Ftp Monitor

You can monitor a remote ftp folder for changes or other criteria.  This task can be used in two ways:
1) If a change is detected in this task, you can run another task, or
2) The Ftp Monitor task can also be embedded within a Chain task, and is useful for conditional task processing. If the criteria is satisfied, then the exit code = -100.  Otherwise, the exit code = 0.

The Ftp Monitor task also outputs a variable called 'TaskTitle::Filenames". This variable contains the list of all files that satisfy the monitoring criteria.  The format of this variable is #file1^#file2^#file3, where file1,file2,file3 are the names of the files, that have been modified.  You can use this variable directly, as the filename in other copy, ftp, delete tasks to copy / ftp /delete only these files.  This variable is only updated if the filename, filesize, or filedate criteria options are selected.

Directory
Enter the remote folder that you wish to monitor.

Filename
Enter the filename filter for the files you wish to copy  using the following wildcard rules. This field also supports dynamic variables.  Using dynamic variables, you can select a file based on current date/time.

Task To Run
Select the desired task to run, if any of the selected criteria are met.  If you want to use this task in a chain for conditional processing, select 'None'.  You can also select multiple tasks to run in sequence, or to run simultaneously. To run tasks in sequence, use taskTitle1|taskTitle2|taskTitle3. To run tasks simultaneously, use taskTitle1&taskTitle2&taskTitle3.

Options
The Task will run, if any of the following selected criteria are satisfied.  You can select 1 or more criteria.
1)  Any change is found in the directory since the last run of this task.  This option does not update any of the dynamic variables.
2)  File (or files) which satisfy the Filename criteria exists
3)  File (or files) which satisfy the Filename criteria, as well as file size criteria
4)  File (or files) which satisfy the Filename criteria, as well as date modification criteria
5)  Total files in directory are greater/less than certain value. This option does not update any of the dynamic variables.

Ftp Server Address
The Ftp server address is the name or the IP address of the Server on the network.  Please find this value from your network administrator, or from Internet service provider, or from Ftp server administrator.

Server Port
The default ftp command port is 21.

Username and Password
If the Ftp server is private, you will typically need a username/password to transfer files. Please check with the Ftp server administrator for your user account information.

Directory Listing Style
Ftp servers provide directory listing in various formats.  The most common is the Unix style.  We currently support Unix and DOS listing styles.  If your Ftp server provides a listing in some other style, the task may fail.  However, most Ftp servers have an option to provide directory listing in the Unix style.  Please request your Ftp administrator, to set up your Ftp account to receive listing in Unix style, if possible.

If your Ftp server does not provide a listing in the Unix or DOS style, you can try the NameOnly option.  Here, only a list of names in the directory is obtained.  There is no information on the size, date, or if the name corresponds to a file, or a directory.  Hence, you cannot transfer files based on date or size.  Also, since the file or directory information is not available, subdirectory (tree) transfers are not possible in this mode.

Passive Mode
In normal mode, the Ftp server creates the data connection.  In Passive mode, your local system will create the data connection.  You may need to use passive mode, if you are behind a firewall/proxy server, or if you get erratic transfers, or if you get failed data channel errors.

Using Ftp Monitor Task in a Chain