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Note: The FTP functionality is a chargeable add-on. If your company has not licensed the add-on, you will not have access to the functionality.
This functionality allows access to external FTP sites. If an external site is to be used, additional file information and a password will be required.
FTP is a good option to use when transferring large volumes of data, since very large files can not be uploaded in the browser. Note also that picking up files from the FTP site can allow the automation of data flows, as you can set up the system to pick up files automatically at preset times. Recurring tasks can also be set up, enabling files to be updated at regular intervals.
As a user, when you access the FTP site using the user name and password supplied to you by Forsta, you will only have access to your company's area. This will be divided into two main folders;
Download, which contains any files that have been downloaded to the FTP site by you or other users within your company.
Upload, which is for any files that are to be available for you or other users in your company to upload to Authoring.
Each of these two main folders will be sub-divided into ProjectsData and RulesData. These folders will be further sub-divided into folders for each survey and each rule respectively, to keep the area tidy and to simplify the search and location of the files you need - . The ProjectsData folders are for files used for survey data export and import, and the sub-folders within these folders are named with the Survey ID numbers (found on the Home > Survey List or the surveys' Overview page). The RulesData folders are for files used by data processing and panel management rules. These folders are named according to the rules to which the files apply.
Example of the FTP folder structure
The survey and rule sub-folders will be created automatically as required when files are downloaded to the FTP site from Authoring. If a file is to be uploaded to Authoring first (before it has been downloaded to the FTP site from Authoring), then you will need to create the folder tree manually so that the file can be saved in the appropriate location so it will be found by the Upload task.
Note that if you wish to download files to the FTP site and then upload them to for example a different survey, you will need to access the FTP site and "manually" move the files from the Download folder to the Upload folder.
If your company has licensed the FTP add-on, then in several places within Authoring you will have the option of downloading files to FTP or uploading files from it. For example FTP will be available in data import, data export, and in data processing rules both for Authoring (refer to the Data Processing documentation) and Professional Panels (refer to the Professional Panels documentation). Below is an example of a Data Import page, where the Pick up from FTP Location is selected - .
Figure 1 - A Data Import page showing the Pickup From FTP Location and File Handling options
The Forsta FTP address to be used by your company is specified as part of the setup and enabling procedure, and it cannot be changed by the user. All your FTP activity within Authoring will therefore be directed automatically to the Forsta FTP site. This means that you only ever need to specify the file name of the file you are interested in; a path is not required. If you wish to upload several files simultaneously, for example in connection with a survey incorporating loops, then these files must be zipped such that only one .zip file is uploaded.
When you select the Pick up from FTP Location option the File Handling options become available. These allow you to decide what to do with the original file on the FTP site; you can leave it there for later use, or delete it after it is uploaded.
When creating rules to upload files for data processing or Professional Panels, the file does not necessarily have to exist in the FTP location at the time the rule is created. If the file does not exist, you will still be able to save the rule but a message will be displayed informing you that the file cannot be found. You will then need to ensure the file is placed into the appropriate folder in the FTP location before the rule can be run successfully.