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Knowledge Base / Designer / Alteryx Designer: Python Tool: Jupyter Notebook Blank After Loading
Alteryx Designer: Python Tool: Jupyter Notebook Blank After Loading
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Created/Edited - 12/6/2024 by Matt Paden | Alteryx

Summary
Article-1902
Description

In Designer, the Jupyter Notebook interface in the Python tool's Interactive mode is blank after letting it load. After clicking on a Python Tool either newly added to a workflow or a Python tool that was already in a saved workflow it loads as per the image below:

 

This image shows the Jupyter Notebook interface loading in the Python tool's Interface mode.

 

Then after letting it load it shows a blank UI

 

This image shows that the Jupyter Notebook interface is blank in the Python tool's Interactive mode.

Environment
  • Alteryx Designer
    • Version 2019.3+
Cause

Cause A

The jupyter-notebook.exe is missing from the <Install Path>\bin\Miniconda3\envs\JupyterTool_vEnv\Scripts path. For versions 2021.1.4+ the path is <Install Path>\bin\Miniconda3\envs\DesignerBaseTools_venv\Scripts

To check this:

  1. Confirm Designer is open and a Python Tool is on the canvas (showing a blank UI).
  2. Open Task Manager
  3. Under the Details tab of the Task Manger you should see both
    1. jupyter-notebook.exe
    2. jupyter.exe

This image shows the jupyter-notebook.exe and jupyter.exe processes running in the Task Manager's Details tab, which is expected.


The .exe missing could have been caused from something (normally an anti-virus software) removing it during the install or when Designer tries to run the .exe.

 

Cause B

There is an issue with loading metadata in the Python tool.

 

Cause C

The underlying Operating System (OS) may have a problem with loading .dll files. To determine if this is the case, please do the following:

  1. Open Command Prompt
  2. Change directory to where jupyter-notebook.exe is located in Designer:
    1. In versions older than 2021.1.4:  
      cd <Install Path>\bin\Miniconda3\envs\JupyterTool_vEnv\Scripts
    2. In version 202.1.4+:  
      cd <Install Path>\bin\Miniconda3\envs\DesignerBaseTools_venv\Scripts
  3. Run the following command which should attempt to load the Jupyter Notebook in a browser:  
    jupyter-notebook.exe
  4. If instead the following error is returned, it may indicate a wider issue on the machine with loading .dll files. This can be verified by reviewing the Event Viewer logs on the machine to see if there are similar errors with loading .dll files from other non-Alteryx applications.  
    ImportError: DLL load failed while importing_sqlite3: The file cannot be accessed by the system
Resolution

Solution A

If the jupyter-notebook.exe is missing from the Scripts folder and neither service is running:

  1. Close Designer
  2. Copy a working jupyter-notebook.exe from the same Designer version, and place it in the <Install Path>\bin\Miniconda3\envs\JupyterTool_vEnv\Scripts path. For versions 2021.1.4+ the path is <Install Path>\bin\Miniconda3\envs\DesignerBaseTools_venv\Scripts
  3. Reopen Designer

If neither service starts after placing the jupyter-notebook.exe in Scripts folder and reopening Designer and clicking on a Python Tool, confirm that it is still present in the Scripts folder because there are times when an anti-virus will remove it.
 

Solution B

If the jupyter-notebook.exe is not missing and the services are running, there may be a metadata refresh issue.

  1. Open Designer
  2. Drag a Python Tool onto the Canvas
  3. Let the tool load to show a blank UI
  4. Click Production, then Interactive in the Python Tool
  5. Click off of the tool, into the Canvas
  6. Click back into the Python tool. The tool should load successfully

 

Solution C

Consider the following to fix the underlying issue with the OS:

Note: If unsure, please reach out to your IT team about proceeding with the above.

Additional Information
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