Create Folders

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, including hours or day of the year.

You can apply 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 on a remote server. You can insert slashes between tokens to build nested folder structures, and you can select the time zone that applies to the timestamp values. The result is a structured, repeatable folder layout across large directories or multi-team environments.

If the folder already exists, the automation skips it without error or duplication. Runs are safe to repeat, which keeps the folder structure 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. If you receive daily reports from external systems, setting up daily folders in advance keeps everything organized. Your systems or automations can deliver each day's files into the right location instead of dropping them all into a single directory.

It is also helpful when the same folder structure needs to be applied to many folders. If you manage one folder per client, project, or department, the automation applies a naming pattern like 2025/Q2/Invoices across all relevant paths instead of requiring you to build the structure manually under each one. Structure and naming stay consistent at scale.

This automation also supports time-driven business cycles. Accounting teams create quarterly folders, production teams organize files by shift or hour, and data teams create folders by day of the year. Token support and wildcard logic cover 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, and source-path-related tokens like %p1, %p2, and %p3, which insert parent folder names from the original file path.

For example, /%Y/%m/%d produces date-based folders like 2025/06/13, which organizes daily inbound files from trading partners. A pattern like %B/Sales %d produces folders such as June/Sales 13 for grouping monthly sales reports. %A/%H produces paths like Friday/14 for 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.