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
Save your Designer assets, including workflow packages (.yxzp), workflows (.yxmd), macros (.yxmc), and Analytic Apps (.yxwz) to your Alteryx One Library (part of your Alteryx One Workspace).
Note
Starting with the 2026.1 release, Designer saves assets to the Alteryx One Library by default.
The active workspace determines where assets are saved. You can view or change it via Manage Connections > Alteryx Links. The active workspace here matches the active workspace in the Alteryx One application.
In Designer, select File > Save As > Alteryx One (this option connects to your active Alteryx One workspace). 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.
The Location field indicates that the asset will be saved to the Alteryx One Library. If needed, select the folder where you want to save your asset. The folder name is included in the path in the Location field (for example
Alteryx One Library/myfolder.Select the Asset Type:
Designer Workflow Package (.yxzp): Packages workflow and copies of all its dependencies. To execute a Designer workflow in Alteryx One via Workspace Execution, you must save it to Alteryx One as a Workflow Package (.yxzp).
Designer Workflow (.yxmd)
Designer Analytic App (.yxwz)
Designer Macro (.yxmc)
Workspace Execution
Workspace Execution lets you execute Designer workflows in the cloud. Note that workflows that you build in Designer need to be edited in Designer. These workflows aren't editable in Designer Cloud at this time.
To execute a Designer workflow in Alteryx One via Workspace Execution, you must save it to Alteryx One as a Workflow Package (.yxzp).
If you select Workflow Package, use the Dependencies section to review dependencies and determine how you want to group them. Unpackaged assets don't contain dependencies.
For Workspace Execution, make sure all dependencies and connections are accessible from your Alteryx One Workspace.
Turn on the Group By Tool toggle to show all of the workflow's assets or file dependencies grouped with the tool they are connected to. This setting organizes assets for each tool so that information is easier to parse—it doesn't change how the YXZP file is created.
Uncheck an asset to omit it from the workflow package.
Select Reset to restore the Dependencies.
The Sync Designer Connections checkbox is checked by default to add or sync all connections that are used in the workflow to your Alteryx One 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.
View Designer Desktop Assets 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, macros, and Analytic Apps in the Alteryx One Library. You can use the filter (funnel) icon, select Asset Type, and choose Designer > Workflow, Macro, or 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 Asset from Alteryx One
Follow these steps to open a Designer asset from the Alteryx One library. The asset opens in Designer.
In Designer, select File > Open Workflow > Alteryx One. The Open from Alteryx One workspace dialog appears (this option connects to your active Alteryx One workspace). Here you can access your Alteryx One Library. 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.
If you want to open a local file, select Open From Local at the bottom of the modal. Otherwise, you can select the Designer asset that you want to open from the Library.
The Library displays these asset details:
Name: The name of the asset.
Asset Type: Lists the Designer asset type: Workflow, Macro, Analytic App, or Workflow Package.
Shared With: Lists the users with whom the asset has been shared.
Owner: The owner of the asset.
Last Updated: The timestamp of the last update.
There are a number of filtering and search options available to help you find your asset:
Use the All, Owned by Me, and Shared With Me options to narrow your list of assets as needed.
Use the funnel icon to apply a filter to the library.
Use the Search field to find your asset by Name.
Once you locate the asset that you want to open, select it from the list. The asset opens in Designer.
Download Designer Asset from Alteryx One
Alternatively, you can download your Designer workflow, macro, or app directly from the Alteryx One library. 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 Designer workflow, marcro, or Analytic App and use the three-dot menu to select Download.
The download creates a YXZP file that includes the asset 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.