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Zip File Support

Use the Input Data Tool to select one or more data files stored within a .zip file. The following file formats can be read from a .zip file:

• Streaming-compatible (read directly into memory): .avro, .csv, .json, .yxdb
• Not streaming-compatible (extracted to hard drive temporary location): .cydb, .dbf, .kml, .grc, .grd, .qvx, .sas7bdat, .sav, .sz, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xlsx (legacy), .xls, .xml

Alteryx does not support reading .zip files greater than 2 GB in size that were created by the native Windows compression utility. Use an alternate compression utility (such as 7-Zip) when creating .zip files greater than 2 GB in size.

Selecting files

When you use a tool to connect to a .zip file, the Extract File window opens.

1. Select File Type to Extract: Alteryx will scan all files within the .zip file and generate a list of discovered formats. Select the format for Alteryx to display in the Files list.
Other Files

Select Other Files to show a list of all files found within the .zip file, including files with no extension or an unrecognized extension (for example, .txt, .log).

Parse Other Files As: Specify the format for Alteryx to use to parse the selected files.

2. Select Files: Select one or more files to bring in to Alteryx.
Selecting multiple files
• You can select multiple files, but Alteryx can only parse the files in a single format.
• When you select multiple files, Alteryx will use the first file to determine the schema (number of fields, data types, etc.). For subsequent files, Alteryx performs the following validation:
  • If the number of fields is not equal, the file is skipped and a warning is generated. If equal, the next check is performed.
  • If the data types are not equal, the file is skipped and a warning is generated. If equal, the next check is performed.
  • If the field names are not equal, the file will still be read, but a warning is generated.
3. Click Open.
4. Select Sheets from Excel Files: If you selected Excel files, select the sheets for Alteryx to read, and then click OK.
5. To preview a file in a .zip file, click Update Sample in the Configuration window. The preview will only display if the .zip file contains a single .xlsx file with a single sheet.

Syntax for analytic apps and macros (advanced)

Use this syntax to configure analytic apps or macros to select multiple files from a .zip file:

• Separate files with a semicolon (;)
• Enclose sheet names in square brackets ([ ])
• Separate multiple sheets with a colon (:)

Examples

c:\some\path\to\file.zip|file1.csv;file2.csv

c:\some\path\to\file.zip|folder1\file1.csv;folder2\file2.csv

c:\some\path\to\file.zip|file1.xlsx[Sheet1]

c:\some\path\to\file.zip|file1.xlsx[Sheet1:Sheet2];file2.xlsx[Sheet3:Sheet4:Sheet5]

c:\some\path\to\file.zip|folder1\file1.xlsx[Sheet1:Sheet2:Sheet3]

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