# FTP Settings
## Getting Started
In this section, you'll have the ability to manage your FTP Connections settings and the files you want to retrieve or [*fetch*](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] from your FTP server.
1. [Setting up an Active FTP Connection](#setting-up-your-ftp-connection-settings)
2. [Define the files](#define-the-filenames) that should be retrieved from the FTP
3. [Fetch files ](#fetch-files-from-ftp)for data import
4. [View FTP Import Activities](#ftp-data-import-activities)
## Setting up your FTP Connection Settings
1. Go to the **Import** page
2. From the navigation tab, click **'FTP Settings'**
3. Click the **'Edit'** button
FTP Connection Settings
* FTP Access Status
* **Active**, *continuously fetch/download the files from the FTP*
* **Inactive**, *stops fetching /downloading the files from the FTP*
* FTP Server Protocol
* **FTP**, *relies on usernames and passwords for authentication*
* **SFTP**, *uses SSH keys for authentication, which are much more secure*
Selecting Protocol
* Server Host
* Server Port
* Server Username
* Server Password
* If **SFTP** is selected, add the **Private Key**
4. To check if the FTP is successfully connected, click the '**Test FTP Connection'** button.
5. Once the FTP is connected, click the **'Save Changes'** button.
Once you are done setting up your FTP connection, the next step is to add the files you want to fetch or retrieve from the FTP servers.
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## Define the filenames
Defining or nominating the filenames is required so that IAF CertSearch can retrieve your data from your server into the IAF CertSearch database.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Prerequisite**
Before defining the filenames, ensure that you have uploaded the files *which contain your* [*formatted data* ](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/certification-bodies/data-management/import-certification/certification-templates)into the FTP server.
{% endhint %}
1. In the FTP Settings page, go to the **FTP File Names** section
2. Click, the **'Add FTP Filenames'** button
3. In the Add FTP File Name modal, add the filenames you want to retrieve.
{% hint style="warning" %}
Make sure that your file names match the file names uploaded to your server.
{% endhint %}
* Supported characters for a filename are the following:
* Alphanumeric characters: A-z, a-z, 0-9
* Dashes (-)
* Underscores (\_)
* Spaces ( )
* Forward slash, for subfolders support (/)
* *example:* `cb_certs_1.xlm`, `cb_certs_2.xlsx`
4. If you want to add more than 1 filename, click the '**+ Add FTP Filename**' button
5. Once completed, click the **'Submit'** button
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## Fetch Files from FTP
Once the files are defined, you can either choose to:
* **Fetch the files right away**, which can be done by manually clicking the **'Fetch Files'** button
* **Fetch during the FTP crawl schedule** which starts at **UTC 01:00 am daily**.
#### Rules
* Any changes made to your file will be updated every 24 hours.
* If the file names do not match, the system will not upload the file.
* Fetching the files will be skipped if there is no filename in the FTP filename section.
***
## FTP Data Import Activities
Allows you to see all the FTP import activities.
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[^1]: Process of retrieving or downloading files from the FTP server
