# List files and folders Acquire / filesystem list directories, file metadata, file exists Page: ## Status Runs as a SQL step. arcform carries it as a `sql:` step today. ## The DuckDB step list files by glob It reads the `orders` table the proofs share. Create it first: ```sql CREATE TABLE orders AS SELECT * FROM (VALUES (1, 'Alice Ng', 'north', DATE '2026-01-03', 120.00, 'widget', 'a|b', '{"channel":"web","items":[1,2]}'), (2, 'alice ng', 'north', DATE '2026-01-05', 80.50, 'gadget', 'b', '{"channel":"shop","items":[3]}'), (3, 'Bob Okafor', 'south', DATE '2026-01-05', 300.00, 'widget', 'a|c', '{"channel":"web","items":[4,5,6]}'), (4, 'Carla Díaz', 'east', DATE '2026-01-09', NULL, 'gizmo', NULL, '{"channel":"web","items":[]}'), (5, 'Bob Okafor', 'south', DATE '2026-01-12', 45.25, 'gadget', 'c', '{"channel":"phone","items":[7]}'), (6, 'Dev Patel', 'west', DATE '2026-01-12', 510.00, 'widget', 'a', '{"channel":"web","items":[8,9]}'), (7, 'Carla Diaz', 'east', DATE '2026-01-20', 99.99, 'gizmo', 'b|c', '{"channel":"shop","items":[10]}'), (8, 'Dev Patel', 'west', DATE '2026-02-02', 510.00, 'widget', 'a', '{"channel":"web","items":[8,9]}'), (9, 'Eve Larsen', NULL, DATE '2026-02-03', 15.00, 'gadget', NULL, '{"channel":"web","items":[11]}'), (10, 'Alice Ng', 'north', DATE '2026-02-10', 220.00, 'gizmo', 'a|b|c', '{"channel":"phone","items":[12,13]}') ) t(order_id, customer, region, order_date, amount, product, tags, meta); ``` Then run the statement: ```sql COPY orders TO '/a.csv'; COPY orders TO '/b.csv'; CREATE TEMP TABLE result AS SELECT count(*) AS files FROM glob('/?.csv'); SELECT * FROM result; SELECT CASE WHEN ((SELECT files = 2 FROM result)) THEN 'as expected' ELSE error('the glob did not find the two files written') END AS verdict; ``` Replace `` with a directory of your own that you can write to before running the statement. The statement writes `a.csv` and `b.csv` itself, in ``. It needs nothing installed beyond DuckDB itself. ## Variants - [Check that a file exists](https://meridian.online/operations/list-files-and-folders/check-that-a-file-exists): Test whether a file or folder exists, is locked, is empty or matches another, as a flag or a condition. - Connect to a file system: Open a connection to a local, mounted or test file system for later file steps to use. - [Count the rows in files](https://meridian.online/operations/list-files-and-folders/count-the-rows-in-files): Return the number of rows in one or more text files without loading them as a table. - List the files in a folder: Return one row per file or subfolder in a directory, optionally matching a pattern, with size and dates. - [Copy, move or delete files](https://meridian.online/operations/list-files-and-folders/copy-move-or-delete-files): Copy, move, rename, delete or create files and folders as a side effect of the workflow. - [Read the properties of given files](https://meridian.online/operations/list-files-and-folders/read-file-properties): Look up size, timestamps and other metadata for files whose paths are already known. - Read a file's raw content: Load the bytes of a file, or files picked from a folder, into the flow without parsing them as a table. - Read system and repository information: Open process, memory, network, package or git repository details as rows. ## What other tools call it Meridian's classification; an independent blind rating agreed on 86.2% of 312 rows (exact class, version 2). - Azure Data Factory: [`Delete Activity`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/delete-activity) (read 2026-09-27) - Azure Data Factory: [`Get Metadata`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/control-flow-get-metadata-activity) (read 2026-09-27) - Alteryx Designer: [`Directory`](https://help.alteryx.com/current/en/designer/tools/in-out-tools/directory-tool.html) (read 2026-09-27) - DuckDB: `glob` (read 2026-09-27) - Duckle: [`Artifacts`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/frontend/src/workflow-ui/palette-data.ts) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`File List`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/frontend/src/workflow-ui/palette-data.ts) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`File Operation`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/frontend/src/workflow-ui/palette-data.ts) (read 2026-09-25) - Duckle: [`Git Repository`](https://github.com/slothflowlabs/duckle/blob/f85f8960edfb6efbf4cb89d58a7b32e16df0e867/website/docs/components.html) (read 2026-09-25) - EasyMorph: [`File command`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:filecommand) (read 2026-09-27) - EasyMorph: [`List of files`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:filelist) (read 2026-09-27) - EasyMorph: [`List of folders`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:folderlist) (read 2026-09-27) - EasyMorph: [`Split delimited file`](https://help.easymorph.com/doku.php?id=transformations:filesplitter) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Check files locked`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/checkfilelocked.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Check if a folder is empty`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/folderisempty.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Check if file is locked`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/checkfilelocked.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Checks if files exists`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/filesexist.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Compare folders`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/comparefolders.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Copy Files`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/copyfiles.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Create a folder`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/createfolder.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Create file`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/createfile.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Delete file`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/deletefile.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Delete files`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/deletefiles.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Delete folders`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/deletefolders.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Evaluate files metrics`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/evalfilesmetrics.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`File compare`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/filecompare.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`File exists`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/fileexists.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`File exists`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/fileexists.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Get SubFolder names`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/getsubfolders.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Get filenames`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/getfilenames.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Get files rowcount`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/getfilesrowcount.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Move files`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/movefiles.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Process files`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/pipeline/transforms/processfiles.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache Hop: [`Process result filenames`](https://hop.apache.org/manual/latest/workflow/actions/processresultfilenames.html) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Create Folder`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*X_rjR9_83E8gHArf?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Create Temp Folder`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*wCzvAb6n1kWy3KjT?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Delete Files/Folders`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*AveTBIKBuvx1L_mX?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Delete Files/Folders (Table)`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*K5xuK3hH08_teaBv?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Explorer Browser`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*ajEKv6hgBrGbpcq1?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Explorer Writer`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*woSrU7n2mR79wtbw?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Files/Folders Meta Info`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*dUVBjt2bvzd7_asN?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`KNIME Basic File System Connectors (extension)`](https://api.hub.knime.com/extensions/org.knime.features.base.filehandling) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`List Files/Folders`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*UhVxxmmRQ6ZmuPt7?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Local File System Connector`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*O_PIqTqjlUGuQ19K?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Mountpoint Connector`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*8F6irCp4Bncudtn_?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Set Files/Folders Permissions`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*JTCV2cgpbRTg_KeX?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Test File System Connector`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*EE07QX2Ud3DQ8mHf?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Transfer Files`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*44-o-1aGfQ_mRTaI?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Transfer Files (Table)`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*CqH-g_DOeABtqfWr?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - KNIME Analytics Platform: [`Workflow Data Area Connector`](https://api.hub.knime.com/nodes/*tC4G-mK23hYPFv8T?details=full) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache NiFi: [`DeleteFile`](https://nifi.apache.org/components/org.apache.nifi.processors.standard.DeleteFile/) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache NiFi: [`FetchFile`](https://nifi.apache.org/components/org.apache.nifi.processors.standard.FetchFile/) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache NiFi: [`GetFile`](https://nifi.apache.org/components/org.apache.nifi.processors.standard.GetFile/) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache NiFi: [`GetFileResource`](https://nifi.apache.org/components/org.apache.nifi.processors.standard.GetFileResource/) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache NiFi: [`ListFile`](https://nifi.apache.org/components/org.apache.nifi.processors.standard.ListFile/) (read 2026-09-27) - Apache NiFi: [`Object and file store delete, copy, move and tag processors (family)`](https://nifi.apache.org/components/) (read 2026-09-27) - OpenRefine: [`Get data from this computer`](https://openrefine.org/docs/manual/starting#get-data-from-this-computer) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Check if file is locked`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`File exists (Step)`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Get File Names`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Get Files Rows Count`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Get SubFolder names`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Pentaho Data Integration: [`Process files`](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/9.3-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`File.Contents`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/accessing-data-functions) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`Folder.Contents`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/accessing-data-functions) (read 2026-09-27) - Power Query M: [`Folder.Files`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powerquery-m/accessing-data-functions) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Cloud storage Delete operators (family)`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/index.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Copy File`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/files/copy_file.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Copy Repository Entry`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/data_access/copy_repository_entry.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Create Directory`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/files/create_directory.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Create Google Drive Folder`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/data_access/cloud_storage/google_drive/create_folder_google_drive.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Delete File`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/files/delete_file.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Delete Repository Entry`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/data_access/delete_repository_entry.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`List Repository Objects`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/extensions/Operator%20Toolbox/utility/list_repository_objects.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Loop Files`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/process_control/loops/loop_files.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Loop Repository`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/process_control/loops/loop_repository.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Move File`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/files/move_file.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Move Repository Entry`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/data_access/move_repository_entry.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Open File`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/files/open_file.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Open File from Custom Extension`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/extensions/Custom%20Operators/data_access/open_custom_extension.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Rename File`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/utility/files/rename_file.html) (read 2026-09-27) - RapidMiner Studio: [`Rename Repository Entry`](https://docs.rapidminer.com/latest/studio/operators/data_access/rename_repository_entry.html) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tCreateTemporaryFile`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tcreatetemporaryfile/tcreatetemporaryfile-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileCompare`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfilecompare/tfilecompare-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileCopy`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfilecopy/tfilecopy-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileDelete`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfiledelete/tfiledelete-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileExist`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfileexist/tfileexist-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileList`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfilelist/tfilelist-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileProperties`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfileproperties/tfileproperties-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileRowCount`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfilerowcount/tfilerowcount-component) (read 2026-09-27) - Talend: [`tFileTouch`](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/tfiletouch/tfiletouch-component) (read 2026-09-27) - VisiData: [`dir (loader)`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/shell.py#L66) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`fdir (loader)`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/shell.py#L76) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-cpustats`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/procmgr.py#L182) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-dir-current`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/shell.py#L280) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-dir-parent`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/shell.py#L279) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-memstats`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/procmgr.py#L183) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-ping`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/ping.py#L153) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-processes`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/procmgr.py#L184) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-python-packages`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/pypkg.py#L35) (read 2026-09-23) - VisiData: [`open-rlimits`](https://github.com/saulpw/visidata/blob/7609212ec2febafa9caba7183cbebfaf49627909/visidata/features/procmgr.py#L199) (read 2026-09-23)