Alteryx-Core General Knowledge Practice Question
When a workflow is saved, what is the default file extension used by Alteryx Designer?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates occasionally confuse the default workflow extension (.yxmd) with the macro extension (.yxmc) or the packaged workflow extension (.yxzp), leading to incorrect answers on basic file format questions.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
.yxmd
Understanding file formats is fundamental to managing Alteryx projects. The .yxmd file is the standard workflow format, containing the logic and configuration without embedded data. Recognizing this extension helps users manage their file systems effectively, differentiating between regular workflows (.yxmd), macros (.yxmc), and analytic apps (.yxwz). This knowledge prevents confusion when organizing project directories and ensures that the correct file types are shared with other developers or deployed to servers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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.yxmc
Why it's wrong here
The .yxmc extension is reserved for Macro files, which are specialized workflows designed to be reused as components inside other workflows. While they share some underlying XML structure, saving a standard workflow as .yxmc is incorrect and could lead to issues if the intended usage is a standard execution.
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.yxdb
Why it's wrong here
The .yxdb file is an Alteryx database format used for storing data in a high-performance, columnar manner. It is not an executable workflow file. If a user attempts to open a .yxdb file in Designer, it will only load the data grid, not the workflow logic or tools.
- ✓
.yxmd
Why this is correct
The .yxmd extension stands for Alteryx Module, which is the default format for standard workflows in Alteryx Designer. This file contains the complete XML representation of the canvas, including all tool configurations, connections, and metadata required to reconstruct and execute the workflow logic in any Alteryx Designer environment.
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.yxwz
Why it's wrong here
The .yxwz extension identifies an Analytic App. These are interactive workflows designed for end-users to input variables through an interface, which then guide the workflow execution. A standard workflow does not contain these interface elements and should not be saved with the .yxwz extension by default.
About these practice questions
This Alteryx-Core question is part of Courseiva's 142-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Alteryx exam blueprint
This Alteryx-Core practice question is part of Courseiva's free Alteryx certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the Alteryx-Core exam.