Data type mapping

This page maps Alteryx Designer data types to Prophecy Analysts data types used in Prophecy SQL pipelines. Prophecy SQL pipelines run on different execution engines such as Databricks SQL or BigQuery.
Because each engine provides its own SQL type system, the resulting data type may differ depending on the configured environment. Use the tabs below to view the mapping for your execution engine.

Databricks
BigQuery

This section maps Alteryx Designer data types to Databricks SQL types used by Prophecy pipelines.

String data

Alteryx has four data types for strings: String, WString, V_String, V_WString.In Prophecy, all strings can be handled with the SQL data type STRING.

Alteryx	Prophecy (Databricks SQL)	Notes
`String` / `V_String`	`STRING`	Databricks `STRING` is UTF-8 variable-length. While Alteryx distinguishes between fixed and variable storage, `STRING` covers both use cases.
`WString` / `V_WString`	`STRING`	Databricks strings are Unicode by default. While Alteryx uses a separate wide-string type, `STRING` is effectively wide-string.

Numeric data

Alteryx has seven numeric types: Byte, Int16, Int32, Int64, Fixed Decimal, Float, Double.

Alteryx	Prophecy (Databricks SQL)	Notes
`Byte`	`TINYINT`	Alteryx `Byte` (0–255) becomes signed `TINYINT` (-128–127). Cast to `SMALLINT` if you need a higher positive range.
`Int16`	`SMALLINT`	Two-byte signed integer.
`Int32`	`INT`	Four-byte signed integer.
`Int64`	`BIGINT`	Eight-byte signed integer.
`Fixed Decimal`	`DECIMAL(p,s)`	Defaults to `DECIMAL` with no parameters. Precision and scale can be specified explicitly.
`Float`	`FLOAT`	32-bit single precision (~7 digits).
`Double`	`DOUBLE`	64-bit double precision (~15–16 digits).

DateTime data

Alteryx has three DateTime data types: Date, Time, DateTime.

Alteryx	Prophecy (Databricks SQL)	Notes
`Date`	`DATE`	Calendar date (`YYYY-MM-DD`) without timezone.
`Time`	`STRING` or derived `TIMESTAMP`	Databricks lacks a standalone `TIME` type.
`DateTime`	`TIMESTAMP`	Represents precise time values with microsecond precision.

Precision and range differences

Databricks supports wider date ranges (year 0001–9999).
Alteryx cannot process dates earlier than 1400.
Casting from strings must match the expected format.

Boolean data

Alteryx type: Bool

Alteryx	Prophecy (Databricks SQL)	Notes
`Bool`	`BOOLEAN`	True/False literal values.

Quick reference

Alteryx	Prophecy (Databricks SQL)
String / V_String	`STRING`
WString / V_WString	`STRING`
Byte	`TINYINT`
Int16	`SMALLINT`
Int32	`INT`
Int64	`BIGINT`
Fixed Decimal	`DECIMAL(p,s)`
Float	`FLOAT`
Double	`DOUBLE`
Date	`DATE`
Time	`STRING` or `TIMESTAMP`
DateTime	`TIMESTAMP`
Bool	`BOOLEAN`

This section maps Alteryx Designer data types to BigQuery SQL types used by Prophecy pipelines.

String data

Alteryx	Prophecy (BigQuery SQL)	Notes
`String` / `V_String`	`STRING`	BigQuery strings are UTF-8 and variable-length.
`WString` / `V_WString`	`STRING`	Unicode strings are supported by default.

Numeric data

Alteryx	Prophecy (BigQuery SQL)	Notes
`Byte`	`INT64`	BigQuery uses a single integer type for all integer widths.
`Int16`	`INT64`	Smaller integer widths are normalized to `INT64`.
`Int32`	`INT64`
`Int64`	`INT64`	Direct mapping.
`Fixed Decimal`	`NUMERIC` or `BIGNUMERIC`	`NUMERIC` supports up to 38 digits precision; `BIGNUMERIC` supports larger precision.
`Float`	`FLOAT64`	Double-precision floating point value.
`Double`	`FLOAT64`	BigQuery uses `FLOAT64` for floating-point values.

DateTime data

Alteryx	Prophecy (BigQuery SQL)	Notes
`Date`	`DATE`	Calendar date (`YYYY-MM-DD`).
`Time`	`TIME`	Native time-of-day type without timezone.
`DateTime`	`DATETIME` or `TIMESTAMP`	`DATETIME` has no timezone; `TIMESTAMP` represents an absolute point in time.

Precision and range differences

BigQuery timestamps support microsecond precision.
TIMESTAMP values represent absolute time in UTC.
DATETIME values represent date and time without timezone context.

Boolean data

Alteryx	Prophecy (BigQuery SQL)	Notes
`Bool`	`BOOL`	Represents true/false values.

Quick reference

Alteryx	Prophecy (BigQuery SQL)
String / V_String	`STRING`
WString / V_WString	`STRING`
Byte	`INT64`
Int16	`INT64`
Int32	`INT64`
Int64	`INT64`
Fixed Decimal	`NUMERIC` / `BIGNUMERIC`
Float	`FLOAT64`
Double	`FLOAT64`
Date	`DATE`
Time	`TIME`
DateTime	`DATETIME` or `TIMESTAMP`
Bool	`BOOL`

Known differences & recommendations

Integer widths: BigQuery consolidates all integer sizes to INT64.
Decimal precision: Use NUMERIC for most use cases; use BIGNUMERIC when higher precision is required.
Date/time handling: BigQuery distinguishes between DATETIME (no timezone) and TIMESTAMP (absolute time).
Unicode strings: BigQuery STRING supports UTF-8 text by default.

Import overview

Alteryx to SQL

Alteryx to Spark

Migration Analysis

String data

Numeric data

DateTime data

Precision and range differences

Boolean data

Quick reference

String data

Numeric data

DateTime data

Precision and range differences

Boolean data

Quick reference

Known differences & recommendations

Import overview

Alteryx to SQL

Alteryx to Spark

Migration Analysis

​String data

​Numeric data

​DateTime data

​Precision and range differences

​Boolean data

​Quick reference

​String data

​Numeric data

​DateTime data

​Precision and range differences

​Boolean data

​Quick reference

​Known differences & recommendations

String data

Numeric data

DateTime data

Precision and range differences

Boolean data

Quick reference

String data

Numeric data

DateTime data

Precision and range differences

Boolean data

Quick reference

Known differences & recommendations