Alteryx: Importing Data
Text Input Tool 
Text input is another way to get data into Alteryx but requires a bit more work. Text input involves creating a text table, then entering the data.
After filling in the data, the "Output Data" tool can be used to send data table into Excel.
Output Data Tool 
Locate the "Output data" tool in the tool bar and drag it onto the workspace. Select "Set Up a Connection" in the configuration pane. Next, select a name and location for the file which will hold the data. In the dialog box, specify a location in the excel sheet for the data and click OK.
The above box allows for setting file format, output options, etc.
Once this is done, hit the "Run" button.
Input Data Tool 
One of the easiest ways to get data into Alteryx is by using the Input Data tool. Follow these steps to bring a datafile into Alteryx:
- Download the HalloweenCandyStats datafile to the desktop.
- If the Input Data tool is not already available in the toolbar, click on the In/Out link above the toolbar.
- Click on the Input Data tool and drag it onto the work canvas,
- Once the Input Data tool on the work canvas, a datafile can be brought into the workspace. In the configuration pane, click on "Set up a Connection". .
- Click on Files (left column), then click on Microsoft excel (listed in file types)
- Locate the HalloweenCandyStats datafile on the desktop and click on it. The "Select Excel Input" box should come up.
- Select the first option - "Select a Sheet", select 2022, then click OK.
The first few columns of the datafile should appear in the configuration pane. Click on the "Run" button in the right corner of the workspace. After running the workflow, the first several rows of data will be visible in the results pane. If you can see this, you have accomplished the first step and your datafile is in the work canvas and ready to go. Save this workflow for the next section where you will work with the Data Cleansing tool.
Browse Tool 
The Browse tool can be used to look at a dataset that has just been brought into the workspace or in a workflow to view the resulting dataset. Note that the Browse tool has only one anchor. Once the Browse tool is connected to another tool, run the workflow. This is the end of the process (unless the Browse tool is removed).
Drag the Browse tool onto the workspace and connect it to the Input Data tool.
Once the Browse tool is connected to the Input Data tool, click the Run button.
In the Configeration pane, the "Profile" of the dataset is now visible.
Column headers in the Excel spreadsheet = section names in the dataset profile.
Click on any one of the section names to see more about that column of data.
The Browse tool provides a view of data in table format at the point it is connnected to a tool.
The Results Pane will display the Data table.
