Directory Tool Not Returning Results for Network Path Despite Correct Configuration

Hello Alteryx Community,

I'm encountering an issue with the Directory tool in Alteryx, where it fails to return any results when configured to access a specific network path. I've verified that the path is correct and accessible, but the tool still doesn't list any files or directories. Please see below for your reference. Note also that macro is prohibited.

Setup:

Network Path Sample: \\ABC\Daily Activity Report\Input\Week of 0214 (note that date change everyweek that is why I need the last Friday)
Files in Directory: The directory contains several Excel files, such as DailyActivityReport 02-14-2025.xlsx, which I can access manually via File Explorer.
I have this computation to solve for last Friday.

Compute Last Friday.PNG

I used 3 tool by which on the filter tool this is the formula:

3 tools.PNG

[FullPath] = "\ABC\ Daily Activity Report\Input\Week of " + [FormattedDate]

However the result is empty...

results empty.PNG

Need your assistance on this. Not sure why it is not appearing.

Kamen

Workflow

Reporting

Output

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Accepted answers

AncientPandaman

@KamenRider

it needs to use contains, because FullPath from directory contains filename.
but your comparison does not contain filename.

contains([FullPath],"\ABC\ Daily Activity Report\Input\Week of " + [FormattedDate])

All comments

binu_acs

@KamenRider, can you Drag a folder from the network driver to the designer canvas and run the workflow to see if the result displays?

KGT

So... is the directory tool not producing a result, or is the filter not working? I'm not sure how that output relates to the workflow, as the field names are not what I would expect.

Strip back the issue, if the issue is that the directory tool will not pull a list of files from the location, then don't worry about everything else yet. If the issue is that it will pull the list of files, but the FullPath is different, then work on that issue. If I put in a network qualified path (\\file.server.local\folder\folder) then the FullPath will follow that convention, however if it's a mapped Network drive and I reference it with N:\folder, then the fullpath will represent that.

KamenRider

Hi @KGT @binu_acs

It is the filter that is not the producing results. The formula in the filter seems correct but I can't figure out why the data is not appearing.

Please help.

Kamen

KamenRider

What do you mean @binu_acs , I can't follow, sorry.

Kamen

KamenRider

@KGT @binu_acs

This is coming from the filter tool

[FullPath] = "\ABC\ Daily Activity Report\Input\Week of " + [FormattedDate]

Kamen

AncientPandaman

@KamenRider

it needs to use contains, because FullPath from directory contains filename.
but your comparison does not contain filename.

contains([FullPath],"\ABC\ Daily Activity Report\Input\Week of " + [FormattedDate])

KGT

So, it's the filter tool that is not working. That should be pretty easy to sort. What does the data look like going in? The comment by @PangHC should get you closer.

There is also a [Directory] field in the Directory tool output that you might want to use for comparison.

apathetichell

attach browse tools to both sides of the filter. identify the file you would expect to be true - but isn't. what does the full path look like? modify your logic to get this correct. repeat until this the record you would expect is true is true.

KamenRider

Guys, @PangHC @apathetichell @KGT @binu_acs

Thanks for your ideas and help. @PangHC solution works.

Cheers,

Kamen

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