File Transfer Location

What Is a File Transfer Location

A file transfer location is an FTP site or other file storage location from which you transfer files to your ExactTarget account or to which you transfer files from your ExactTarget account.

File transfer locations are maintained on the Admin tab of the application. You must have administrative permissions to access this screen.

When you configure a file transfer location in your account, you select the location type. The following options may not all appear in your account:

• ExactTarget Enhanced FTP Site Import Directory
• External FTP Site
• External SFTP Site
• External FTPS Site
• Safehouse
• ExactTarget Enhanced FTP Site Export Directory

Why Use a File Transfer Location

A file transfer location creates a definition around a place where you store files and provides your ExactTarget account instructions on how to access those files. Once you create file transfer location definition for your regularly used FTP sites, you can reference those file transfer locations easily, without having to provide the credential information over and over again.

Because file transfer locations are defined in the Admin tab, your system administrator can guard the credential information for your FTP sites while still allowing application users to move files to and from these sites as appropriate.

The system retains data for up to 21 days. If data needs to be removed before then, the application deletes older files first.

How to Create a File Transfer Location

After you complete this procedure, you can create a file transfer activity that uploads a file to or downloads a file from this location. You must have administrator privileges to use this procedure.

Use the following steps to create a file transfer location:

1. Click the Admin tab on the navigation bar.
2. Under the Data Management tab, click File Locations. The File Locations workspace appears.
3. Click Create from the toolbar.
4. Complete the information in the Properties section:
   • Name - The name of the file location. This is the name that appears as a valid value in the File Location field when you create an activity. You use this name to identify the activity in the application. Subscribers cannot see the name.
   • External Key - A value you choose that uniquely identifies the file transfer location. You use this value to identify the file transfer location when using the API.
   • Description - The description of the file transfer location. You use this description to further help identify the file transfer location within the application. Subscribers cannot see the description.
5. Complete the information in the Location Information section:
   • Location Type - Identifies the type of file transfer location. Valid values include:
     • ExactTarget Enhanced FTP Site Import Directory - If you select this value, you do not need to provide any further information in this section.
     • External FTP Site
     • External SFTP Site
     • External FTPS Site
     • Safehouse
     • ExactTarget Enhanced FTP Site Export Directory
   • URL - The URL of the file transfer location.
   • Port - The port used to transfer data. This value defaults to 21 for unsecured locations, and you can set the port to 22 for secure FTP locations.
   • Username - The username the activity uses to log in to access the files.
   • Password - The password the activity uses to log in to access the files.
   • Retype Password - The confirmation of the password.
6. Click Save.