Create import automation

In the navigation point "Import-Automation" you can automatically import recipients at defined intervals to subscribe or unsubscribe them from your list.

The import file must be available in CSV or CSV.GZ format.

Step by step

  1. Click on New import automation in the navigation point "Import automation".

    For the import automation, you need the rights package "Use navigation point "Import automation"" in the "Recipients" area. Talk to your rights manager if you do not have this right.

    Inxmail standard roles: The rights package is included in the Inxmail standard roles "Recipient manager" and "Full access to account".

  2. Import source

    Select target: Specify where you want to import your recipients:

    • List: Select a list you would like to import into. You can only select one list.

      Subscription or unsubscription: By default, you will import your recipients as subscribed. Change the preselection if you want to unsubscribeyour recipients via import.

    • Global: Recipients that do not yet exist in Inxmail and that you import globally will not appear in any list. This means that you cannot send mailings to newly imported recipients at global level.

      We recommend a global import only in case you want to update the attributes of existing recipients across several lists, e.g. if you want to transfer updated data from your CRM system to Inxmail. Or for similar scenarios. During global import, the attributes of your existing recipients will be updated in all lists.

      Your recipient only exists once in Inxmail and is uniquely identified by their e-mail address. If you change attributes of your recipients, e.g. by editing or importing, the attribute changes in all lists in which your recipient appears.

      Exception: The tracking permission does not change globally because it is a list-specific value.

      Spaces

      In the event that your XPRO-Client is linked to other Spaces in your account, this may also affect lists in other Spaces in your account.

  3. SFTP server: Enter your SFTP server and authenticate yourself with a password or private key (SSH) so that Inxmail can access your SFTP server.

    The import automation works via CSV or CSV.GZ files. Your external system (e.g. your CRM) stores the CSV files on an SFTP server at regular intervals. The import automation then imports them at the interval defined below and updates the data in Inxmail.

    Set up access to the SFTP server for both systems (Inxmail and CRM) so that this process works smoothly.

    When configuring your SFTP server, you can either use a password or the SSH authentication method with a private and public key pair.

    Here we show you how to generate the SSH key pair for the import automation:

    Step by step

    1. Download the PuTTYgen program from https://www.puttygen.com/ and install it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    2. Start PuTTYgen.

      Do not mix up: Make sure that you actually open PuTTYgen, not another software such as PuTTY or PuTTYtel.

    3. Make sure to enable the ECDSA option and select nistp256 as Curve to use for generating this key.

    4. Click on Generate.

    5. Continue moving the mouse on the free area until the key pair is created.

    6. Click Save private key.

    7. Store the private key in a secure location.

      Always keep your private key secret: In general, private keys must not be passed on for security reasons - not even to Inxmail employees.

    8. To configure your Import Automation source, you must export the private key as an OpenSSH key.

    9. Save the OpenSSH key (without specifying a file extension).

    10. Open the private key in a text editor, copy it to the clipboard and use it in the navigation point "Import-Automation" to configure your SFTP server.

      Note: Copy the complete text - including the first and last line. Do not use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A for copying, to make sure that you do not copy spaces.

    • You have created an SSH key pair (public + private key) with PuTTYgen.

  4. Time interval: Specify a time interval and a time for the data retrieval:

    • Hourly

    • Daily

    • Weekly

    • Monthly on the first

  5. Further settings: 

    • Define whether Inxmail should create an import log and store it in the source directory on your SFTP server.

    • Specify whether the CSV file should be deleted after successful import. Alternatively, it remains in your source directory with the file extension "_done".

      What happens with import files of the same name? If the next import file has the same name again, the "_done" file will be overwritten after a successful import. However, the import files are usually distinguished by a date abbreviation.

  6. Click on Next

  • You have defined the source, destination and time interval for your import automation.

Next step