Import xlsx double column as string

[wonka1234]

In my excel file my column is a general format.

I have various values in this column , ie:

Field

0

FY21DP

FY22DP

FY20DP

Y

FYDP22

FY 22DP

FY22DP (Y)

Yes

why is this being read in as a double? Can I read it in as a string without doing anything to the excel workbook?

[Felipe_Ribeir0]

Hi @wonka1234 

Can you share the input file/workflow? Here using just what you pasted, it is being interpreted as string (as expected):

[Sebastiaandb]

@wonka1234 ,

It's read as a double since the first value is a "0". You can alter it just by adding a select tool after it OR by importing it from a row after the first one :-).

EDIT -> My thinking is wrong. As @Felipe_Ribeir0  said, even when i put the rows in a Excelfile, it reads it as a string field.

This might give us a clue: 

Solved: Alteryx Input Tool Reading a String data type Colu... - Alteryx Community

Do the first thousand records contain numbers? Then it will probably show up as a double as it seems to determine the type based on the first thousand rows. 

Greetings,

Seb

[wonka1234]

@Sebastiaandb @Felipe_Ribeir0 

First few rows in excel look like this:

My alteryx first few rows look like this:

Currently being read in as a double into alteryx

[ShankerV]

@wonka1234 

Can you input that excel input sheet, as it shows as N/A, need to understand the value in it.

Many thanks

Shanker V

[wonka1234]

@ShankerV  it is actually a vlookup formula in the excel sheet

[ShankerV]

Hi @wonka1234 

Actually the solution provided by my friend @Felipe_Ribeir0 should have resolved your issue.

As it still persists it might be caused due to some hidden issue. Hence requested to share the file where me or my fellow friends in alteryx community can input in our Alteryx and provide the solution.

Shanker V

[wonka1234]

No the select tool doesnt solve it! i wonder if its the way its being imported.

[wonka1234]

SEems like anything other then "0" is being read as NULL

[DQAUDIT]

@wonka1234  - Since the column is generated by a VLOOKUP statement, Can you add to the formula to decode the "#N/A" value into another value that is text like "NA"?  For example, you could wrap an IFNA() formula around the VLOOKUP statement or convert to XLOOKUP depending on your version of Excel.

Expanding on the 1000 row thought, if the first 1000 rows only show 0's and "#N/A" values then perhaps Alteryx is interpreting that to be numbers and nulls and thus defaults to double.

Good luck.