Renaming files at system level

Hi All,

I am a relatively new starter and I have a question about renaming files in a directory. I have searched the community boards and came across a similar question but it didn't look to be resolved, an so my post. Issue described below:

I have a directory with pdf documents that look like this (these are published journal articles):

A.pdf

B.pdf

C.pdf

I have a flat file (csv or excel) from my database that lists bibliographic details of publications with a system generated ID like so:

Ax1

Bx2

Cx3

A, B & C correspond, so now I want to rename my pdf files (in my directory) with the system IDs in the format <system ID.pdf>

Is there a way to automate this in Alteryx? Can files be physically renamed at the system level?

I have done a basic workflow using the above two as inputs where I have name matched but that is as far as I got. I don't know how to rename.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Renaming file names.yxzp

Workflow

Accepted answers

DavidP

Here's how I have the Run Command Tool configured in the workflow I attached in my first post. You should actually be able to just copy and paste the Run Command Tool from my workflow to yours. Just change your command line field name from [Cmd] to [cmd] and make sure that all other fields are removed with a select tool so that the data connection to the Run Command Tool only contains the [cmd] field.

It essentially creates the batch file, CopyTemplate.bat, containing the text that's in the [cmd] field in the temp folder and then executes it.

I remember it took a little bit of playing around with it initially to get it working, which is why I now just copy the configured tool into my new workflow and update the [cmd] string to what I want it to do.

run command 2.png

All comments

DavidP

You can use alteryx to create a DOS command to execute with the Run batch tool. I’ll send you an example ASAP

RPS

That"s great, thanks David. I'll wait for your solution. Greatly appreciated.

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