Open txt files from directory

[mszpot89]

I have a working directory connection but don't know how to open each file in alteryx.

Dynamic input maybe?

I will later configure the workflow to pull the data with specific date (201809)

[jdunkerley79]

You could use a dynamic input but it is probably easier to use a normal input with wildcards.

Put in the path as  \\....\Reports\*201809*.txt and it will read all txt files with 201809 in.

There is an option to include the filename in the output stream.

[mszpot89]

Which I did :D

The issue is how to open these files so I can see their content in alteryx.

[jdunkerley79 · Accepted solution]

Instead of the Directory tool use an Input tool.

I would suggest reading the text files as CSV with no delimiter, but remember to up the length of lines.

Sample of what I mean attached

[mszpot89]

@jdunkerley79 - thank you however that doesn't work yet

I would like to the workflow to open the files once enter the directory.

[jdunkerley79]

Not quite sure I am following.

The workflow should read all the contents of the text files into the Alteryx data stream. They won't be parsed into columns, they will just be read as a single column of the lines from the text files

Gets read to:

Updated the sample to show how to link a directory to a dynamic input (but the result is identical in this case). 

[mszpot89]

@jdunkerley79 - close enough ;)

I used Input tool as well and following error occurs:

Warning: Input Data (7): Record #80: Not enough fields in record.

[jdunkerley79]

Have to use dyanamic input and a directory then so you can filter 0 size files.

Example attached

[mszpot89]

@jdunkerley79 - this is now working !!

[jdunkerley79]

Great - happy to help.