Reading input from 100 shared network locations

[AbhijeetChib]

Hello Everyone 

I have a requirement where I need to read input from multiple locations on a shared network drive. There are around 100 different Folders to read the input files form which are then consolidated to form a single file. 

Is there an optimum way of doing this ? I really dont want to create 100 input tools. 

Additionally, the folders form a hierarchy of months. For example for the Month of may I need to read the excel input file from MAY folder, in June I will need to read the excel file from the June folder(they share the same path but a new folder is being created every month and input file needs to be read from that)  and so forth. Any suggestions how i do this ? Here is a sample of the folder structure 

[MarqueeCrew]

@AbhijeetChib ,

 here's an older video to give you some ideas:

https://youtu.be/k5cVUa0Oq70

cheers,

 mark

[AbhijeetChib]

Hello @MarqueeCrew 

Thanks for response. I have a question, i was going for the last option of searching the directory with a file name(lets say abc), but the problem there is that the file name abc exists in all the folders that may not be relevant. So it takes a lot of time to traverse to the actual target file. 

For example abc exists in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 folders, the only relevant bit is 2022 but then Alteryx goes looking for all folders with the same filename. 

[MarqueeCrew]

I'd handle unwanted directories with filters. 

cheers,

 mark

[AbhijeetChib]

...but that happens after all the files are read using the directory tool, correct ?

[MarqueeCrew · Accepted solution]

Yes, but if you know which directories to skip, then you can filter the files out.