Overview

Akeneo Activation facilitates seamless data exchange to and from the platform, and one of the primary methods for achieving this is through FTP (File Transfer Protocol) connections. This feature allows you to securely connect Activation to external systems or servers, enabling the import and export of various data, such as product offers, order information, and order shipment confirmations. This article will guide you through the process of creating and managing FTP connections within the Activation settings.

How does it work?

Setting up an FTP connection in Activation involves providing the necessary credentials and details of the external FTP server you wish to connect to. Once configured, Activation can use this connection to access files stored on that server for import or to send files to it for export. You can establish multiple FTP connections, each tailored to different external systems or specific data exchange purposes. These connections can then be selected and utilized within various job configurations within Activation (inside Activation channels).

Creating an FTP Connection

To create a new FTP connection in Activation, follow these steps:

Settings: From the left-hand menu in your Activation interface, click on Settings.

Connections: Within the Settings menu, locate and click on the Connections tab. This will take you to the connections management page.

Create Connection: On the Connections page, click on the Create Connection button. This will open a modal to configure a new connection.

Fill in the Required Fields: You will need to provide the following mandatory information:

• Connection type: From the dropdown menu, select FTP/SFTP.
• Label: Enter a descriptive name for this connection. This label will help you easily identify the connection when selecting it in job configurations.
• Host: Enter the hostname or IP address of the FTP server you want to connect to.
• Port: Specify the port number used by the FTP server. The default FTP port is usually 21.
• Username: Enter the username required to access the FTP server.
• Password: Enter the password associated with the provided username for the FTP server.

Save or Cancel:

• Click Save to create the FTP connection with the provided details.
• Click Cancel to discard the entered information and return to the Connections page.

Editing an Existing FTP Connection

You can modify the details of an existing FTP connection as needed. Here's how:

Navigate to Settings > Connections (as described in steps above).

Locate the Connection: Find the FTP connection you wish to edit in the list of existing connections.

Edit: Click on the Edit button associated with the connection. This will open the connection modal details.

Modify Editable Fields: You can modify the following fields:

• Connection type: You can change the connection type to SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) if the server supports it and you wish to use a more secure connection.
• Label: Update the descriptive name of the connection.
• Host: Change the hostname or IP address of the FTP/SFTP server.
• Port: Modify the port number. The default SFTP port is usually 22.
• Edit credentials (username and password): You can update the username and password used to authenticate with the server.

Save or Cancel:

• Click Save to apply your changes to the connection.
• Click Cancel to discard any modifications and return to the Connections page.

Managing Multiple Connections

Activation allows you to create and manage as many connections as you need. This is useful for interacting with different external systems or for segregating data exchange processes.

Using your FTP Connections:

Once an FTP connection is successfully set up in Activation, it becomes available for use in various job configurations, including:

• Offer Data Import: You can select an FTP connection as the storage location for importing offer data.
• Order Export: You can configure jobs to export order data to a specified folder on a connected FTP server.
• Order Shipment Confirmation Import: If external systems provide shipment confirmations via FTP, you can set up a connection to import this data into Activation.

You can find out more information about these jobs in these articles: offers, orders

By following these steps, you can effectively create and manage FTP connections in Akeneo Activation, enabling a streamlined and automated data exchange with your external systems.