---
title: "File Reference Entity"
slug: "file-reference-entity"
tags: ["File References", "File Management"]
updated: 2025-06-20T16:30:44Z
published: 2025-06-20T16:30:44Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# File Reference Entity

## Overview

A **File References Entity** can be used to store files within a Folder. They allow users to use the file outside of its initial Flow and without having to pull it from the File System after it is added. In order to have CRUD actions on the File Reference Entity, create a [Configuration Extension](/v9/docs/configuration-extensions) for the File Reference Entity. Actions created within the Configuration Extension will apply to all File Reference Entities.

---

## Example

1. Right-click on a Designer Project and click **Create****Folder**. On the **Create Folder** dialog window, click CREATE under **Create Folder**.
2. Right-click the folder and select **Manage > Get Folder ID**. In the **ID**window, click COPY TEXT and click DONE. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-14_10h47_42.png)
3. In the Designer Project, [create a new Flow](/v9/docs/create-flows).
4. Attach a**Load From File Data** step, located in **Toolbox****> FILE MANAGEMENT**, to****the **Start**step.
5. On the Properties panel under INPUTS, click **Unknown**next to the **File** field and select **Constant**. Then, click CHOOSE FILE and select the desired external file.  

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-20_12h23_28.png)
6. From the PROCESS category in the Toolbox panel, attach an **Add FileReferences To Folder** step to the Load From File Data and the **End**steps.
7. On the Properties panel of the Add FileRefereneces To Folder step paste in the ID for the **Folder Id** field. Set **File****References**to **Build****Array**and map **LoadFromFileData1_Output**to **Item****0**. Click **Save**to save changes.  
![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-06-20_12h25_27.png)

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## Debug

1. On the top action bar, click **Debug**.
2. Click START DEBUGGING.
3. After the Debugger runs, return to Decisions Studio and navigate to the folder to view that the FileRefernceEntity has been added. 

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2024-08-14_10h53_36.png)

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For further information on Flows, visit the [Decisions Forum](https://community.decisions.com/categories/Flows).