DE29456 / TDSL-980: Crew macros fail under Alteryx Designer on specific installations

[ntobon]

Issue

A user is getting one of the following errors when running Crew Macros on some machines: 
 

Error: Runner (1): Tool #2: The external program "SupportingExes\AlteryxRunner.exe" returned an error code: -1073741512

 

Error: Runner (1): Tool #2: The external program "C:AYXMacros\Macros\SupportingExes\AlteryxRunner.exe" returned an error code: -1073741511

 

Error: Get List: Tool #2: The external program "SupportingExes\AlteryxRunner.exe" returned an error code: -1073741515

 

Error: Conditional Runner (11) Tool #23: Record #1: Tool #2: Tool #2: The external program "SupportingExes\AlteryxRunner.exe" returned an error code: -1073741515

Environment

• Alteryx Designer
  • All Versions
  • CREW Macros Runner

Cause

CREW macro exe file: “AlteryxRunner.exe” is using an incorrect version of a system or 3rd party .dll (the correct version of which comes with installation of Alteryx). This appears to be an issue with how Windows is performing the DLL search. The issue is that it's possible for AlteryxRunner to find and use the wrong version of a .dll (wrong according to Alteryx). We have directly seen that the problem occurs for zlib.dll or libeay32.dll, but it can occur for a wide array of 3rd party or Windows system dlls.

Defect: DE29456 / TDSL-980

Resolution

Defect: DE29456 / TDSL-980
Status: Fixed in version 2021.4

WORKAROUND #1: 

NOTE: it won't always work. It may sometimes work.

Add Alteryx Path in the PATH system environment variable and ensure it is at the top of the list.

Steps:

a. Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System.
b. Click on the "Advanced System Settings" link.



c. In the "System Properties" window, click the "Environment Variables" button.



d. Double-click on the PATH system environment variable to edit.



e. Add Alteryx installed path (example: C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin) to the top of the list. You can either add using the "New" button followed by the "Move Up" button or use the "Edit Text" button and directly add Alteryx installed path to the front.



f. Click "Ok" button.
g. Restart the machine.

WORKAROUND #2:

Download the CREW macros and place in a completely new location, example: “C:\Users\xxxxxx\Desktop\Macros (1)”
Then copy the contents of “C:\Program Files\Alteryx\bin” to “C:\Users\xxxxxx\Desktop\Macros (1)\Macros\SupportingExes”. This way, we force the CREW macros to use the correct version of all required dlls.

 

[MarcSchonwandt]

For me the "Workaround 2" solved the issue. But, could you please pass on some more information as to why it works? Why does it work when I copy over the original Bin folder into the new supportingExes folder?