Configure import source

Configuring the import source involves specifying the source path or the import file as well as the information that is required for authentication on the server on which the import files are located.

Step by step

To configure the import source, proceed as follows:

  1. Open the import in the Settings workflow step.

  2. Click the Configure button.

    The Configure import source dialog box opens.

    Name

    Description

    Source path

    Enter the path to the source directory or the path to the import file here. Enter the path to the source directory if you want to import multiple files. Enter the path to the import file if you only want to import one file.

    Please note the following points:

    • For security reasons, only the SFTP protocol can be used.
    • Only files in csv and csv.gz format can be imported.
    • You can create multiple imports with the same source path. However, you can activate only one of them at a time.

    User name

    In the User name, Password, Private key and Passphrase fields, enter the information required for authentication on the server.

    The following combinations can be used for authentication:

    Note: The private key must be entered in the OpenSSL PEM key file format.

    If you are using an Inxmail Secure Webspace (SFTP), use the following information:

    • Source path: was communicated to you

      if applicable: plus subfolder and file name, e.g. Folder_1/Importfile_1.csv

    • Username: was communicated to you

    • Private-Key: complete content of the private-key file. Make sure that you do not copy any spaces.

    Find out how to generate your public and private key for Import Automation.

    Password

    Private key

    Passphrase

  3. Click the Test access button to check whether access to the server (or the file import) is possible.

    The system checks whether a connection can be established to the server and whether read and write permissions have been set for the respective directory.

    Rights: To ensure that a file import can be carried out properly, read permissions must be set for the source directory.
    Write permissions only need to be set if the import log is to be stored in or deleted from the source directory.

    The result of the test access is displayed below the Test access button.

    (For detailed information on the access test, see the section Perform access test.)

    The OK button only becomes active after the access test has been performed successfully.

  4. Confirm the dialog box by clicking OK.
  • You have now configured the import source.

Additional information

The system imports only the files/data that are available in the source directory at the beginning of the import interval. If a source file has not been fully written to the source directory at the beginning of the import interval, then only the part of the source file that has already been written to the source directory is imported.

To prevent partial import of source files, you have two options:

  1. Ensure there is sufficient time between writing the source file(s) to the source directory and starting the import. This ensures that the files to be imported are either located fully in the source directory or will only be there when the last import has already ended.
  2. Ensure that the files you write to the source directory do not end with .csv or .csv.gz during the write operation. Files that end with .csv or .csv.gz are not taken into account during the import. After completing the write operation rename the files to end with .csv or .csv.gz

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