quick question, regarding using File Access Node in an IPA to reference an unknown filename using w

We are trying to write an IPA that will read a file from our LSF server using * characters.

For example the expanded variable returns the correct path in the flow /lsf10dev/apps/dev/work/ROUTING/ACH_FEDTR_20220803*

But we are getting File not found? Are we missing something? If we put the explicit filename it works no issues however the name will not always be explicit as after the YYYYMMDD it also has HHMMSS, which could be at any random set of numbers.

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Process Automation (IPA) - General Discussions

Accepted answers

robert-canham

Another option would be to use a file access node with the list files option first. That would let you use the wildcard and would return the actual filename to use in a node to read the file.

john-miller

Are you trying to grab the file at the beginning of the flow to do processing against it? If so, I would use a File Channel (located in Administration -> Channels -> File Channels. You point the file channel at the folder location "/lsf10dev/apps/dev/work" and then on the "Receiver" you list the File structure you're wanting to process "ROUTING/ACH_FEDTR_*"

What will happen is when a file that meets the structure requirements, the file gets moved to the Processing Folder listed on the File channel and depending on your setup, either the full file name (FileName) is added as a variable to the Workunit or the FileName AND the contents of the file are added to the work unit (_inputData)

We've been using these for a couple years and it works pretty slick.

All comments

Ray Juodis

Jason - A wildcard can return a list of multiple files and then which one would you want to read? One option would be to do CMD node and a DIR on the folder then parse the exact name of the file to open. Good luck - Ray

robert-canham

Another option would be to use a file access node with the list files option first. That would let you use the wildcard and would return the actual filename to use in a node to read the file.

john-miller

We've been using these for a couple years and it works pretty slick.

Ray Juodis

JD Miller - your answer is spot on. Jason - when setting up the File channel - watch folder permissions issues. You define the error and processed directories so if something goes amiss you can easily recover.

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