# Reading from multiple files

Create a structure that reads from different files.

## Before you begin

* You have two different files to read from.
* You have created a structure for each file.

## About this task

In this example, you want to create a structure that combines two different structure, each reading from a specific file. You can use the following XML samples, containing respectively customer and order information:

```
<customers>
  <customer>
    <customerId>IRloRH6F9fNnYXl</customerId>
    <lastName>Thomas</lastName>
    <firstName>Carter</firstName>
    <address>
      <street>Camelback Rd</street>
      <city>Augusta</city>
      <state>Minnesota</state>
    </address>
  </customer>
</customers>
```

```
<orders>
  <order>
    <orderId>KTCZqmBqAW4VvzB</orderId>
    <customerId>IRloRH6F9fNnYXl</customerId>
    <items>
      <item>115</item>
      <item>23</item>
      <item>67</item>
      <item>29</item>
      <item>177</item>
    </items>
  </order>
</orders>
```

## Procedure

1. Once you have created the two separate structures, named customers and orders for example, create a new empty structure with an XML representation.
2. Create a root element, then create a customers child element.
3. In the customers element, click the ... button to the right of Inherits From and select the relevant structure.
   ### Example

   ![](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-mapper-user-guide/Resources/images/read_multiple_files_01_inherit.png)
4. Drag and drop a ReadURL function in the IO/Database tab of the customers element.
5. Double-click ReadURL to define its properties:
   ### Example
   | Property | Value |
   | --- | --- |
   | Representation | XML |
   | URL | URL to the file to read from,<br>file:///c:/users/jsmith/documents/customers.xml<br>for example. |

   ![](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-mapper-user-guide/Resources/images/read_multiple_files_02_readurl_properties.png)
6. Right-click the root element to create a new orders child element.
7. Repeat previous steps to configure the orders element to inherit from the relevant structure.
8. Drag and drop a ReadURL function in the IO/Database tab of the orders element and define its properties.
   ### Example
   | Property | Value |
   | --- | --- |
   | Representation | XML |
   | URL | URL to the file to read from,<br>file:///c:/users/jsmith/documents/orders.xml<br>for example. |

## Results

Your structure is created and configured to read from two different XML files, you can now use it in a map. ![](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/data-mapper-user-guide/Resources/images/read_multiple_files_03_readurl.png)