---
title: "Load Files Steps"
slug: "load-files"
tags: ["File Management", "file steps", "file storage"]
updated: 2025-07-11T14:03:09Z
published: 2025-07-11T14:03:09Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/load-files"
---

> ## 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.

# Load File

| ## Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 3.0.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | 8.0.0 |
| **Location** | File Management |

The **Load File** step accesses a file based on a specified file path. By default, the step will load files stored locally but can be used to load files on a network share, provided that the [service account](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/running-as-a-non-admin-user) used by Decisions has access to the share.

---

## Properties

### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| File Name | The name including the full path to the file. If only the file name is used, the file must be placed in the file storage location. | String |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Output | The contents of the file loaded as a FileData type. | FileData |

---

## Example Inputs and Outputs

| Input | Output |
| --- | --- |
| C:\Examples\example.txt | Outputs a FileData object representing the example.txt file. |
| C:\Examples\example | Outputs a FileData object representing the example file. |
| example.txt | Outputs a FileData object of a file found at C:\Program Files\Decisions\Decisions Server |
| Null value | EXCEPTION MESSAGE |
| Empty String | EXCEPTION MESSAGE |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1674161592318.png)

---

## Common Errors

### Null value passed as input to the step

If a Null or empty string is passed as an input to the step, the following error will be thrown. Ensure the input is a valid string and contains the path to the file.

#### Exception Message:

```cpp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Load File 1[LoadFile] in flow [Testing]: Exception invoking method LoadFile on class FileSteps ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: Exception invoking method LoadFile on class FileSteps ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Path cannot be null. (Parameter 'path')
   at System.IO.Strategies.FileStreamHelpers.ValidateArguments(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, Int64 preallocationSize)
   at System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes(String path)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.StandardSteps.FileSteps.LoadFile(String fileName) 
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.StepImplementations.InvokeMethodStep.Run(StepStartData data)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData) 
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

### File not found

If the file cannot be found, confirm if the full file path and file extension are included as an input.

#### Exception Message:

```cpp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Load File 1[LoadFile] in flow [Testing]: Exception invoking method LoadFile on class FileSteps ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: Exception invoking method LoadFile on class FileSteps ---> System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not find file 'C:\Program Files\Decisions\Decisions Server\example'. File name: 'C:\Program Files\Decisions\Decisions Server\example'
   at Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles.SafeFileHandle.CreateFile(String fullPath, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, FileOptions options)
   at Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles.SafeFileHandle.Open(String fullPath, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, FileOptions options, Int64 preallocationSize)
   at System.IO.Strategies.OSFileStreamStrategy..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, FileOptions options, Int64 preallocationSize)
   at System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes(String path)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.StandardSteps.FileSteps.LoadFile(String fileName) 
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.StepImplementations.InvokeMethodStep.Run(StepStartData data)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData) 
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

---

Related Information

Example Labs:

- [Downloading a File from Decisions](https://documentation.decisions.com/projects/docs/downloading-a-file-from-decisions)

Forum Posts:

- [Give Load and Move File Shared Folder Access](https://community.decisions.com/discussion/1416/give-load-and-move-file-shared-folder-access)
- [Using Files From Directory](https://community.decisions.com/discussion/3323/using-files-from-directory)

## Related

- [Read Text File Steps](/read-text-file.md)
- [Create, Move and Delete File Steps](/create-delete-move-file.md)