# Merge variable number of files **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask a question\ **Created:** [June 18, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.parabola.io/t/merge-variable-number-of-files/709 "2020-06-18T14:41:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Woodson\_Hobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/278dde/32.png) [@Woodson\_Hobbs](https://community.parabola.io/u/Woodson_Hobbs)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.parabola.io/t/merge-variable-number-of-files/709/1 "2020-06-18T14:41:11Z")
I need to merge a variable number of csv files which could all be in one directory or I could furnish the file names. I’d like to do this without making the user select the files. Can’t see how I might do that. ---
**Author:** ![sachi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.parabola.io/sachi/32/10_2.png) [@sachi](https://community.parabola.io/u/sachi)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://community.parabola.io/t/merge-variable-number-of-files/709/2 "2020-06-19T00:21:22Z")
Hi @Woodson_Hobbs - It sounds like you want other users to be able to easily import CSV files into your Parabola flow, and that the number of CSV files can vary for every run. Am I understanding your use case correctly? Unfortunately, I don’t think Parabola can help you with your use case, but I’d like to make sure I understand what you’re needing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Woodson\_Hobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/278dde/32.png) [@Woodson\_Hobbs](https://community.parabola.io/u/Woodson_Hobbs)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://community.parabola.io/t/merge-variable-number-of-files/709/3 "2020-06-19T01:24:47Z")
You’re right. I’m trying to build a process that others, who might not be tech savvy, can use. The product seems great but without being able to query users or a file for parameter and then being able to use those parameters to build file names and other strings. I realize I could get parameters from a file but I can’t use it to build a file name and then use that file name to retrieve a file. Woody ---
**Author:** ![sachi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.parabola.io/sachi/32/10_2.png) [@sachi](https://community.parabola.io/u/sachi)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.parabola.io/t/merge-variable-number-of-files/709/4 "2020-06-19T15:53:32Z")
I see. Thanks for the additional info! We have a couple feature requests already from customers around making it easier to update static CSV files at run time. It’s something we’re looking to improve in the very near future: > [@Prompt for a file at Runtime](https://community.parabola.io/t/prompt-for-a-file-at-runtime/333): > > What is your feature/integration request? When a file such as a CSV is used for the input to a flow, make it so that when the flow is run there’s a prompt for a new file to be uploaded at runtime. What problem would this feature/integration solve? Currently, CSV files can only be updated in editor mode. How do you solve/workaround this problem today? Whenever I have an updated CSV file, I have to go back into the editor, update the file, publish the flow, then run it. > [@Email attachment import/triggering?](https://community.parabola.io/t/email-attachment-import-triggering/58/2): > > Would love something like this. Usecase: Multiple data sources prefer to send CSV files via email. Some of them have the CSV attached to the email. And some of them provide a link. When you click the link, it downloads the csv. We need these for “Last 7 days” reports. Current scenario: Emails are sent to our email We download the CSVs Log into Parabola Upload respective CSVs in Parabola Here’s an ideal representation of what the option could look like: It would be great if you can upvote either/both of those, and also submit your own Feature Request. We do also have [Recipes](https://parabola.io/recipes) that some customers have created to be able to share their flow templates with others, but it sounds like you’re needing something a bit more complex.