Introduction to Alteryx
Getting to know new software is always daunting. Below I will show you around (basic overview) to help get you started.
Alteryx or any new software can be daunting to get started with. But in reality, once you have navigated your way through the software, it is actually quite easy and user friendly.
I will show you the basics that you need to know. To help get you started on your Alteryx Journey.
Once you have opened Alteryx, it will look something like this:
Still blank, as I have not performed anything within Alteryx at the moment. What you are looking at here is a blank “canvas”. Alteryx is a “designer” tool within the Data Science and analytics fields. By including data and the tools at your disposal, you will be empowered to create something amazing.
The blank space in the middle is called the Canvas. As you can imagine, this is where all the tools will be dragged and dropped. This is where you will make the magic happen.
On the left, we have the Configuration Toolbar. You will spend a lot of time in this window. From changing settings on the Canvas, or customising each tool. It all happens right here.
At the bottom, we have the “Results Window”. This window is where you will monitor the results of your workflows as you work. After you run the workflow, the results of the process (viewable per tool) will be shown here. There is a limit as to the quantity of data that is viewable within the standard results window. But we will get to where you can modify it should you choose to later. The results window does show enough information to get started with, as it is very rare that you will require to see more information to really enable you to continue with designing your workflow.
Finally, we have the top toolbar. Or rather, the tool palette. The tool palette is where you will find all the various tools that you will use during your Alteryx journey. Building your workflow to get the results that you need. Don’t fear. Although it looks daunting, we will work through each of the palette’s features and explain what each tool does in time.
Part of the tool palette, on the top right-hand corner is the search bar. This bar will provide you with a lot of valuable information and assistance, and is considered to be your first line of assistance. It will provide you with possible tools, Alteryx official pages and community pages where somebody else might have already asked the question and received a solution. This is in my opinion the true power of Alteryx. The community.
