File Copying and Moving

If you want to move or copy files without using cmd or powershell solutions you can now install this tool made with the Python SDK.

AlteryxCategory

You can choose to keep the filenames the same but you can also rename them at the same time. It's a yxi package you can download and install from my Github site.

Happy moving!

https://github.com/bobpeers/Alteryx_SDK_FileCopyMove

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fmvizcaino

What a great idea to transform it into a tool!! Thanks for sharing @bobpeers

sean_bolte_dup_544

Hello Bob -

When I utilize your tool, the originating Directory path folder ends up being placed inside the destination path folder, along with the target file that was moved. This is in use with a Directory tool input, and defining the Destination path via a Text tool - which already has a defined target folder name that's been created in that path.

Text Tool setup - to mimic what is actually already in place in the Directory path:

Destination

\\UNC\Folder-A\Folder-C

Prior to File Copy and Move Tool use in Module:

Directory - \\UNC\Folder-A\Folder-B\TargetFile.xlsx

Destination - \\UNC\Folder-A\Folder-C

Expected outcome:

Directory - \\UNC\Folder-A\Folder-B

Destination - \\UNC\Folder-A\Folder-C\TargetFile.xlsx

Actual outcome w/ File Copy and Move Tool Use in Module:

Directory - \\UNC\Folder-A\All Folders other than B

Destination - \\UNC\Folder-A\Folder-C\Folder-B\TargetFile.xlsx

I realize I must be incorporating an incorrect setup - anything stand out on how this has been setup?

andrewdatakim

@bobpeers ,

What a great share! I constantly run into people who are looking for this functionality. This is much friendlier than asking user to use Command Line to address the problem.

bobpeers

Hi Sean,

I'm having a hard time recreating what you are seeing. In my own test I have these fields mapped as Source and destination:

And after the move operation the images folder is empty and the output folder has the images but not extra folders as in your example:

Is your setup like this? Can you show me some of the file paths so I can try to see if there's something else going on?

/Bob

SeanAdams

Hey @bobpeers - this really is super helpful.

I did something similar with creating folders (which is also a common task) - I've put the python below in-case you want it (had to change the extension to .txt for the community to allow the upload)

DirectoryCreateEngine.txt

directoryCreateCode.txt

NicolasSz

Hi,

Thanks a lot this is fantastic ! Exactly what I needed 🙂

Regards

JMart2135

@bobpeers First off just wanted to thank you for developing this tool, it was exactly the solution i needed for a recent workflow i was asked to develop. I just ran into an issue however attempting to run my workflow on the server. I had the admin install the tool on the server, however I get the error below when attempting to run it. It does run successfully on my local machine.

Error | 80 | Error: Unable to resolve plugin Python 'FileCopyMove\FileCopyMoveEngine.py'

Should this tool be able to work on the server? I know the server service account has access to our local network share folders as i perform other actions in this main directory with other workflows on the server. Could it possibly simply the location the tool was installed on the server maybe differing from the install location on my local?

Thanks for the help!

-Jesse

Biernt

Hello,

Want to start off by saying, amazing work on this tool.

I'm having trouble figuring out how to select the directory I wish to copy and move my files to. What I'm trying to do is copy & move all files in a folder to another folder on a separate drive. I'm using the directory tool to select the folder I want targeted for the move, but selecting where I'm sending them is where I'm getting caught up.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

eliberatore

Does anyone have an example of how to use this macro? I want to copy files from their folders and subfolders and place them in the same folder tree in another location.

fmvizcaino

Hey @eliberatore ,

See if this helps.

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/Copy-Files-Workflow/m-p/735797#M175034

Best,

Fernando Vizcaino

Dave_McClintock

@bobpeers thanks for developing this tool! There is one question though that is preventing me from being able to deploy a workflow using this method.

I have various error checks in my workflow to cancel the workflow if there is a data issue. The problem I am having is that the files are moved even when the workflow errors out prior to where this tool is in the workflow. Is there a simple way to make the tool not run if errors are encountered earlier in the workflow?

danello11

This macro will allow you to process sequentially. I use it all the time.

Process Sequentially.yxmc

psyberbrain

@JMart2135Have you been able to run it on the server?

Facing the same issue with the same error message.

Cheers

kamanivk

@danello11 What does the macro 'Process Sequentially' does? Is it different from Block Until Done? Thanks.

danello11

I have not used block until done so i can't speak to the differences, but Process Sequentially just processes the entire first input until done and then the second input runs.

justindavis

@bobpeers this macro is incredibly helpful, have used it in several circumstances. Thank you!

kimlam

Thank you, this is such a wonderful tool @bobpeers. It works perfectly! I was wondering instead of moving/copying specific files, can we move all the files in a folder? Can this be done with a wildcard?

MotorolaMatt

@JMart2135 & @psyberbrain Did you ever get an answer to whether or not this will work on Alteryx Server?

yue_zhang

Hello Bob,

firstly this tool ist really excellent, but i have one question regards length of path. I've done a lot of tests, if my path has more than 260 characters, the tool failed to copy files. As long as it's smaller than 259 or equals to 259 it works fine. Is this known to you? or i've been totally wrong.

flying008

Hi,@yue_zhang

Because in default os api, the 260 character path length limit exist in windows, so if you must need the long path/name to use, you need modify the Registry value of python in your PC(only for win10 above).

NTFS(Window的文件系统)中的内置限制为路径/文件名最长260个字符, 所以这并不是Macro本身的问题, 如果您确实需要,请修改对应的长路径支持注册表键值来实现(仅win10和以上版本系统).

yue_zhang

Oh, okay, understood, thank you very much!

brperkins2

Does this work to move a file from SFTP to shared drive? I have tried the below and it is not working. Text Input Tool to File-Copy-Move Tool.

Directory: sftp://sasserver.svr.us.company.net/serverid/folder1/data_file.sas7bdat

Destination: I:\Folder1\Downloads\

This did not work. No file copied over.

salbol1

@brperkins2 I'd try a UNC path first, rather than your I: drive path....something like \\Computer Name\Users\your name...etc.

Also, is this on your local machine directory, or or you using on a load to your server? If the latter, might have drive mapping permissions issues on the server that would need to be dealt with.

psubramanian

Hi,

I am facing the same trouble/error as @JMart2135. Can someone please reply? The File Copy/Move works perfectly fine when run on the local machine, but fails when uploaded to Alteryx Gallery. Do we need any additional setup that needs to be done on the server?

Please help!!!

Wrigh6s

Absolute hero, this is exactly what i needed. Even managed to work out how to change file name at the same time. I've pasted my example flow if anyone is struggling to work this out.

PanPP

Hi @psubramanian

In order to utilize this tool on the server machine, it will need to be installed on the Server machine. Following the steps below will ensure the tool is installed properly.

1) Run Designer as admin on Server machine

2) Click File top left in designer

3) Click Open workflow

4) Browse to the .yxi file to install the tool for all users.

Below are the directories for the tool installation:

Client machine (non admin install) - C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Alteryx\Tools

Server Machine (Admin install) - C:\ProgramData\Alteryx\Tools

Hope this helps, if it does please like this message so other users can see.

CaitlinFallows

Hey bobpeers,

This is a great tool, but I seem to be having a drawback to it I'm hoping you can help me with. The files write into the folder as expected, but when I try to pull it onto the canvas (I run these daily and need to compare one day to another), Alteryx doesn't recognize the filepath - I'm dragging it directly from the new folder location so it's not mistyped, and Alteryx acknowledges there's two tabs in the Excel file, but gives an error that the filepath might be incorrect. Has this happened before/have I done something wrong?

(Excuse the rough redaction)

dkazup

Hello, When I run a workflow with this tool from a local desktop, it runs fine. However, when I run the same workflow from a virtual machine, in which I have different credentials, it presents almost immediately a "The designer x64 reported: Unknown Fatal Error". Everything else is the same... the virtual machine has the desktop alteryx designer.... anyway you might be able to help? I'm limited in my ability to share information on this site but will try to answer any questions as best as I can.

hbonsu198

Hey bobpeers! thanks for putting this amazing tool together. Does this tool work with copying file from and to a SharePoint folder using the Sharepoint input and output tools? I tried a number of times but the file_result says "Source file doesn't exist". thanks in advance for your response!

mattpears78

@bobpeers
Did anyone get this to work successfully on Alteryx Server? We have installed the tool on the Server, and runs fine on the Server Designer instance, but when executed via Gallery the tool doesnt move the file. The workflow completes successfully, just the fie isnt moved.

deepaprash

Can this tool be used to copy a file from a sharepoint location?

luismoralesm

Did you get this tool to work on the server. I'm running into the same issue

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