Before creating an Ftp task, we recommend that you use the FTP browser utility to get a connection. The ftp task allows you to transfer files from/to a server.
Ftp Profile
Select the ftp profile for the ftp server you need to connect to. You
should have previously created an ftp profile, using the Ftp Profiles menu
item.
Ftp Option
Use 'Get' to transfer files from the server, to your local system.
Use 'Put' to transfer files from your local system, to the server.
Use 'Delete' to delete files from the server.
Remote Directory
This is the most difficult parameter to enter correctly. We recommend
that you use the FTP browser utility, to determine the value of the full
path name, of the remote directory. Execute privilege is required for the
remote directory, for all Ftp functions. Read privilege is required
for Ftp Get. Write privilege is required for Ftp Put, and Ftp Delete
functions. The path is case sensitive for unix Ftp servers.
If you are transferring files from the Default FTP login directory,
you can leave this field blank.
Local Directory
Enter the full path name of the local directory, where you need to
put or get files.
Backup to Local Directory
Enter the full path name of the local directory, where you need to
backup files. The Backup to local directory option does not support subdirectories.
All files will be placed in the backup directory, without creating new
subfolders in it.
Backup to Remote Directory
Enter the full path name of the remote directory, where you need to
backup files. The Backup to remote directory option does not support subdirectories.
All files will be placed in the backup directory, without creating new
subfolders in it.
Use Staging
If you select this option, the file is first transferred to the local
(get) or remote (put) folder entered. This folder acts as a staging
folder. After the Ftp transfer is complete, the file is moved to
the final destination folder. This option prevents processes from
working on files, while the Ftp transfer is in progress. In the staging
field, you should enter the full path name, of the final destination directory.
The staging option does not support subdirectories. All files will be placed
in the final destination directory, without creating new subfolders in
it.
Filename
Enter the name filter for the files you wish to copy using
the following wildcard rules. This field also supports dynamic
variables. Using dynamic variables, you can select a file based
on current date/time.
Transfer Type
File transfer type can be either Ascii or Binary. Binary mode
will transfer .exe, .jpg or other binary files. Binary mode should
be the default transfer mode. Ascii mode can be used to transfer
text or html files. If you transfer binary files in ascii mode, you
will not get the entire file.
Append date/time To filename
You can choose to append either the date,
or the date/time, or custom code. If your filename has an extension,
the date or date and time is appended before the extension. This feature
is useful for archive purposes.
Maintain Timestamp (for Get only)
The task can reset the transferred local files timestamp, to match
the remote files timestamp. This applies ONLY to the GET option.
Reset Local Timestamp (for Put only)
There is no Ftp standard, to reset the remote files timestamp, to match
the local files timestamp after an Ftp PUT. Hence, we provide the option
to reset the source local files timestamp, to match the newly transferred
remote files timestamp. There is a new proposal, to reset the remote file
timestamp, using the MFMT (Modify file modification time) command. However,
not many Ftp servers support the MFMT command. (Many Ftp servers incorrectly
allow setting the remote file timestamp, using the MDTM command. This MDTM
command is not an Ftp standard to set the remote file timestamp. The Ftp
task does not reset the timestamp through this MDTM command.)
Delete Source file
You can choose to delete the source file, after a successful transfer.
If the ftp transfer fails, the source file will not be deleted.
Transfer with temporary extension
The file is transferred with a temporary extension, and then renamed
to the desired name, after the transfer is complete. This is useful,
if you have automated scripts/programs, which continuously work on transferred
files, with certain extensions. This ensures that, the automated
script will not work on a partially transferred file.
Log Transfer
You can choose to log the transfer into the Ftp
Log.
Transfer Modified files
If you choose this option, files are transferred, only if the source
file, is newer than the target file. You can specify an offset to be added
to the remote ftp files timestamp, while comparing the timestamps.
Ftp server time offset
Sometimes, a Ftp server is in a different timezone from your local
system. You can specify an offset to be considered while determining
which file (local or remote) is newer. The remote file timestamp
is not changed. Enter a positive number to add an offset to the actual
remote ftp file timestamp. Enter a negative number to subtract an
offset from the actual remote ftp file timestamp. For example, consider
a file with:
Actual Local file timestamp = June 1, 2005, 10:00 PM
Actual Remote file timestamp = Jun 1, 2005, 10:30 PM
Offset = 0
Put Option: File will not be transferred, since remote file is newer than
local file
Get Option: File will be transferred, since remote file is newer
than local file
Offset = -60 (Remote file timestamp is now calculated as 9:30
PM)
Put Option: File will be transferred, since calculated remote file
timestamp is older than local file timestamp.
Get Opton: File will not be transferred, since calculated remote file
timestamp is older than local file timestamp.
Transfer Modified files using Ftp Log
If you choose this option, files are transferred, only if the source
file date, is newer than the source file date entry in the Ftp Log.
For this option to work correctly, you should also enable the 'Log Transfer'
option. If the source file path is not found in the Ftp log, then
the file is always transferred.
Date Filter
If you need to filter files based on file modified date, select this
option. For the between option, enter 2 values separated by '-' (2-4 etc..).
Examples:
Older than 5 Minute, Newer than 2 Day, Between 3-5 Day, Between 1-4
Hour
File Permissions
For the PUT option, you can reset the permissions of the file, after
the file is transferred to the server. The site must support the
"SITE chmod" command. This is normally valid only on UNIX-based systems.
Examples for field entry:
644 = rw- for USER, r-- for GROUP, r-- for WORLD
755 = rwx for USER, r-x for GROUP, r-x for WORLD
754 = rwx for USER, r-x for GROUP, r-- for WORLD
where r = read, w = write, and x = execute permissions.