topic RE: Finding a file with a changing name in Product Forum

Finding a file with a changing name

RobertWashingto — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:42:00 GMT

Long time listener, first time caller

I'm working on an automation where i need to retrieve an excel file as a collection. The problem is the file name changes as the last part is populated by the date and time of creation by the business area eg. 'MonthlyOutputReport_02012020_0711'

Is there a way i can search for the file and use some kind of wildcard for the time stamp after the date?

Alternatively is it possible to return all the file name from a directory into a collection?

Any help appreciated.

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Robert
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RE: Finding a file with a changing name

LucaValente — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:51:00 GMT

Hi Robert,

you can use the "Utility - File Management" VBO included in the BP installation folder ("Blue Prism Automate\VBO") to retrieve the files from a folder into a collection (specifically you can use the action "Get Files").

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Luca Valente
Senior Product Consultant
Blue Prism
America/New_York
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RE: Finding a file with a changing name

Nicolaas_GSwart — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 06:31:00 GMT

Hi Robert

You can use the "Get Files" action within the "Utility - File Management" VBO. In the "Patterns CSV" input you can use a wildcard for the timestamp after the date.
This will ensure you only retrieve the specific file.

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Nicolaas G Swart
Advisory - PI
EY Namibia
Africa/Windhoek
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