Interface Tool Variable Amount of Input Files for File Browse Tool

[Charlieswims]

Let's say I have an interface tool that is simply for combining files into one large dataset. Is there a way to prompt a user to input how many files they would like to combine and then they can mass upload them? For example the user might want to combine all transaction detail for 20 days or 5 days using the Union tool, but the number of inputs will be different every time but the file format is always the same.

[mceleavey]

Hi @Charlieswims ,

is there any reason you want to manually do this?

There are two tools linked below, the first allows you to read in the sheet names of the Excel sheets (not needed if it's .csv) and the second loads them all in. This way you can dynamically determine which ones are to be loaded in. Once you've done that you can then have Alteryx move them to archive if required.

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Public-Community-Gallery/Dynamic-Multi-File-Sheet-Names/ta-p/919218

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Public-Community-Gallery/Import-Multiple-Schema-Excel-Files/ta-p/91...

I'm happy to jump on a call if you'd like to go over it.

M.

[OllieClarke · Accepted solution]

Hi @Charlieswims you won't want to have input data tools and a union tool, as these are not very dynamic. If the file schemas are all identical, then you could use a directory tool to read in the file names - filter them based on a metric (which you could control with an interface tool), and then use a dynamic input tool to read in all the data.
You'll need a template file for the dynamic input, but you could use a filebrowse interface tool to set this - and then update the FileFormat etc. based on the extension of the file.

If you only want to do this with 1 type of file, then you won't need to worry about updating the template :)

Hope that helps,

Ollie