Connecting to data

The first step to bring data into Alteryx is connecting to it. There are four connection options we will review that will prepare you to connect to a variety of files and databases. These include the following tools, Input Data, Text Input, Map Input, and Connect In-DB as shown in the following image:

Input Data

The Input Data tool can be found under the In/Out tool palette. Connect to a file or database to bring data into your workflow. Let's look at how we can connect to a file by configuring the tool:

1. Open Alteryx. You should see a blank canvas with the tool palettes at the top and the workflow configuration on the left.
2. Drag the Input Data tool from the In/Out tool palette onto the canvas.
3. In the Configuration window, select a file.
4. In the Open dialogue box, navigate to the \Learn Alteryx\Chapter 02\ directory and select the Florida Local Data for Better Health.csv file.
5. You will now see that you are connected to the file, with the Options and Preview sections populated as...