The Create Folders automation in Files.com creates subfolders automatically based on a defined schedule. You can set it to run daily, weekly, monthly, or on any custom timing. Subfolder names are generated using dynamic tokens like %Y, %m, or %d, which get replaced at runtime using the current date and time. You can also use tokens for parent folder names and time values such as hours or day of the year.

This automation supports applying folder creation to a specific folder, to its top-level subfolders, or to all subfolders within its hierarchy. The selected folder path can be on the current site, a child site, or even on a remote server.You can insert slashes between tokens to build nested folder structures and select the time zone that applies to the timestamp values. This makes it easy to prepare structured, repeatable folder layouts across large directories or multi-team environments.

If the folder already exists, the automation skips it without error or duplication. This allows safe, repeatable runs to ensure the folder structure is ready for other actions like importing or moving files.

When to Use Create Folders Automation

Use this automation when your workflow depends on having folders already in place before files arrive. For example, if you're receiving daily reports from external systems, setting up daily folders in advance keeps everything organized. Instead of dropping files into a single directory, your systems or automations can deliver them into the right location for each day.

It is also helpful when the same folder structure needs to be applied to many folders. Say you manage one folder per client, project, or department rather than manually building a new 2025/Q2/Invoices folder under each one, the automation applies that naming pattern across all relevant paths. This keeps structure and naming consistent at scale.

This automation also supports time-driven business cycles. Accounting teams often create quarterly folders, production teams organize files by shift or hour, and data teams create folders by day of the year. With rich token support and wildcard logic, Create Folders Automations can serve almost any file planning or compliance need.

Supported Tokens for Folder Names

Destination folder names can be generated dynamically using formatting tokens that are replaced with actual values when the automation runs. These include time based tokens such as %Y, %m, %d, and %A, as well as source path related tokens like %p1, %p2, and %p3, which insert parent folder names from the original file path.

For example, use /%Y/%m/%d to create date-based folders like 2025/06/13, which helps organize daily inbound files from trading partners. A pattern like %B/Sales %d creates folders such as June/Sales 13, which is useful for grouping monthly sales reports. Use %A/%H to create paths like Friday/14, which fits workflows that collect hourly logs or data.

For quarterly compliance, a company submitting sales tax files under AccountingAndTax/SalesTax/State/*/ might use %Y/Quarter-ending-%m-%d to produce folders like 2025/Quarter-ending-06-30.

You can choose the time zone used for evaluating time-based tokens to match your business hours, reporting deadlines, or external partner requirements.

Automatic Folder Creation During Onboarding and Uploads

If you want to create home folders during user onboarding, use the Automatically Create New User Folders setting. For FTP uploads, enable Automatically Create Folders Upon Upload if your client expects missing folders to be created automatically.