FTP Output

FTP Output tasks send job files to other computers using the FTP protocol. It is similar to the Sent To Folder output task but sends to an FTP connection instead of a local drive.

The following describes the properties specific to FTP Output tasks. Note that some FTP settings used for all FTP Output tasks are available via the Connect Workflow user options (see FTP Output Service preferences).

Input

Any data file.

Processing

The file is sent to the FTP Server and location defined in the task properties.

Task properties

General Tab

  • FTP Server: Enter the IP address or host name of the FTP server.
  • Port number: Set the plugin to use a specific port number.
    • Use FTP Client default port number: Use the value as specified in the Preferences (port 21 is the default value).
    • FTP Port: Enter the specific port number to use when Use FTP Client default port number is unchecked. Enter a value between 1 and 9999. Note: There is no validation to ensure the port is available. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the selected port is available and not being monitored by another application or Connect Workflow task.
  • User name: Enter an FTP server user name.
  • Password: Enter a password associated with the FTP server user name entered above.
  • Directory: Enter the directory to which the job files are to be uploaded. If you leave this box empty, the job files are sent to the root directory of the FTP server.
  • File name: Enter the name under which the output job file will be saved. Consider using a dynamic name, since if you use a static name every new file will overwrite the previous one.
  • Connection mode group
    • Active: Select to prompt Connect Workflow to use the active mode when sending files to the FTP server.
    • Passive: Select to prompt Connect Workflow to use the passive mode when sending files to the FTP server.

On Error Tab

For a description of the options on the On Error tab see Using the On Error tab.

Miscellaneous Tab

The Miscellaneous tab is common to all tasks.

It contains a text area (Task comments) that lets you write comments about the task. These comments are saved when the dialog is closed with the OK button and are displayed in The Task Comments Pane.

Check the option Use as step description to display the text next to the icon of the plugin in the Process area.

The tab also provides an option to highlight the task in The Process area with the default color, set in the Preferences (see Colors), or the color selected or defined under Highlight color on this tab.
To revert the selected highlight color to the default color, open this tab, turn the Highlight option off and close the dialog with the OK button; then turn highlighting back on.
Highlighting can also be turned on and off via the task's contextual menu and with the Highlight button on the View ribbon.