Import or transfer files to an FTP server

This article describes how to import files to an FTP server.

Create FTP imports

1. Navigate to the Tools menu → click Flow builder → click Add destination/lookup
       – or –
2. Navigate to the Resources menu → click Imports → click + Create import.
3. From the Application dropdown, select FTP and your available FTP connection.
4. If asked, click Transfer files into destination application and create a new transfer or use an existing transfer.

Edit FTP import or transfer details

Name (required): Provide a clear and distinguishable name. You will have the option to choose this import throughout integrator.io, and a unique identifier will prove helpful later when selecting among a list of imports that you’ve created.

Description (optional): Describe your resource so that you and others can quickly understand its purpose. Be sure to highlight any nuances that a user should be aware of before using this import in a flow. As you make changes to the resource, be sure to keep this description up to date.

Connection (required): The FTP connection you would like to use for your import. You can create your connections in the Resources menu → Connections or click the + icon to create a new connection. Each connection contains credentials and other related information needed to access your FTP.

One to many (required): One to many is used when you have a single record that internally needs to create multiple records. You would use this setting if, for example, your parent record contains child records you need to process. This setting cannot be used when importing a CSV file.

Generate files from record (transfer only): Choose Yes to build a new CSV, XML, JSON, or another file. Choose No if you are transferring raw files as-is (PDF, JPG, etc.).

Generate your files

File type (required): Choose the type of file that you want to generate. For example, choose CSV if you are importing a flat, delimited text file, or XLSX for a binary Microsoft Excel file. The file name you specify can include a file extension, but it does not affect this setting. You can then choose a sample file to define the record structure. For example, if you are importing CSV files (i.e. files containing Comma Separated Value data), please choose CSV. Each file type includes additional settings to customize your import. Please refer to the help text for more information. Acceptable file types include:

• CSV (or any delimited text file)
• JSON
• XLSX
• XML
• EDI X12
  • Get more information on FTP EDI imports.
• FIXED WIDTH
• EDIFACT

Transfer your files

Directory path (required): Specify the directory path FTP folder where you want to transfer your files. For example, if you set this to 'MySite/Items' integrator.io will first look for a parent folder 'MySite', and then for a child folder 'Items', and then transfer all files into this child folder 'Items'.

Filename (required): Specify how the files being uploaded to the FTP site should be named. You can type '{{{' to include a predefined timestamp or unique file identifier in your file name. For example,
FileXYZ-{{{timestamp "YY-MM-DD" "America/Los_Angeles"}}}.txt
will upload files with the following pattern:
FileXYZ-16-06-30.txt in America/Los_Angeles time. Or, FileXYZ-{UUID}.txt
will upload files with the following pattern:
FileXYZ-69368e91d9a440f79165b73afd46859d.txt
using the unique ID (UUID) of the file. You can also include whatever file extension you like, and the file extension will never change the type of data generated.

Advanced

Encrypt files (optional): Use this cryptographic system to encrypt generated files. This option is enabled only when you have configured at least one cryptographic system in the connection. If it is unchecked, then encryption will not be performed on generated files.

Batch size (optional): Enter the maximum number of files (from 1 to 1000) that can be processed in a single batch request. This setting doesn’t limit the total number of files that you can process in a flow; instead, it allows you to optimize for really big files where bigger batches might cause network timeout errors. If you are importing very small files, increasing the batch size to include several files at a time will improve flow performance.

Backup files path (optional): Specify the directory path of the FTP folder where files will be backed up after a successful transfer.

File encoding (optional): The file encoding indicates how the individual characters in your data are represented on the file system. Leave this blank if you do not know what the encoding format is. The default encoding is UTF-8 and the other supported format is: UTF-8, Windows-1252 and UTF-16LE

Compress files (optional): Compresses your imported data as a .zip file.

Save your import

When you’ve tested your import and it’s ready to go, click Save.