Input Tool - Dynamic File Path

[paulll]

Hi All

I am building a workflow for a monthly finance process which will pull data (excel workbook; sheet 1) from month end folders with a consistent folder structure, and I would like to automate (as much as I can…) how that data is pulled in.

I have used 'File Browse' tool which works fine but I think the ideal solution is to use dropdowns to be able to select the year and month which will dynamically change the (string) file path that would populate the 'Input Data' tool.

So I guess the million dollar question is whether this is possible? All the documentation I have found indicates it is possible for the 'Output Data' tool but I am not sure about the input.

The folder structure is for instance:
C:......bank transactions/2022/February/February_Transactions.xlsx
C:......bank transactions/2023/June/June_Transactions.xlsx

The user would populate a dropdown for year (2022 or 2023) and month (Jan, Feb…) and the file path would dynamically change in the 'Input Data' tool to pull in the correct data.

Very new here and tying myself in knots playing around with various tools...some general guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Ladarthure]

hi @paulll,

I did a sample workflow for you.

The trick is using the interface tools. Using a numeric input for the Year and a drop down for the month, then in the action, you set it to change a specific part of the text, in your case it would be 2022 and february in the different actions (one for each tool).

I hope it helps!

[paulll]

Hello!

Thanks for that it; it makes complete and simple sense but when I replicate it with a real file path, it is always bringing through the default file.

I have tried to troubleshoot, make sure I have replicated properly but cannot get it to work.  I replaced the 'Year Selection' with a dropdown so I could populate with a discrete number of selections and simply for consistency, and assume that is fine because we are ultimately dealing with a string.  I also had to add in one more dropdown because the file naming conventions uses 'M08' rather than 'August'.

In the end, I simplified it to just have one dropdown to see if I could get it to direct to different year only, and it doesn't have any impact.

Any ideas? :)

[paulll · Accepted solution]

I solved this...when I was configuring the 'Update Value' tool attached to the dropdown and selecting the checkbox for 'Replace a specific string' and populating that field (with '2022' for example), I did not have the the file path highlighted under 'Value or Attribute to Update'....so it looked like it was configured but clearly the text to replace  was not directed to anything.....

Funnily enough, did some unrelated training this morning about dropdowns and that little point was illustrated.

Thanks again for your help on this, works great.

[kevindoan1307]

Hi Ladarthure,

In my case, the input path is as follows:

C:\Users\.....\Categorized Inventory\2311\Categorized Inventory_231109.xlsx

C:\Users\.....\Categorized Inventory\2311\Categorized Inventory_231108.xlsx

C:\Users\.....\Categorized Inventory\2310\Categorized Inventory_231016.xlsx

How should I configure the interface tool to automate the input on a daily basis?

Thanks