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FileMaker Pro to SFTP Server

Discussion created by daniel_the_manual on Jun 27, 2017
Latest reply on Jun 29, 2017 by philmodjunk

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Hello Community of FileMaker users,

I'm having a bit of an issue, I need to get my FileMaker Pro 16 system to automatically transfer some files to one SFTP Server, which then transfers said files to another SFTP Server. I tried looking for some information regarding what I just stated but no Forum or Technical support person is able to help me. Now I'm asking the online community if they have any suggestions, scrips, steps and maybe a link to a trusted site detailing what I need to do to make what I'm asking possible.

Best Regards,

DTM

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17 Replies

Jens Teich Jun 27, 2017 2:16 PM
Do you need that for Mac / Win or both?
Where are the files you want to move: in FileMaker container fields?
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bigtom @ Jens Teich on Jun 27, 2017 2:19 PM
You can you Insert from URL script to do this, but depends on there the files are to start with. Also not intuitive that when you want to send a file out you use a script to insert something into FileMaker.
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daniel_the_manual @ Jens Teich on Jun 27, 2017 2:21 PM
I need it for Windows, the files/data are within FileMaker Pro.
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bigtom Jun 27, 2017 2:24 PM
FM16 can do this with Insert from URL and cURL options. Files must be in a container and must be sent one at a time To the destination.

If you need need bulk transfers look at a plugin. Base Elements and MBS and other can do this.
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monkeybreadsoftware Jun 27, 2017 2:26 PM
You can try the MBS FileMaker Plugin for SFTP via the CURL functions.
Our plugin comes with a couple of examples for uploading files via SFTP/FTP.

e.g. on this page is an example for FTP:
Monkeybread Software - MBS FileMaker Plugin: CURL.OpenInputFile

You can simply try it with a sftp:// URL and it should work.
We support authentication via password or private key file.
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daniel_the_manual @ bigtom on Jun 27, 2017 2:30 PM
Ok I'll see if it works or helps, but i'm hopping for something more automatic and does not require an individual to constantly send files out one at a time. Thank you anyways
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Jens Teich @ daniel_the_manual on Jun 27, 2017 2:30 PM
For WIN I recommend to install WinSCP, which has automation features see Scripting and Task Automation :: WinSCP.

In your FileMaker script you first export files from database to file system using 'export field contents', then you call WinSCP with 'Send Event'.
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bigtom @ daniel_the_manual on Jun 27, 2017 2:31 PM
You can script a routine that runs automatically but each file needs to be send individually.
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monkeybreadsoftware @ daniel_the_manual on Jun 27, 2017 2:34 PM
With a scheduled script you could have a script check every few Minutes if there is something to upload and simply run a script to upload a file.

So first figure out which file needs to go where.
For SFTP server, you need the URL, a folder to target and of course credentials.
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daniel_the_manual Jun 28, 2017 9:30 AM
Hello Guys and Gals,

It seems that plug-ins and third party programs are Forbidden, I need the transfer of data to the SFTP to work without the help of another program. Any suggestions (script wise).
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philmodjunk Jun 28, 2017 9:34 AM
You already have suggestions here that do not use plug-ins nor third party programs.

Use a script with Insert From URL.

This step can only do one file at a time, but your script can use the same step repeatedly to upload all of your files.
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daniel_the_manual @ philmodjunk on Jun 28, 2017 9:39 AM
Ok Thank you for the information I'll try it out immediately
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bigtom @ daniel_the_manual on Jun 28, 2017 1:39 PM
I have not tried but with PSOS you might be able to get multiple transfers going in parallel or simply process batches regularly with a schedule.
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daniel_the_manual @ philmodjunk on Jun 29, 2017 11:23 AM
What I'm looking for is a script that allows you to transfer data from FileMaker Pro to the SFTP server.

What you recommended or better to say re-blogged me is a script that transferring data from the SFTP server to the FileMaker Pro system. <- that is not what I'm looking for.
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fmpdude Jun 29, 2017 12:01 PM
Another option.

If you can SQL-SELECT the fields, you could write a small JDBC (Java) program that, using FMP's Free JDBC driver, would connect to FMP and get your data. From there, you could write SFTP connection logic. Best yet, there are free, established (did I say free?) libraries from Apache that have SFTP logic built in. Here's a posting from a few years back. I'm sure there have been updates since then.

Java SFTP Apache commons file download, upload and delete example

If you need to extract actual files, say in container fields, that's also supported by FMP's JDBC driver. I've done that, too, with FMP <--> MySQL Sync logic I wrote a couple years back.

Once you wrote the code, you could schedule it in Windows or Mac to run automatically on any schedule you like.

The one caveat is that FMI has crippled the JDBC driver so if you're using FMP and not FMS, that JDBC code will only run on the same machine as your database. I've worked around that ridiculous restriction too, but that's more work.

This type of JDBC code is flexible, FREE, and fast.

Let me know if you have any questions.
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bigtom @ daniel_the_manual on Jun 29, 2017 12:17 PM
daniel_the_manual wrote:

What I'm looking for is a script that allows you to transfer data from FileMaker Pro to the SFTP server.

What you recommended or better to say re-blogged me is a script that transferring data from the SFTP server to the FileMaker Pro system. <- that is not what I'm looking for.
Not sure exactly what you are referencing, but like I said not an intuitive script step choice.

Insert from URL in this case is not inserting a file into FM. It is inserting the response from the ftp server after transferring the data. There is an explanation of how this works in the following link, but the short answer is "--user user:pass -T $file".

New CuRL Function and FTP

Reference Links

FileMaker Pro 16 Help

FileMaker Pro 16 Help
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philmodjunk @ daniel_the_manual on Jun 29, 2017 3:55 PM
When you use Insert From URL for an FTP upload, the step inserts the response back from the FTP site. Thus, this is not a download into FMP--though the step can do that as well, but an upload to the FTP site.
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FileMaker Pro to SFTP Server

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