Work with paths
Paths contain the reference to a file or a folder. Paths can be in tables or in flow variables. A path flow variable lets you set a file handling node's file or folder at runtime instead of hardcoding it in the node configuration — for example to reuse the same node across a loop, or to switch environments without editing every node.
Create a path flow variable
Export a path flow variable from the configuration of a file handling node:
- Configure the file handling node by choosing the file or the folder.
- Select the option containing the path, and open the flow variable menu.
- Enter a name in the field Output as flow variable.
- Execute the node. It outputs the path flow variable with the chosen name.
Alternatively, convert a path data cell to a flow variable:
- Create a path data cell. For example, use the List Files/Folders node to get the path to all the files in a folder.
- Convert the path data cells to flow variables, for example using the Table Row to Variable or the Table Row to Variable Loop Start nodes.
Utility nodes such as Create Folder and Create File/Folder Variables also output path flow variables.
Control the file chooser with a flow variable
- Create a path flow variable.
- Add a file handling node.
- Provide the flow variable connection.
- If needed, provide the connection to a file system.
- In the file handling node configuration, open the flow variable menu for the file chooser and choose the path flow variable.
- Execute the node.
Manipulate paths
Manipulate path data cells with the Column Expression (legacy) node.
Convert between path and string
You can convert path data cells and path flow variables to their string representation, using the Path to String and Path to String (Variable) nodes.
Conversely, use the String to Path and String to Path (Variable) nodes to convert a string back to a path. If the string refers to a connected file system, connect that file system to the node.
See Path utility nodes for the full list, including converting a path to a URI.