Import a File
You can import one or more files into the Alteryx Analytics Cloud.
Note
When you import a file, the data is not stored in the Alteryx Analytics Cloud. What you create is an imported dataset, which is simply a reference to the source of the data. The Alteryx Analytics Cloud never stores or modifies source data.
Note
Before you begin, you should review information on file formats supported for import, which cause your files to fail to import or to be properly ingested and formatted. For more information, go to Supported File Formats.
Follow these steps to import your data:
From the global header, select Data.
On the Data page, select Import Data.
From the left pane on the Import Data page, select the connection where your data is located.
Note
You must have read permissions on any directory and file that you wish to import.
Upload: Browse your local desktop to select the file or files that you want to upload.
Tip
You can select multiple files in the same directory for uploading at the same time.
Tip
Excel (XLS/XLSX) files with multiple sheets are supported.
Alteryx Data Storage: Select a file stored on Alteryx Analytics Cloud (AAC).
File-based datastore: If you are uploading from a file-based backend datastore, navigate the available directories to locate your file.
Microsoft Excel: If you are importing an Excel file that contains multiple worksheets, you must select the worksheets to include as part of your import.
Dataset with Parameters: If you are importing multiple files with similar filenames, you can import them as part of the same dataset using parameters or variables. In this manner, you create a single imported dataset, which automatically includes any new files that appear in the directory and that follow the same file naming pattern.
To modify your imported data, select Edit settings for an imported file in the right pane. You can also Add a Description to your imported data from the right pane.
For Excel (XLS/XLSX) files with multiple sheets:
Dataset creation: Select how you to import each sheet.
1 dataset per sheet: Import each selected sheet as its own imported dataset. If you select this option, enter the base Dataset name for each imported sheet.
Selected sheets into 1 dataset: Combine selected sheets into a single dataset.
All and future sheets into 1 dataset: Combine all sheets into a single dataset. AAC dynamically includes future sheets.
Remove special characters from column names: Select to remove special characters from the column names. Characters that are not alphanumeric or underscores are stripped, and space characters are converted to underscores.
There are multiple options for determining the header of your data. From the dropdown, select either Infer header, Use first row as header, or No header. For more information, go to File Import Settings.
For all other files:
Detect structure: By default, the application attempts to detect the file structure to convert it into a tabular format. Disable this setting only if you are experiencing issues with automated detection.
Remove special characters from column names: Select to remove special characters from the column names. Characters that are not alphanumeric or underscores are stripped, and space characters are converted to underscores.
If your file uses a different file encoding than the default encoding, select the correct encoding from the dropdown. For more information, go to Change File Encoding.
There are multiple options for determining the header of your data. From the dropdown, select either Infer header, Use first row as header, or No header. For more information, go to File Import Settings.
When you have uploaded all your datasets, select Continue.
Tip
If present, you can click the Add to new flow checkbox, which adds the imported datasets to a new flow.
Your files are available as imported datasets.
For more information, go to Import Data Page.