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Sharepoint file move from one folder to another folder based upon name

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Posted on by coyandrew

I am trying to build flows to move files for employees based upon name in the files. We place all files for the week in a folder named All Employees, and then I need the flow to move the files to individual folders based upon a portion of the file name. For example, it would begin like this:

Folder - All Employees

---File Name - Josiah Bartlett

---File Name - Sam Seaborn

---File Name - Leo McGarry

---File Name - Josh Lyman

I am looking to have the files moved automatically to folders in the same Document library:

Folder - House, Subfolder - Josiah Bartlett

Folder - Policy, Subfolder - Sam Seaborn

Folder - House, Subfolder - Leo McGarry

Folder - Policy, Subfolder - Josh Lyman

I am looking for the flow to look at the file names in the All Employees, and automatically move to same named subfolders. Is there a method to do this? Thanks!

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Building flows

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Nived_Nambiar 18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @coyandrew

How folder name to be moved is determined ? as file name Josiah Bartlett is moved to subfolder named Josiah Bartlett which is under folder House - how the House folder is determined from the file ?

Could you elaborate it better ?

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Nived N 🚀

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coyandrew 26 on at

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I am trying to have it iterate through the folders and subfolders looking for a match.

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Nived_Nambiar 18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @coyandrew

Try this approach - This could help

For demo purposes I have created the folder structure like below as per your example directly under document library

Inside House and Policy , you can expect subfolders

Under all employees, these are files

Flow design

I am assuming flow design to be manually trigger, based on your requirement change it accordingly.

1. Use get files (properties only) action to get all files details inside the All employees folder

2. Loop through each file details using apply to each loop

Inside the loop- try the following steps

2.1- use get files (properties only) action to get folder details which has the name of file within document library as shown below

Expression used in odata filter query

split(items('Apply_to_each')?['{FilenameWithExtension}'],'.')?[0]

The above OData filter query helps to query folder with name of file without extension. Also ensure to set include nested items as Yes so it searches for subfolder level as well.

2.2 - next use move file to move the file to the folder path.

Expression used-

first(outputs('Get_files_(properties_only)_2')?['body/value'])?['{FullPath}']

Also set the concurrency of apply to each loop to make runs parallel so to run faster.

Once run is completed- you can see that it is moved to respective folder like below

Hope it helps !

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N 🚀

LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel
Blog: Nived Nambiar's Blogs

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coyandrew 26 on at

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I believe I have most set up properly but am getting a failure on the second Get Files:

Step 1:

Step 2:
Step 3:
On my apply to each, I only have body/value available, not value:

If you can spot my issue, this would be amazing and fix so many issues for us!

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Nived_Nambiar 18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @coyandrew

How you need to trigger the flow then ? is it via when file is added to folder ?

Also body/value dynamic content is same as value dynamic content.

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N 🚀

LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
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Blog: Nived Nambiar's Blogs

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coyandrew 26 on at

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I am triggering on File is Created. Here are the results I am receiving:

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coyandrew 26 on at

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Here are some more screen shots showing the testing:

The items inside the loop do not seem to execute and skip the files I have in the ALL EMLPOYEES folder.

The setup inside the flow:

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Nived_Nambiar 18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @coyandrew

From screenshot, i did not get why you are not able to iterate through the loop as it has files there. Did you added any filter condition in get files action used after trigger ?

Also if you want to trigger when file is added- and then move that file only- then use this approach (would be simple)

Expression used-

split(triggerOutputs()?['body/{FilenameWithExtension}'],'.')?[0]

Now iterate through the results and move the file to required folder

Hope it helps !

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N 🚀

LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel
Blog: Nived Nambiar's Blogs

🔍 Found my answer helpful? Please consider marking it as the solution!
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coyandrew 26 on at

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Good Morning, I am still having issues with the new solution you provided. While the flow says it is successful, the files never move.

I tried two methods, one with the files in the same site address and received an error they could not be moved within the same site, and then tried a different site for current versus destination. The second try says success but the files never move. Would you be able to assist?

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Nived_Nambiar 18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @coyandrew

well i have tried moving within same site, it was successfull. Could you confirm whether you have mapped dynamic contents correctly - like for identifier as shown below?

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N 🚀

LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel
Blog: Nived Nambiar's Blogs

🔍 Found my answer helpful? Please consider marking it as the solution!
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