx & network in the Boston area.   See below for directions upon arrival:   Take the Main Elevator: Locate the main elevator bank and ensure you are not using the east side elevators (which only go to the 5th floor). Select the 8th Floor: Enter the elevator and press the button for the 8th floor. Go Through Double Doors: Upon exiting, proceed through the double doors. Find Room 801: Room 801 will be directly in front of you. No ID is required if you arrive prior to 7PM   ... View more

If you are attending virtually, on the day of the event, join here: https://community-alteryx.zoom.us/j/99998828146?pwd=CV91ZnQSMn8Gg44D6abBu1dceBo9vf.1 We will be giving out SWAG so join us for an engaging User Group meeting on August 20th at Industrious, located at 131 Dartmouth St, Boston.   We are excited to have Chris Lewis of JLL as our speaker, who will be discussing Alteryx  + APIs. This session is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the powerful capabilities of Alteryx & APIs and how they can enhance your data analytics processes. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, Chris will provide valuable insights that you won’t want to miss!   Food and refreshments will be provided, so come hungry and ready to network with fellow data enthusiasts. Special thank you to Industrious for sponsoring the collaborative space!    Agenda: 6:00 to 6:40 pm: Welcome and Introductions 6:45 to 7~: Chris Lewis - JLL: Alteryx + APIs      Learning how to interpret an API, the common tools used with APIs in Alteryx, and how to assist in building your API calls within Alteryx   See below for directions and check-in instructions!    Address: 131 Dartmouth St, Floor 3, Boston, MA 02116 (see map) Location / Public Transportation: We are located right next to the Back Bay T Station on Dartmouth St. If coming by the T, just come out onto Dartmouth St., turn left, and enter the main lobby of 131 Dartmouth! Parking: If coming by automobile, you can park in the connected 131 Dartmouth Garage and take the elevator to G or M to enter the main lobby. The evening rate is $10 for the night (3pm to 5am). Building Check-In Instructions: After entering the building lobby, please check in with security and mention you are here for an event at Industrios, and they will give you a guest badge and unlock the doors to the elevator bay. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor, and we’ll see you in the main common area!      ... View more

Boston Alteryx User Group Q3 Meeting August 20th, 2024   In our latest gathering, Chris Lewis, Alteryx ACE, took center stage and dove into the exciting world of APIs. He kicked things off by explaining how APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) act as bridges, letting one tap into data from other organizations without needing to be an employee. Chris laid out the must-haves for API success: a valid URL, solid documentation, and a grasp of response formats like JSON and XML. He stressed that good documentation is key—it should tell you what to expect, how to make requests, and even provide example queries.   Next, Chris took us on a fun journey through the anatomy of an API request, using multiple examples to show how to structure requests with parameters and API keys. He also shared some nifty tools in Alteryx for working with APIs, like the Download Tool and the JSON/XML Parse tools. The highlight? Chris showcased the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day API, demonstrating how to build a workflow that retrieves and emails jaw-dropping images daily.   Chris was kind enough to share the workflow with the community—so give it a try and don't forget to drop him a thank you! Overall, it was a fantastic session filled with valuable insights, practical examples, and a lot of SWAG. If you missed it, take a look at the video below. Catch you at the next one! ... View more

  Hi Boston User Group members,   In anticipation of the upcoming second edition of the Weekly Challenge User Group October Takeover, Academy is taking over your User Group board for a moment!   The following are some of the benefits for you and your group through your participation in the October Takeover:   Increased Engagement: Boost interaction and participation within user groups through exciting Weekly Challenges. Community Building: Strengthen community bonds by encouraging members to collaborate and share their solutions to the challenges. Visibility and Recognition: Gain exposure and recognition for your user group by showcasing your activities to a broader audience. Skill Development: Provide members with opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge through practical challenges. Networking Opportunities: Connect with other user groups, fostering a collaborative environment and exchange of ideas.   It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner or an advanced user of Designer; what truly matters is your creativity and the great ideas you submit!   Submit your Weekly Challenge idea by September 6. If your idea is selected, it will be published, and you will receive a prize. The author of the best challenge will win the grand prize. Additionally, the authors of Weekly Challenges from the User Group that submits the most challenges for the October Takeover will all receive a special prize from the User Group Program Team!   Please refer to the attached document for submission details, evaluation criteria, and prize information.   Last year’s October Takeover was a great success, and we received many fantastic ideas.   Our four finalists were: Ippei Nakagawa @gawa: Tokyo User Group; Challenge #391: Which Combinations of Pokémon Types Do Not Exist? Charity Wilson @Charity_K_Wilson: Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas User Group; Challenge 392: Calculate Climate Extremes Mya Starling @myastarling: Milwaukee User Group; Challenge 393: Find the Best Yarn Talia Sanders @tsand22: Indianapolis User Group; Challenge 394: Fantasy Football Team   The big winner was @gawa  who received 72 responses within the first week of posting his challenge, and over time, it accumulated around 150 responses. Check out his fantastic challenge for some inspiration!   Please contact us at academy@alteryx.com if you have any questions.   We are excited to review the innovative and creative challenges you submit. Let's make this year's Weekly Challenge User Group October Takeover even more fun and successful than the last!   Happy creating!   Sylvia ... View more