# FTP Upload

## Getting Started

FTP allows you to upload data in bulk from your server every 24 hours. This works for both Excel and XML formats. Users are required to set up an Active FTP connection and the filenames to be retrieved from the server.

**Average Transfer Speed:** 30 secs \~ 2 mins, may vary depending on the quality of the data

**Acceptable Formats:** XLSX and XML

**Recommended:** Small, Medium, and Large Certification Bodies that have anywhere between 20 to 50,000 certifications

***

To successfully import your data from your FTP, you must meet the following prerequisites: 

### Prerequisites

1. Set up an <mark style="color:green;">**Active**</mark> FTP Connection (go to Import Settings / FTP Settings page)&#x20;
   * To [set up your FTP Connection](/accreditation-bodies/data-management/import-settings/ftp-settings.md), click [here](/accreditation-bodies/data-management/import-settings/ftp-settings.md).
2. Collect and format your data in a .xlsx or XML file format.
   * [How to manage Certification data in Excel](/accreditation-bodies/data-management/import-certification/certification-file-templates/manage-data-in-excel.md)
   * [How to manage Certification data in XML](/accreditation-bodies/data-management/import-certification/certification-file-templates/manage-data-in-xml.md)

***

Once the FTP has been connected and the data has been formatted, you have to define or nominate the files you want to get your data from.

### How to Add Filenames&#x20;

To add the file names you want to fetch from the FTP server

1. Go to **Import Certification**&#x20;
2. In the FTP Filenames section, click the **Add File Name** button
3. Enter the filename you want to nominate, e.g (ab\_certs.xslx)
4. Select the file format of where you collected your data, either XML or XLSX
5. Check the **'Wildcard'** option if you have multiple files in the FTP directory to be fetched with a common naming convention

{% hint style="warning" %}
Example:&#x20;

The filename is **certs** and the 'Wildcard' option is ticked.

Then, the system will look for the following filenames in the directory:

* **certs**\_1.xlsx
* 2\_**certs**.xlsx
* 3\_**certs**\_4.xlsx
  {% endhint %}

6. Once added, click the **'Fetch Data'** button
7. Once done, the process proceeds to **Step 2** where data validation is initiated
8. Once validated, your data will successfully be added to IAF CertSearch


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://support.iafcertsearch.org/accreditation-bodies/data-management/import-certification/data-import-methods/ftp.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.