I encountered a challenge with writing to Excel using a template in FME. Despite setting it up correctly, FME wasn't reading the Excel template sheet. This issue persisted in FME 2020 but seemed to be temporary solved in the 2022 and 2023 versions.
Progress Made:
- Identified a Excel plugin we use at work in Excel as a potential cause.
- Our IT support thinks the windows update for Excell 2023 is the probably reason
- Explored potential reasons like multiple Python versions, recent Windows updates, and potential conflicts in the .xlsx files. However I dont want to uninstall my python versions due to other development projects.
- Cant uninstall windows updates since its restricted due to company policy
- Reinstalled FME to overwrite any potentially corrupted files without success.
- Various troubleshooting attempts: rebooting, re-saving the FME workspace, re-saving the .xlsx save to 2007 xls template, etc.
- Upon uninstalling the excel plugin, FME 2022 and 2023 began working normally, but the issue persists in FME 2020.
- I do need all FME versions above. So its vital it should work for 2020. However we are in a task to upgrade our FME server so soon I dont need 2020.
My wild guess that is creating this issue.
- The Excel plugin or a combination with some Windows update cause the problem. Even if the plugin is disabled some data still create conflicts.
Logfile: ( it seames to be problem to read Xlsx schema)
Trying to find a DYNAMIC plugin for reader named `XLSXR'
FME API version of module 'XLSXR' matches current internal version (3.8 20200115)
Creating reader for format: Microsoft Excel
Trying to find a DYNAMIC plugin for reader named `XLSXR'
FME API version of module 'XLSXR' matches current internal version (3.8 20200115)
Excel Reader: Output cell formulas: 'false'
Excel Reader: Output cell formatting: 'false'
Excel Reader: Output cell comments: 'false'
Excel Reader: Force full datetime values: 'false'
Excel Reader: Opening dataset ''...
Excel Reader: Failed to open the dataset ''. Error message was 'No such file or directory.'
Excel Reader: Closing dataset ''...
Styles created: 21
Excel Reader: Closing dataset ''...
UniversalReader -- readSchema resulted in 0 schema features being returned
Reader Parameter(0) = ><
Reader Parameter(1) = >RETRIEVE_ALL_TABLE_NAMES<
Reader Parameter(2) = >Yes<
Reader Parameter(3) = >IGNORE_ALL_NAMED_RANGES<
Reader Parameter(4) = >Yes<
Reader Directive(0) = >RUNTIME_MACROS<
Reader Directive(1) = >RETRIEVE_ALL_TABLE_NAMES,Yes,IGNORE_ALL_NAMED_RANGES,Yes<
UniversalReader -- readSchema resulted in 0 schema features being returned
A fatal error has occurred. Check the logfile above for details
Question to the FME Community:
Has anyone else experienced similar issues, If so, do you have any suggestions or workarounds that might help?
Let me show a printscreen to show what I mean. Unfortunately its hard to share a workspace. To be clear this issue happens in a new workspace with the template settings shown below.
