Use the ChangeExtension component
Change the extension of a file by using the ChangeExtension component in RPA Desktop Design Studio.
Before you begin
Role required: none
About this task
You can configure the properties for the ChangeExtension component. For more information about these properties, see Properties of the File components.
Procedure
-
In the Toolbox pane, navigate to Utilities > File.
-
Drag the ChangeExtension component to the Design surface.
-
To configure the input fields, see Configure port properties.
-
Connect the data and control ports of the ChangeExtension component to the corresponding ports of the other components as described in the following table.
|
Port type |
Purpose of connection |
Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
|
Data In (Path) |
Takes the path to the file for which the method changes the extension from a previously executed component. |
Yes |
|
Data In (Extension) |
Takes the new extension that the method changes from a previously executed component. |
Yes |
|
Data Out |
Returns the path with the changed extension and passes to the next component. |
Yes.To preview the data, right-click the Return field and click Preview Data. |
|
Control In |
Connects to the Control Out port of one or more components. |
Yes |
|
Control Out |
Connects to the Control In port of another component or the default end component. |
No. Connecting the port is optional. |
ChangeExtension component
Your RPA robot processes a batch of report files downloaded with .txt extension. To ensure consistency and compatibility with downstream systems, you need to rename these files to the .doc extension, after processing.
- Enter a variable component on the design canvas that stores the file path with extension.
- Add the ChangeExtension action after the variable component.
- Set the target extension to
.pdf.
[Omitted image "change-extension-rpa.png"] Alt text: changeExtension component with .docx extension.
Parent Topic:File
--- title: Use the ChangeExtension component description: Change the extension of a file by using the ChangeExtension component in RPA Desktop Design Studio. locale: en-US canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/integrate-applications/use-file-changeextn.html release: brazil topic_type: task last_updated: "2026-09-10" reading_time_minutes: 1 breadcrumb: [File, Utilities, Automation components, RPA Desktop Design Studio, Robotic Process Automation \(RPA\) Hub, Workflow Data Fabric] --- # Use the ChangeExtension component Change the extension of a file by using the ChangeExtension component in RPA Desktop Design Studio. ## Before you begin Role required: none ## About this task You can configure the properties for the ChangeExtension component. For more information about these properties, see [Properties of the File components](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/integrate-applications/util-file-prop.md). ## Procedure 1. In the Toolbox pane, navigate to **Utilities** > **File**. 2. Drag the ChangeExtension component to the Design surface. 3. To configure the input fields, see [Configure port properties](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/integrate-applications/configure-input-port-properties.md). 4. Connect the data and control ports of the ChangeExtension component to the corresponding ports of the other components as described in the following table. <table id="table_jnw_jn1_krb"><thead><tr><th> Port type </th><th> Purpose of connection </th><th> Mandatory? </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> Data In \(Path\) </td><td> Takes the path to the file for which the method changes the extension from a previously executed component. </td><td> Yes </td></tr><tr><td> Data In \(Extension\) </td><td> Takes the new extension that the method changes from a previously executed component. </td><td> Yes </td></tr><tr><td> Data Out </td><td> Returns the path with the changed extension and passes to the next component. </td><td> Yes.To preview the data, right-click the **Return** field and click **Preview Data**. </td></tr><tr><td> Control In </td><td> Connects to the Control Out port of one or more components. </td><td> Yes </td></tr><tr><td> Control Out </td><td> Connects to the Control In port of another component or the default end component. </td><td> No. Connecting the port is optional. </td></tr></tbody> </table>5. To test the component, under the **DESIGN** tab, click **Run**. ## ChangeExtension component Your RPA robot processes a batch of report files downloaded with `.txt` extension. To ensure consistency and compatibility with downstream systems, you need to rename these files to the `.doc` extension, after processing. 1. Enter a variable component on the design canvas that stores the file path with extension. 2. Add the ChangeExtension action after the variable component. 3. Set the target extension to `.pdf`. \[Omitted image "change-extension-rpa.png"\] Alt text: changeExtension component with .docx extension. **Parent Topic:**[File](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/integrate-applications/file.md)
| title | Use the ChangeExtension component |
| description | Change the extension of a file by using the ChangeExtension component in RPA Desktop Design Studio. |
| locale | en-US |
| canonical_url | https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/integrate-applications/use-file-changeextn.html |
| release | brazil |
| topic_type | task |
| last_updated | 2026-09-10 |
| reading_time_minutes | 1 |
| breadcrumb | FileUtilitiesAutomation componentsRPA Desktop Design StudioRobotic Process Automation \(RPA\) HubWorkflow Data Fabric |