---
title: "Get File Contents"
slug: "get-file-contents"
updated: 2026-04-30T15:13:30Z
published: 2026-04-30T15:13:30Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/get-file-contents"
---

> ## 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.

# Get File Contents

| Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 9.0.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | 9.25.0 |
| **Location** | Integration > Amazon AWS > S3 |

The **Get File Contents** step is used to retrieve the file information of a specified file, then output the acquired information.

### Prerequisites

- This step requires the [Amazon AWS Module](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/aws) to be [installed](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/installing-modules-decisions) before it will be available in the toolbox, and an active [AWS account](https://signin.aws.amazon.com/signin?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fconsole.aws.amazon.com%2Fconsole%2Fhome%3FhashArgs%3D%2523%26isauthcode%3Dtrue%26nc2%3Dh_ct%26src%3Dheader-signin%26state%3DhashArgsFromTB_eu-north-1_c1412528899e4833&client_id=arn%3Aaws%3Asignin%3A%3A%3Aconsole%2Fcanvas&forceMobileApp=0&code_challenge=HQku5BPrRUboP5p1wGr4Ai_nBIQNSqsR2eHJNCBfxhQ&code_challenge_method=SHA-256). The [Amazon WebServices Settings](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/setting-up-amazon-webservices-integration) must also be configured.
- A [dependency](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/project-dependencies) must be created after installing the module in order for the steps to be properly used.

---

## Properties

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bucket Name | Name of Bucket to pull file from. | String |
| File Name | Name of file to retrieve contents for. | String |
| Region | The Amazon AWS Region in which the instance is located. | AmazonAWSRegion |
| Override Role Credentials | Optional input allowing Users to alter the default role used to create the folder. | AssumeRoleCredentials |
| Return Null if File Not Found | Enables Users to control whether null is returned if the specified file isn't found in the S3 bucket. | Boolean |

#### Override Settings

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Access Key ID | ID used to connect to Amazon S3. | String |
| Secret Access Key | Secret Access Key used to connect to Amazon S3. | String |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Done | -- | -- |
|  | Output | The outputted file contents. | List of Byte |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-08-05_10h09_18.png)

---

## Common Errors

### The AWS Access Key ID Provided Does not Exist in Our Records

If the Access Key ID is invalid or missing, the step will cause an error. To correct this, ensure the Access Key ID is correctly inputted.

#### Exception Message:

```csharp
DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Create Folder 1[CreateFolder] in flow [S3 Step Flows]: Exception invoking method CreateFolder on class AmazonS3Steps
 ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: Exception invoking method CreateFolder on class AmazonS3Steps
 ---> Amazon.S3.AmazonS3Exception: The AWS Access Key Id you provided does not exist in our records.
 ---> Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseException: Exception of type 'Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpErrorResponseException' was thrown. at Amazon.Runtime.HttpWebRequestMessage.ProcessHttpResponseMessage(HttpResponseMessage responseMessage)
 at Amazon.Runtime.HttpWebRequestMessage.GetResponseAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
 at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.HttpHandler`1.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
 at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.RedirectHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
 at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.Unmarshaller.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
 at Amazon.S3.Internal.AmazonS3ResponseHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
 at Amazon.Runtime.Internal.ErrorHandler.InvokeAsync[T](IExecutionContext executionContext)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

---

## Step Changes

| Description | Version | Date | Developer Task |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A boolean input field has been added to the AWS Get File Contents step to control whether null is returned if the file isn't found in the S3 bucket. | 9.25 | May 2026 | [DT-044411] |

Related Information

[Amazon AWS S3](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/aws-s3-step-glossary)