Renaming the File without Removing the Format created in the Excel

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/How-to-replace-an-existing-file-and-rename-it-dynamically/td-p/552418

Try this formula for the FileNewName column

Replace([FullPath], [FileName], DateTimeFormat(DateTimeToday(), '%Y-%m') + ' ' + replace([FileName], '.xlsx', ' ') + DateTimeFormat(DateTimeToday(), '%m-%d-%Y') + '.xlsx')

BEFORE RUNNING IT

AFTER RUNNING IT

RENAMEFILES.yxzp

All comments

grazitti_sapna

@KamenRider , Here is a link to a similar problem resolved before. Please look into it and let me know if it was helpful.

Hi @grazitti_sapna

I think we have quite different case. A text input file containing the location and filename of the template is connected to the run command and I have another file containing the data to merge with the template. I am looking the workflow you have sent but I can't determine on how I can rename the filename. Will reg_replace help in renaming my file without removing my conditional formatting?

Please advised,

Kamen

This macro is able to rename files without modifying anything of the file: https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Community-Gallery/Rename-files/ta-p/998942

INPUT of filepaths to be renamed (example):

FileCurrentName	FileNewName
Output.xlsx	Output_20220102.xlsx
SAPExtraction_16cefd9e6da78821d90d713c46f1d056.txt	SAP_20220102.txt
Report_Qlik_Dashboard.pdf	Report.pdf

davidskaife

Picking this up from our other thread, i think what your workflow is currently doing is this:

create filename and run Run Command Tool
create a new filename with additional parameters
output to file, but as the file with that name doesn't exist it creates a new file

To correct this i think what you will need to do is move the Formula tool which creates the filename to earlier in the workflow, such as in the example below

This then keeps the filename/filepath consistant across both the Run Command tool and the Output tool.

HI @Felipe_Ribeir0 @davidskaife @grazitti_sapna

I've checked the macro and I've encountered an error. Please be advised that I have three templates and thereby would be renaming the 3 files. for example

Singapore Report

Taiwan Report

Hawaii Report

rename to

Month Date + Singapore Report + Date today

Month Date + Taiwan Report + Date today

Month Date + Hawaii Report + Date today

Note that I need to retain the conditional formatting. Just need to rename the filename.

Please see below errors I've encountered.

Rename failed.PNG

Please advised.

Thanks,

Kamen

Sorry, just looking at this print i was not able to know what is wrong. I tested it here and it is working fine.

See if your FileCurrentName and FileNewName (formula tool) are providing valid filepaths for all rows:

HI @davidskaife @Felipe_Ribeir0 @grazitti_sapna

My current workflow doing in sequence.

1. I have created folder for my templates. The text input tool you see below consists of the input file of the template and the output filename. The "run command" copy the templates to the output folder.

Two Template.PNG

2. Then I have an input file containing the raw file which do the processing to produce data to merge with the templates in the output file. The part of this process produce 3 excel files.

2 Workflows.PNG

3. My problem is that when I used the formula tool to indicate change in filename, it creates a separate file with no conditional formatting together with the other 3 files with conditional formatting. So I produce 4 files instead of 3.

Will try your advise @davidskaife . Will let you know if it is succes.

Thanks,

Kamen

Hi @Felipe_Ribeir0

I not sure why it has error. Does your macro can rename multiples files regardless of how sheet tabs I have. Another questions is that, why is it being converted into zip file?

I do hope we can solutions to this.

Thanks,

Kamen

The zip is just an example, the macro can rename any given file. See if you can run the attached example, that rename multiple xlsx files. If yes, try to understand how the formula is working to provide the FileNewName column, and then adapt it to your use case.

BEFORE RUNNING IT

AFTER RUNNING IT

RENAMEFILES.yxzp

Hi @davidskaife

Come to think of it, I have 3 output files. Each output file has 2 to 3 sheet tabs on it. How can I attached a formula tool at the beginning and what will be my formula syntax?

Workflow Proces.PNG

Please advised.

Kamen

Hi @Felipe_Ribeir0

Your macro works! However, it doesn't provide me the correct filename. It does not capture the "filename" of the file.

New Name.PNG

Can you help me provide the correct syntax in the formula tool? As I said I have 3 excel files.

The filename should be:

Month Date + Filename + Date Today

12-2022 Singapore Report 12-22-2022

12-2022 Taiwan Report 12-22-2022

12-2022 Mexico Report 12-22-2022

Looking forward for your response.

Thanks,

Kamen

Try this formula for the FileNewName column

Replace([FullPath], [FileName], DateTimeFormat(DateTimeToday(), '%Y-%m') + ' ' + replace([FileName], '.xlsx', ' ') + DateTimeFormat(DateTimeToday(), '%m-%d-%Y') + '.xlsx')

BEFORE RUNNING IT

AFTER RUNNING IT

RENAMEFILES.yxzp

Hi @Felipe_Ribeir0

I have tried the macro to my live workflow and I notice that it gave me six files. The other 3 was its BAK file. Is it possible to remove it or place it in another folder or hide it?

Bak file.PNG

Looking forward for your response.

Kamen

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Community-Gallery/Delete-Files/ta-p/1005983

These .bak files are backup files (https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Discussions/What-is-bak-file-used-for/td-p/22195). The .bak came to the middle of the name because of the change of filename.

Anyway, two possible ways to deal with it, just place a filter filtering contains([filename], '.bak') before of the macro that you think that is better for your case:

DELETE THE .bak FILES

MOVE THE .bak FILES TO A DIFFERENT FOLDER

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Community-Gallery/Move-files-between-origin-and-destination-path/ta-p/998936