How to run commands on multiple sources before the join tool?

Question

Hello - I have about ~60 source files. I need to run a long if statement to replace text based on their order in workbook. There are duplicates so I can't just replace the text after they are all joined. Is there a workaround instead of copying the upstream workbook to connect to all source files?

caitseppi · Answer

Thank you for the suggestion, I have the file name incorporated. I ended up using directory and dynamic input so I only have a few "groups" of folders that I am pulling in.

The problem I am having now is that there is no other differentiator to let me know other than order. Using the example below, I know that Row 1 and every 6th row after that, I want A  to equal apple. On row 5 and every 6th row after that, I wanted A to equal apricot. Is there a way to find and replace the first instance of finding A within each file? Or starting with Row 1 plus every 6 rows, replace A?

1 -- File 1 -- A

2 -- File 1 -- B

3 -- File 1 -- C

4 -- File 1 -- D

5 -- File 1 -- A

6 -- File 1 -- E

7 -- File 2 -- A

8 -- File 2 -- B

9 -- File 2 -- C

10 -- File 2 -- D

11 -- File 2 -- A

12 -- File 2 -- E

BrandonB · Answer

One other option also worth considering is the "Output File Name as Field" when you are using the Input Data tool. This will create an additional column in your data that can include either the file name or the full file path. That way if you unioned them all together you could follow it with a formula or other logic that leverages the file name/path in that column.

aesanchez · Answer

Would it be possible to rephrase the question? Are you interested in connecting to multiple files in the same folder without using duplicate Input tools?