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File from SFTP pulls CSV and Excel files from a remote SFTP server, parses their contents, and loads the rows into an Adriel data source. It suits partners and internal systems that already publish scheduled exports to an SFTP endpoint, such as overnight agency performance dumps or daily ERP reconciliation files.

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Before you connect

The following are required:
  • An SFTP server reachable from Adriel’s egress range, or use of the Adriel-managed endpoint.
  • A dedicated SFTP server user with read access to the upload folder.
  • Adriel’s SSH public key authorized for that user (password authentication is not supported).
  • The server hostname, username, and upload folder path.
  • The file format (CSV or XLSX) and, for CSV, the column delimiter.

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Authorize Adriel’s SSH public key

Adriel signs in to the SFTP server with an SSH key, not a password. Before connecting a self-hosted SFTP server, the server admin adds Adriel’s public key to the SFTP user that Adriel signs in as. Without it, the connection fails with an authentication error. Adriel’s public key:
1

Open the authorized keys file

On the SFTP server, open ~/.ssh/authorized_keys in the home directory of the SFTP user. Create the file if it does not exist. Some servers store authorized keys in a different location; in that case, use the location configured for that user.
2

Add the key

Paste the full key above as a single new line, keeping the ssh-ed25519 prefix and the adriel-sftp-prod comment. Leave any existing keys in place.
3

Allow key authentication

Confirm that the server allows SSH public key authentication for this user, and that the account is not restricted to password-only sign-in.
The key only needs to be added once per SFTP user. Every File from SFTP data source that signs in as that user then uses the same key.

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Connect File from SFTP

1

Select the data source

On the Data Sources page, search for File from SFTP and select it.
2

Enter the connection details

Fill in the connection fields for the SFTP server:
  • User Name (required): the SFTP server username.
  • Upload Folder Name (required): the folder on the SFTP server where files are stored.
  • SFTP Server Host Name (optional): a static host such as 11.22.33.44 or static@domain.com. Leave it empty to use the Adriel-managed endpoint.
3

Configure the data source settings

Fill in the data source settings:
  • Name (required): the data source name shown on the dashboard.
  • File Type (required): select CSV or XLSX.
  • File Name to Filter (optional): part of the file name used to select and stack files into one table. For example, entering Adriel matches every file whose name contains Adriel. Matching is case-sensitive.
  • Alternative Channel Name (optional): an alternative display name for the data source. No icon is provided by default; some names trigger internally stored icons that render next to the name. See the Alternative Channel Name guide for the format that triggers icons.
4

Submit

Click Submit to complete the connection. Initial data availability can take up to one business day.

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What gets imported

The first row of each file is treated as the header. Numeric columns become metrics and text columns become breakdowns. Every matching file at the top level of the upload folder is concatenated, so all matching files must share the same column structure. Files stored in sub-directories are not read. For the complete field list, see the File from SFTP data reference.

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Date field and format

If the File from SFTP data includes a date column, open the data source’s settings after it is created. Under Select a date dimension, choose that column in Dimension. The dashboard date filter uses this column. Adriel then fills in Format automatically, but only when the column’s values match one of the supported date formats. A column in any other format fails.

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Troubleshooting

An error such as All configured authentication methods failed means the SFTP server rejected Adriel’s key for the configured user. Confirm that Adriel’s public key is present in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys for that user, that User Name matches that user exactly, and that password-only authentication is not enforced for the account.
The upload folder is listed flat. Confirm that files exist at the top level of the folder rather than in sub-directories, that the file extension matches the configured file type, and that the file name filter, when set, matches the actual filenames.
The configured delimiter does not match the file. Confirm the delimiter setting (comma, semicolon, tab, or a custom character) and that every file in the folder uses the same delimiter and column layout.

File from SFTP data reference

Fields, refresh cadence, and limits for File from SFTP.

File from SFTP FAQs

Common questions and expected behaviors for the File from SFTP data source.

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