Create Temp Folder

Creates a temporary folder upon execute and exposes its path as flow variable. This can be useful in (a) demo applications where the actual path of the output is not all that relevant, e.g. the KNIME public workflow server and (b) KNIME WebPortal and quickform flows, where some data is written, which is later downloaded by means of, e.g. a web link. The folder is deleted upon closing the workflow. The node can be also configured in a way that the created temporary folder is deleted upon reset.
Note: By default the temporary folder is created directly in the workflow data area, as defined by “.“ in the Folder field

This node can access a variety of different file systems. More information about file handling in KNIME can be found in the official File Handling Guide.

Options

Write to
Select a file system in which you want to create the temporary folder. There are three default file system options to choose from:
  • Local File System: Allows you to select a folder on your local system.
  • Mountpoint: Allows you to read from a mountpoint. When selected, a new drop-down menu appears to choose the mountpoint. Unconnected mountpoints are greyed out but can still be selected (note that browsing is disabled in this case). Go to the KNIME Explorer and connect to the mountpoint to enable browsing. A mountpoint is displayed in red if it was previously selected but is no longer available. You won't be able to save the dialog as long as you don't select a valid i.e. known mountpoint.
  • Relative to: Allows you to choose whether to resolve the path relative to the current mountpoint, current workflow or the current workflow's data area. When selected a new drop-down menu appears to choose which of the three options to use.
It is possible to use other file systems with this node. Therefore, you have to enable the file system connection input port of this node by clicking the ... in the bottom left corner of the node's icon and choose Add File System Connection port .
Afterwards, you can simply connect the desired connector node to this node. The file system connection will then be shown in the drop-down menu. It is greyed out if the file system is not connected in which case you have to (re)execute the connector node first. Note: The default file systems listed above can't be selected if a file system is provided via the input port.
Folder
Enter a valid location where the temporary folder will be created at. The required syntax of a path depends on the chosen file system, such as "C:\path\to\file" (Local File System on Windows) or "/path/to/file" (Local File System on Linux/MacOS and Mountpoint). For file systems connected via input port, the node description of the respective connector node describes the required path format. You can also choose a previously selected folder from the drop-down list, or select a location from the "Browse..." dialog. Note that browsing is disabled in some cases:
  • Mountpoint: Browsing is disabled if the selected mountpoint isn't connected. Go to the KNIME Explorer and connect to the mountpoint to enable browsing.
  • File systems provided via input port: Browsing is disabled if the connector node hasn't been executed since the workflow has been opened. (Re)execute the connector node to enable browsing.
The location can be exposed as or automatically set via a path flow variable.
Create missing folders
Select if the folders of the selected output location should be created if they do not already exist. If this option is unchecked, the node will fail if a folder does not exist.
Delete temp folder on reset
Check this box to delete the folder and all its content when the node is reset.
Temp folder prefix
Name prefix of the temporary folder. It will be amended by some random number to ensure uniqueness.
Export path as (variable name)
The name of the exported variable denoting the actual path of the created temporary folder.
Additional path variables
A list of additional variables that will be created by the node. Each variable will denote a path to a file or folder.

Input Ports

Icon
Input variables (optional).
Icon…
The file system connection.

Output Ports

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Flow Variables with path information.

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Installation

To use this node in KNIME, install the extension KNIME Base nodes from the below update site following our NodePit Product and Node Installation Guide:

v5.3

A zipped version of the software site can be downloaded here.

Plugin provider: KNIME AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Plugin version: 5.3.0.v202406110934
On NodePit since: 2024-07-09
Last update: 2024-11-21
KNIME versions: Since v4.3

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