> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.pentaho.com/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/pdi-transformation-steps-reference-overview/json-input/options-json-input/file-tab.md).

# File tab

![JSON input step](/files/6L8iEvNLeLeGsup1Trkg)

Use the **File** tab to enter the following connection information for your source:

| Option                             | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Source is from a previous step** | <p>Select to retrieve the source from a previously defined field. When selected, the following fields are available:</p><ul><li><strong>Select field</strong></li><li><strong>Use field as file names</strong></li><li><strong>Read source as URL</strong></li><li><strong>Do not pass field downstream</strong></li></ul><p>When this option is cleared, the following fields are available:</p><ul><li><strong>File or directory</strong></li><li><strong>Regular Expression</strong></li><li><strong>Exclude Regular Expression</strong></li><li><strong>Selected files</strong></li></ul> |
| **Select field**                   | Specify the field name to use as a source from a previous step.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| **Use field as file names**        | Select to indicate the source is a filename.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **Read source as URL**             | Select to indicate if the source should be accessed as a URL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Do not pass field downstream**   | Select to remove the source field from the output stream. This action improves performance and memory utilization with large JSON fields.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| **File or directory**              | Specify the source location if the source is not defined in a field. Click **Browse** to navigate to your source file or directory. Click **Add** to include the source in the **Selected files** table.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Regular expression**             | Specify a regular expression to match filenames within a specified directory.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Exclude regular expression**     | Specify a regular expression to exclude filenames within a specified directory.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |


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