cMain Menus

Windows and common actions can be accessed from the main menus.

These options are specific to creating and working with workflows.

New Workflow (Ctrl+N): Creates a new workflow (*.yxmd).

Open Recent: Shows the most recently accessed and saved workflows.

Open Workflow: Opens a previously created workflow by browsing to the file's location.

Open Autorecovered Files: Opens a list of auto-recovered files. Open files are automatically saved at regular intervals. The auto-recovered interval is enabled by default and can be modified in User Settings. See User Settings.

Open Workflow Group: Opens multiple workflows that have been saved into a workflow group. See Open a workflow group from a file directory.

Save (Ctrl+S): Saves the active workflow.

Create Workflow Group: Saves all open workflows, which previously were saved as individual workflows, as a workflow group. See Save workflow groups.

Save As: Saves the active workflow.

  • Browse: Browses to a file location and saves the workflow there.
  • Alteryx Gallery: Saves the workflow to the Alteryx Public Gallery (gallery.alteryx.com). This option is pre-configured to connect to the Alteryx Public Gallery (gallery.alteryx.com) (also known as the Alteryx Analytics Gallery). Credentials are required to sign in to the Gallery.
  • Add a Gallery: Provides the ability to create a connection to a private Gallery and saves the workflow there.

Print: Offers a preview of what the workflow will look like when printed .

Print Settings: Offers settings for printing a workflow.

Exit: Closes the Alteryx GUI.

These options are common editing functions.

Undo (Ctrl+Z): Automatically undoes the last action. Actions are recorded historically, so you can undo up to 32 actions.

Redo (Ctrl+Y): Redoes an action that you just undid.

Cut (Ctrl+X): Deletes an object and copies it to the clipboard for immediate pasting.

Copy (Ctrl+C): Copies an object to the clipboard.

Paste (Ctrl+V): Pastes a copied object.

Delete (Del): Deletes the selected object.

Find (Ctrl + F): Opens the Find and Replace window. More on the Find and Replace functionality below.

Find and Replace

By default, the Find and Replace window lists the tools in your workflow, including the tool ID and Name. Select the tool you want to find from the list. The tool is indicated on the canvas and the tool's Configuration window is opened.

Find Tab

The Find and Replace window also allows you to search for keywords within your workflow. Via the Find tab...

  1. Use the Tool Filter section to refine your search results.
    • In Search Location section, you can filter your search results by ID, Name, Column Names, Annotation, and Configuration.
    • In Match section, you can indicate whether your search should be Case sensitive and whether you want to search for the Entire Phrase.
  2. Enter the text that you want to search for into the Find text field. The underlying XML of each tool's configuration is searched for the string of text that is entered. The search results identify and list the tools that contain the entered text.
  3. The search results are returned in the Matches window, showing where each value is found. The results include columns for ID, Name, Location, and Value.
    • Select the column header to sort each column either ascending or descending.
    • Use the Next and Previous to navigate all instances where matches exist.
    • Select a specific row within the Matches section to indicate the corresponding item on the canvas.

Replace Tab

If you want to replace the text that you searched for in the Find tab, select the Replace tab.

Find and Replace Compatibility

While you can search within ID, Name, Type, Column Names, Annotation, and Configuration, you can only replace text within Name, Annotation, and Configuration locations.

Note that you cannot replace Annotations that are automatically generated by Designer.

To replace text, follow these steps:

  1. In the Replace field, enter the text that you want to use as a replacement for the text that you initially entered in the Find field.
  2. All instances of the found text appear in the Matches section. There are 2 options for replacing text:
    • To replace a specific instance of the found text, select a row in the Matches section, and select the Replace button.
    • To replace all instances of the found text, select the Replace All button.
    • To undo a replace action, select Edit > Undo.
  3. Note that if an instance of text cannot be replaced, the Replace button is inactive.

These windows can be opened or closed via this menu.

Tool Palette (Ctrl+Alt+T): Displays the tool palette underneath the menu. See User Interface.

Overview (Ctrl+Alt+V): Displays the Overview window docked in its last visible position. See Overview window.

Results (Ctrl+Alt+R): Displays the Results window docked in its last visible position. See Results window, Results Window.

Configuration (Ctrl+Alt+C): Displays the Configuration window docked in its last visible position. See Configuration window.

Interface Designer (Ctrl+Alt+D): Displays the Interface Designer window docked in its last visible position. See Interface Designer, Interface Designer Window.

Find Tool (Ctrl+F): Opens the Find Tool window, which lists the tools in the workflow and the Tool IDs. Select the tool you want to find from the list and click OK to move the workflow and display the selected tool.

  • Sort by Name/Sort by #: Sorts the list alphabetically by tool name or sequentially by tool number.
  • Find Text: Identifies and lists the tools that contain the entered text. The underlying XML for each tool's configuration is searched for the string of text as it is entered.

These options provide access to workflow, scheduling, and license functionality, as well as user settings.

Run Workflow: Runs the workflow. Ctrl+R will also run the workflow. The icon changes to Stop Workflow while the workflow is running.

Schedule Workflow: Allows the user to schedule workflows to run at specific times and frequency. The Scheduler Service must be enabled as part of the Alteryx installation and the user must be licensed appropriately. The license should be installed by an Administrator to ensure all users are properly licensed and the service is properly configured. See Schedule Workflows.

View Schedules: Allows the user to schedule workflows and applications, see the jobs in queue, and view information about completed jobs. The Scheduler Service must be enabled as part of the Alteryx installation and the user must be licensed appropriately. The license should be installed by an Administrator to ensure all users are properly licensed and the service is properly configured. See Manage Schedules.

Run Analytic Apps: Opens the Choose Analytic App window that allows you to browse for apps and edit or run them. See Choose Analytic App

Export Workflow: Opens the Export Workflow window which allows the user to take the active workflow and zip it up with all of its dependencies into a *.yxzp file. See Workflow Management.

Manage Licenses: Allows the user to view, add, and delete their Alteryx licenses via the License Manager.

Manage Connect Credentials: Opens the Connect Sign In window that allows you to access Connect. See Use Connect Assets.

Add Promote Connection: Opens the Promote Connection window that allows you to add connections to the Promote platform. To view all connections or delete a connection, access the Deploy Tool or Score Tool.

User Settings: Offers the ability to configure a workflow's appearance and to specify system resource usage to optimize the project's performance specific to the user. See User Settings.

  • Edit User Settings: See User Settings.
  • Save Layout & Settings on Exit: Saves the GUI layout and user specified settings upon exiting the program.
  • Save Layout & Settings Now: Saves the GUI layout and user specified settings upon selecting this option.
  • Restore Defaults: Returns the GUI layout to its original orientation.

Manage Data Connections: Create and manage your data connections from a central location. View connections you created and connections shared with you, as well as add new connections. See Manage Data Connections.

Manage In-DB Connections: Create and manage your in-database connections from a central location. View existing in-database connections and add new in-database connections. See Manage In-DB Connections .

Workflow Dependencies: Controls the input and output paths associated with the workflow as well as specific datasets. See Workflow Dependencies.

Encrypt Workflow: Saves a copy of a workflow so that it can be run, but cannot be opened and edited in Alteryx Designer. See Workflow Encryption.

System Settings: Offers the ability to specify system resource usage to optimize the application's performance. System Settings require Administrator privileges to change. See System Settings.

Download Predictive Tools: The predictive tools use the R programming language. Go to Options > Download Predictive Tools and sign in to the Alteryx Downloads and Licenses portal to install R and the packages used by the R Tool.

These options provide quick access to help with Alteryx.

Alteryx Help: Opens Designer Help. You can also press the F1 key.

Tutorials: Opens tutorial workflows that provide an introduction to building workflows in Designer.

Sample Workflows: Opens the sample workflows that are available in Designer, including external installations such as Starter Kits. See Sample Workflows.

Community: Links to the Alteryx Community site where you will find access to our user forums, support questions, workflow exchange, FAQs and more.

What's New: Opens the What's New Help page for the current release version of Designer, highlighting the new features and enhancements since the last official release. See What's New.

Check for Updates: Designer checks to see if there is a newer version available than the current version. This feature requires an internet connection. See Version Updates.

Alteryx Downloads: Opens the Alteryx Downloads and Licenses portal where you can download the latest version of the software.

About: Open a dialog box with the Designer version information and the unique serial number for the license.