External Locations
The External Locations window allows you to define reusable connection settings for securely transferring files to remote servers via SFTP or FTP(S) in Distribution. Each recipient of a distribution job receives their documents in a user-named folder, automatically created within a specified base directory.
Accessing the configuration
To open the External Locations window:
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Navigate to the Administration section.
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Select Distribution > External Locations.
Common Properties
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Description | A meaningful label to identify the connection. |
| Type | Choose between FTP or SFTP protocol. |
| Host | The server address (IP or domain) of the remote FTP/SFTP server. |
| Port | Communication port. Defaults are: 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP and 990 for FTPS. |
| Username | The login used to authenticate with the server. |
| Password | The password associated with the username. |
| Base Directory | The root directory where files will be uploaded or downloaded. Leave empty to use the user’s root directory. |
| Trust Invalid Certificates | Allows connections to servers with self-signed or expired certificates. Use with caution. |
FTP(S) Properties
These options are available only when FTP is selected as the protocol type.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Use SSL/TLS | Enables encryption over FTP (also known as FTPS). Recommended for secure transfers. |
| Is Implicit | Enables implicit mode for FTPS. Only applicable when SSL/TLS is enabled. |
| Passive | In passive mode, the file server selects the data channel port. |
These options are not visible when using SFTP, which already enforces encryption.
SFTP Properties
When SFTP is selected, authentication is handled via Username/Password and/or SSH key authentication.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Private Key | The private key certificate used for authentication. |
| Pass Phrase | The private key password, required when the key file is encrypted. |
Testing Your Connection
After filling in the connection details, save the connection to verify that credentials and access permissions are correct.
Using the Connection in Report Distribution
Once saved, the location becomes available for use in Distribution Jobs. In the Job Properties window, select the action Export to External Location from the dropdown menu in the General Tab. You can then select the appropriate location.
