Alteryx: Importing Data
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 datafile into Alteryx:
- Download the NewOrders 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 workspace,
- Once the Input Data tool on the work canvas, use it to bring the NewOrders datafile into the workspace. In the configuration pane, click on "Set up a Connection". This helps locate the NewOrders datafile on the desktop.
- Click on Files (left column), then click on Microsoft excel (listed in file types)
- Locate the NewOrders datafile on the desktop and click on it. The "Select Excel Input" box should come up.
- Select the first option - "Select a Sheet", select NewOrders, then click OK.
In the configuration pane, the first few columns of the datafile are visible. Click on the "Run" button in the right corner of the workspace. After running the workflow, the first several rows of data are visible in the results pane. If the data is present, the first step has been accomplished and the datafile is in the workspace and ready to go. Save this workflow for the next section where work will be done with the Data Cleansing tool.
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 data is entered in the table, click the RUN button to view the resulting table, The "Output Data" tool can then be used to export the 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. This allows a name and location for the file to be selected. Next, in the dialog box, specify a location in the excel sheet for the data and click OK.
When the above box appears in the configuration pane, set file format, output options, etc.
Once this is done, hit the "Run" button.
Browse Tool 
The Browse tool can be used to look at a dataset that has been brought into the workspace or later in a workflow to view the resulting dataset. Note that the Browse tool has only one anchor. Once the Browse tool has been connnected to another tool and the workflow run, that 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 has been connected to the Input Data tool, click the Run button.
Now in the Configeration pane, the "Profile" of the dataset can be seen.
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 in the spreadsheet.
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.
