# File Changed

Trigger `doc`

trigger.file_changed

Fires when a specific file is created, modified, or deleted. Use this trigger to watch an individual file for changes — for example, a config file, a log file, or a document you want to react to automatically.

The trigger uses macOS file system events to detect changes efficiently without polling. When the watched file changes, the node emits a payload with the file path, name, change type, and timestamp.

## Ports

Direction | Name | Data Type | Description
--- | --- | --- | ---
Outlet | Output | Any | Payload emitted when the file changes

## Configuration

Field | Type | Default | Description
--- | --- | --- | ---
File | `File Picker` | — | Path to the file to watch
Custom Arguments | `Key-Value` | — | Additional key-value pairs included in the output payload

## Output Variables

Variable | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
`filePath` | String | Full path of the changed file
`fileName` | String | Name of the changed file
`fileExtension` | String | Lowercased extension without the dot (e.g. `pdf`)
`fileType` | String | Coarse category for organizing by type (Images, Documents, Audio, Videos, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Archives, Other)
`changeType` | String | Type of change (created / modified / deleted)
`timestamp` | String | ISO 8601 timestamp of the event

## Example

Watch a config file and send a notification when it changes: