Expand Files

The Expand Files node processes and transforms columns that contain file data within a dataflow. Datahub provides two special data types for handling files:

• File: a single file, containing both the content (Base64-encoded) and the filename.
• MultipleFiles: similar to File, but contains multiple files within a single record.

The node can perform two main operations:

1. Expand MultipleFiles to individual File rows: when a column contains multiple files (type MultipleFiles), the node expands those files into separate rows, each containing a single file. For example, one record with three files becomes three records, each with one file.
2. Split File into content and filename columns: the node can decompose file data into two separate columns: FileContent (Base64-encoded) and FileName (text). This works for both File and MultipleFiles inputs.

The node also exposes a Files connector, which subsequent nodes can use to process only the rows that contain file data.

Configuration

Setting	Type	Required	Description
Source column	Select	Yes	The source column from the input that contains file data. Must be of type File or MultipleFiles.
Output type	Select	Yes	How the data should be expanded: File (expands a MultipleFiles column into multiple rows, each containing one File) or Base64 + Filename (splits each file into FileContent and FileName).

Tips

• Use the Files connector when a following node expects file input: nodes such as Export to OneDrive, or other file output nodes, only process rows that contain actual files. Connecting those nodes to the Files connector of the Expand Files node automatically passes only the rows that include files.