Save and Open Workflows
Once you have connected Designer Desktop with your Alteryx Analytics Cloud (AAC) workspace, you can save your desktop workflows and Analytic Apps to the cloud and also open those saved workflows and apps in Designer Desktop from AAC.
Save Designer Desktop Workflow or App to AAC
Follow these steps to save your Designer Desktop workflow or Analytic App to Alteryx Analytics Cloud:
In Designer Desktop, select File > Save As > Alteryx Analytics Cloud and select your workspace connection, identified by the Data Source Name that you provided when you configured the connection. If you haven’t configured the connection yet, select Add New Link and follow the instructions in Create a Link between Designer Desktop and Alteryx Analytics Cloud.
The current name of your workflow or app is populated by default in the Workflow Name field. You can customize the name if needed. If your workflow includes any assets, they are displayed below.
Check the Group assets by tool* checkbox to display all of the workflow's assets or file dependencies that are grouped together with the tool they are connected to.
Uncheck an asset to omit it from the workflow package.
*This setting organizes the assets for each tool so that information is easier to parse—it does not change how the YXZP file is created.
Select Save*. At this time, Alteryx validates your workflow or app to confirm that it doesn’t use prohibited non-DCM data connections. Review Tool, Engine, Driver, and Connector Compatibility for details. A progress bar indicates the save progress. Once the save is successful, a green success message appears. Here, you can select the View button (this opens the AAC library where the workflow was saved) or use the "x" to continue working in Designer Desktop.
*If you’re already authenticated to your AAC workspace, you’re all set. If you’re not authenticated, the save triggers your default browser to open a new window where you can sign in to the AAC workspace that you are saving to.
Important
Cloud Execution for Desktop lets you create and edit workflows or Analytic Apps on the desktop and execute them in the cloud. Workflows and apps that you build in Designer Desktop need to be edited in Designer Desktop. At this time, these workflows and apps are not functional or editable in Designer Cloud.
View Desktop Workflows and Apps in AAC
Tip
Note that different options are available for standard workflows and Analytic Apps. For example, you can schedule a workflow run but not an app. Also, you can run an Analytic App on demand but can't do so with a workflow.
Once saved to AAC, you can find your Desktop workflows and Analytic Apps in AAC via Library > Designer Desktop. Here you can Download a file that contains the workflow or app and any packaged assets, Schedule your workflow to run in AAC, run your Analytic App directly in AAC, and Delete your Desktop workflows and apps from AAC. Use the three-dot menu associated with the workflow or app to access these options.
Go to the Library for Assets page for more information.
Open Designer Desktop Workflow from AAC
Follow these steps to open a workflow* that was created in Designer Desktop and saved to Alteryx Analytics Cloud. The workflow opens in Designer Desktop.
Important
*These instructions apply to workflows only at this time. To open a Designer Desktop Analytic App from AAC, you must download it from the AAC Library and import it into Designer Desktop.
In Designer Desktop, select File > Open Workflow* > Alteryx Analytics Cloud and select your workspace connection, identified by the Data Source Name that you provided when you configured the connection. If you haven’t configured the connection yet, select Add New Link and follow the instructions in Create a Link between Designer Desktop and Alteryx Analytics Cloud.
*You can also access desktop workflows saved to AAC via File > Open Recent.
From the Open Workflow window, select your workflow and then select the Open button. If you have many workflows, use the search box to search by name. You can click on the Workflows label to sort the workflows alphabetically in ascending or descending order.
Download Workflow or Analytic App from AAC
Alternatively, you can download your workflow or app directly from AAC. To do so…
In AAC, go to Library > Designer Desktop.
Locate your Desktop workflow or Analytic App and use the three-dot menu to select Download.
The download creates a YXZP file that includes the workflow or app and any packaged assets.
Next Steps
After you save your Designer Desktop workflows and apps to your AAC workspace, you're ready to use Cloud Execution for Desktop. Go to View and Execute with Cloud Execution to learn how.