> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dataimporter.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dataimporter.io/jobs/wildcard-names.md).

# Wildcard Names

For external sources, you can use wildcard names when selecting the source data. This is used where the name of the source file is dynamic e.g. Account\_Import\_TODAYS\_DATE.csv.

Using wildcards you can let Dataimporter search through your data source for matching CSV files, and choose the latest file to be used for the job:

The following pattern matches are defined:

<table><thead><tr><th>Pattern</th><th width="400">Meaning</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>*</td><td>Matches <strong>zero or more</strong> characters</td></tr><tr><td>?</td><td>Matches <strong>exactly one</strong> character</td></tr><tr><td>[seq]</td><td>Matches any character in a sequence</td></tr><tr><td>[!seq]</td><td>Matches any character not in a sequence</td></tr><tr><td>today()</td><td>Evaluates to today's date e.g. 2026-01-01</td></tr><tr><td>now()</td><td>Evaluates to current timestamp e.g. 2026-04-22 231650</td></tr></tbody></table>

### Example

Using the pattern Account\_Import\*.csv would select the following file in the SFTP Server:

<figure><img src="/files/VVeNJ2JaK5dXjcbulHq1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Although the File is named with an earlier date, **Dataimporter will always take the latest modified file that matches the Wildcard pattern**.

If no file can be found using the pattern then you will receive a message 'No File Found'.

### Examples

1. **Using `?`**:
   * Pattern: `file?.csv`
   * Matches:
     * `file1.csv`
     * `fileA.csv`
     * `file_.csv`
   * Does **not** match:
     * `file.csv` (no character in place of `?`)
     * `file12.csv` (two characters in place of `?`)
     * `files.csv` (two extra letters in place of `?`)
2. **Using `*`**:
   * Pattern: `data*.csv`
   * Matches:
     * `data.csv` (zero characters after `data`)
     * `data1.csv`
     * `data_set.csv`
     * `dataXYZ.csv`
   * Does **not** match:
     * `mydata.csv` (does not start with `data`)
     * `data.json` (different file extension)