> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://trickest.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Distributing and Scaling Jobs

> Split a file or folder coming from an upstream node into many parallel jobs, so the destination node runs once per line, per file, or per batch.

## Overview

When a node receives a file or folder from an upstream node, you can **distribute** that input so the destination node runs as many parallel jobs instead of a single job. Each job receives one slice of the input (a line, a file, or a batch of lines), and the platform runs the jobs in parallel across the run's machines.

Distribution is configured per node from the destination node's modal. The available modes depend on the input type and the destination's parameter type.

***

## Where Distribution Applies

Distribution is available when:

* An upstream node produces **file** or **folder** output, and
* That output is connected to an input on the destination node, and
* The destination node has at least one input that can accept the distributed form.

When these conditions hold, a **Distribute** button is available on the destination node's modal.

If they do not hold, opening the dialog shows *"No inputs available to distribute."*

If an upstream node is already configured to distribute the same data, the dialog blocks new configuration with *"Already distributed by an upstream node."*

***

## The Three Modes

Distribution has three user-facing modes. Which one applies depends on the type of the upstream output and the type of the destination input:

| Mode                  | When it's offered                                                            | What each job receives                                         |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **One job per line**  | Upstream is a **file**; destination has a **string** parameter               | One line of the file as a string value                         |
| **One job per batch** | Upstream is a **file**; destination has a **file** parameter                 | A chunk of the file (lines grouped into roughly equal batches) |
| **One job per file**  | Upstream is a **folder**; destination has a **file** or **folder** parameter | One file from the folder                                       |

When the input is a file and both **One job per line** and **One job per batch** apply, the dialog asks you to pick. In all other cases the mode is selected automatically.

> **Note** Folder distribution always runs in the "one job per file" form. There is no separate folder-batch mode.

***

## Opening the Distribute Dialog

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the destination node modal">
    Double-click the destination node on the canvas to open its modal.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Distribute">
    Click **Distribute** in the modal action bar. The Distribute dialog opens.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Filling Out the Wizard

The dialog has up to three steps: **Input**, **How to split**, and **Parameter**. Steps with only one valid choice are resolved automatically and shown as a read-only summary with an **Auto** pill. Steps with more than one option always require a selection.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Input">
    Pick which connected input to distribute. The input picker is a dropdown listing every distributable connection on the node, including multiple connections that feed the same input port (each entry shows the source node name). If only one input is distributable, this step is auto-resolved.
  </Step>

  <Step title="How to split">
    Pick a mode (**One job per line**, **One job per batch**, or **One job per file**). The two file modes are presented as two cards separated by an **OR** divider, since the choice is binary. Modes that do not apply to the chosen input are not offered. If only one mode applies, this step is auto-resolved.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Parameter">
    Only shown when the mode is **One job per line**. Pick the string parameter on the destination node that will receive each line. If the destination has only one matching string parameter, this step is auto-resolved.
  </Step>
</Steps>

After you pick an input, a **Preview** appears at the bottom of the dialog showing the first few lines from the source so you can sanity-check what will be split.

When all steps are complete, an outcome summary explains what will happen (for example, "your file input will fan out one line per job, spawning one parallel job per line").

Click **Distribute** to apply, or **Cancel** to close without changes.

***

## After Distribution

Once distribution is applied, the destination node is marked as distributed on the canvas. When the workflow runs, the platform creates one job per slice of the input and runs them in parallel up to the run's machine cap (see [Resource Allocation on Managed Fleets](/docs/key-concepts/machines-and-fleet#resource-allocation-on-managed-fleets)).

In the run view, each distributed task shows up as its own row with its own inputs, console output, and produced files.

To remove distribution, open the destination node's modal and use the undistribute action.

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Navigating the Editor" icon="diagram-project" href="./navigating-the-editor">
    Learn the workflow editor layout and how to select and inspect nodes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Building and Debugging a Workflow" icon="code" href="./building-and-debugging-a-workflow">
    Add nodes, connect inputs and outputs, and run workflows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Creating and Using Modules" icon="cube" href="./creating-and-using-modules">
    Encapsulate workflows as reusable module nodes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>