Input data from a new directory with consistent folder structure

[bkoons]

Can someone help me find a solution to this seemingly common problem?

Every month my team has to run a process contained in a consistently defined directory. For example, the process run in January 2017 has files contained in the following sample directory structure:

Parent folder:

c:\2017_Jan\

subfolders:

input\

output\

analysis\

The files and sub-folders under the directory are named the same each month. The files that feed my workflow are in the same sub-folders each month. The only thing that changes is the main directory folder. For example:

c:\2017_Jan\input\INPUT_A.csv

c:\2017_Feb\input\INPUT_A.csv

etc.

Side note: I think I want the parent directory to be a text input because it will be quicker to change the small portion of the file path than to point to the folder.

Thanks in advance!!

[bkoons]

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@Coxta45 wrote:

@bkoons,

The Input Data Source template is exactly that, a template.  Meaning it can be any copy of the template saved in any location that Alteryx can read.  It could simply be a file called "My data template" saved on your desktop.  As long as the file structure matches that of the dynamic ones that will be read, the tool should work.  The tool is going to read from the location that it gets from the variables, etc.

@My recommendation, given the example above, would be to put a template @ "C:\INPUT_A_Template.csv" - and so on as needed - that are simply copies of a previous month's file.  Or you could just use an actual previous month's file in the template input, so long as the file will always be there...

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Thank you sir!