Copying and Pasting XML files to an archive folder

[BobSievert]

I receive 12-xml files on a daily basis.  I would like to create an Alteryx Workflow that will take the daily xml files, append today's date and save the xml files to an Archive folder. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to create such a workflow?

[ArtApa]

Hi @BobSievert - You would like to append the date to the file name, right? In this case I'd use a Run Command tool: https://help.alteryx.com/current/RunCommand.htm 

[BobSievert]

Thanks,  Does anyone have an example workflow using the run command to copy files to a new folder while appending today's date to the file name of the copied files?

[ddiesel]

Hi @BobSievert!

There are many ways to do this. Through much trial and error, here's my go-to method for renaming files within Alteryx.

First write your XML files. Use a Block Until Done to execute the next steps after the XML files have been written to the desired location.

Example formula for RENAME command:

'RENAME '+ '"'+[FullPath]+ '"'+ ' ' + + '"'+[FileName]+"_"+DateTimeFormat(DateTimeStart(),"%Y-%m-%d")+".txt"+ '"'

Use Summarize to Concatenate Command (use \n new line as separator)

Write BAT file:

Use the Events tab to execute BAT file after successful workflow run:

RENAME "C:\Temp\Sample1.txt" "Sample1_2022-06-22.txt"
RENAME "C:\Temp\Sample2.txt" "Sample2_2022-06-22.txt"
RENAME "C:\Temp\Sample3.txt" "Sample3_2022-06-22.txt"

Let us know if this helps!

Thanks,

Deb