Save and Open Workflows
Once you have connected Designer with your Alteryx One Platform workspace, you can save your desktop workflows and Analytic Apps to the cloud and also open those saved workflows and apps in Designer from Alteryx One.
Important
Note that the navigation options can vary depending on your Designer version. The instructions below refer to the current (most recent) version of Designer.
For details, go to Workflow Management.
Save Designer Desktop Workflow or App to Alteryx One
Follow these steps to save your Designer workflow or Analytic App to Alteryx One:
In Designer, select File > Save As > Alteryx One Platform to select your workspace connection. If you haven’t configured the connection yet, follow the instructions in Create a Link between Designer Desktop and Alteryx One Platform.
The current name of your workflow or app is populated by default in the Name field. You can customize the name if needed. If your workflow includes any assets, they are displayed below.
Select your Asset Type (Workflow, Workflow Package, Analytic App, etc.). If your asset has dependencies, they are displayed below.
Important
To run your Designer workflow with Workspace Execution in Alteryx One, you must save it as a Workflow Package (YXZP).
Check the Group 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.
The Sync All Desktop Connections checkbox is checked by default to add or sync all connections that are used in the workflow to your workspace. This sync is needed to execute the workflow successfully (and avoid errors) via Workspace Execution.
Important
This option is available in Designer version 2025.1 and newer.
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. Once the save is successful, a green success message appears. Here, you can select View (this opens the Alteryx One library where the workflow was saved) or use the "x" to continue working in Designer Desktop.
*If you’re already authenticated to your Alteryx One 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 Alteryx One workspace that you are saving to.
Important
Workspace Execution 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 Alteryx One
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.
Once saved to Alteryx One, you can find your Designer workflows and Analytic Apps in the Alteryx One Library. You can use the filter (funnel) icon, select Asset Type, and choose Designer Desktop Workflow or Desktop Analytic App.
In the Library, you can perform several actions (depending on your user permissions), including...
Schedule or run your workflow in Alteryx One, run your Analytic App directly in Alteryx One
Download a file that contains the workflow or app and any packaged assets.
Delete your Designer workflows and apps from Alteryx One.
Use the three-dot menu associated with the workflow or app to access these options. For more information, go to the Library for Assets.
Open Designer Desktop Workflow from Alteryx One
Follow these steps to open a workflow* that was created in Designer and saved to Alteryx One. The workflow opens in Designer.
Important
*These instructions apply to workflows only at this time. To open a Designer Analytic App from Alteryx One, you must download it from the Alteryx One Library and import it into Designer.
In Designer, select File > Open Workflow* > Alteryx One Platform. If you haven’t configured the connection yet, follow the instructions in Create a Link between Designer Desktop and Alteryx One Platform.
*You can also access desktop workflows saved to Alteryx One via File > Open Recent.
From the Open Workflow window, select your workflow to open it in Designer.
If you have many workflows, use the Search box to search by name.
You can click on the Name label to sort the workflows alphabetically in ascending or descending order.
You can also use the filter icon (funnel) to filter your list by Owner, Shared With, Tab, and Created By categories.
Download Workflow or Analytic App from Alteryx One
Alternatively, you can download your workflow or app directly from Alteryx One. To do so…
In Alteryx One, go to Library and use the funnel icon to filter by Asset Type. Select Designer to view Designer assets.
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 workflows and apps to your Alteryx One workspace, you're ready to run or schedule them. Go to View and Execute with Workspace Execution to learn how.