Assistance Required for Automating File Upload to SFTP Server via AL Business Central

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Posted on by Rajaneesh H

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Hello Techis,

I need some guidance on automating the process of uploading a file to an SFTP server from AL Business Central. Currently, I’m able to generate the CSV file in a local folder, but I’m unsure how to proceed with the upload process.

Is it possible to automatically upload a file to an SFTP server using AL Business Central, either directly or through the Job Queue functionality?
If it is possible, could you provide a detailed explanation of how to implement this?
If it isn’t possible, could you suggest a workaround to achieve the same result? Thanks in advance for your help!

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Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Dynamics 365 Business Central migration

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Rishabh Kanaskar 4,202 on at

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Assistance Required for Automating File Upload to SFTP Server via AL Business Central

Hi,

No, AL does not support direct SFTP upload. Options:

> Power Automate: Trigger a flow from Business Central to upload the file to SFTP.
> Azure Function/API: Call it from AL using HttpClient to handle SFTP.
> .NET DLL (On-Prem only): Use SSH.NET via AL DotNet variable.

> For SaaS, Power Automate or Azure Function is the recommended approach.

Thanks

Rishabh

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Robert Jolliffe 883 on at

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Assistance Required for Automating File Upload to SFTP Server via AL Business Central

Hi,

SFTP is a way to upload a file to a server - usually used with EDI. There is no Native AL FTP library (meaning you have to do a LOT of coding).

You have a few choices here.

1) If you are downloading the file to a local folder, you can get some IT Network types to write a PowerShell or even a Command Shell script to use an FTP client to send the file and setup a schedule to run it. I've done this from a file server in the before times (before cloud) when I wanted to send files to an FTP/SFTP server on a schedule. You need to get the .CSV file to the file server/sharepoint for this to work. Might be 2 hours for someone who's done scripts (almost any Network Engineer).

2) You could have a programmer code an Azure Function that uses C# or another .NET language to create a FTP function(s) such that the .CSV file created in BC can be passed to this Azure Function FTP method(s) that were written and that would send the file. I'd estimate at least 20 hours for a competent programmer with all the testing but to be safe maybe 30+.

3) There are some FTP AppSource apps for BC that appear to do this. Evaluate them. I see one for $79/mo.

I hope that helps.

-Rob

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Aman Kakkar 436 on at

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Assistance Required for Automating File Upload to SFTP Server via AL Business Central

Hi,

You cannot connect Business Central directly to an SFTP server. However, you can use various middleware solutions to establish the connection between Business Central and the SFTP server.

The simplest and most efficient option is to use Azure Logic Apps. While there is a small pay-per-action cost, it greatly simplifies the overall development process.

You can refer to the following video tutorial — just replace the FTP triggers with SFTP triggers, and the setup will work seamlessly:
FTP with Business Central SAAS Azure Blob Storage - YouTube

High-level steps:

Generate a CSV file in Business Central and upload it to a container in Azure Blob Storage.

Create a Logic App that triggers whenever a file is added or modified in that Blob container.

In the Logic App, configure an SFTP connection and transfer the file from Blob Storage to the SFTP server.

Hope it helps.

Aman K

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Pallavi Phade 1,950 on at

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Assistance Required for Automating File Upload to SFTP Server via AL Business Central

Namaste @Rajaneesh H

It is not possbile directly as BCE is on cloud server . for one of customers we used power Automate flow and used premium license

This link would surely help you

https://demiliani.com/2021/12/07/dynamics-365-business-central-handling-files-via-ftp-on-saas/

You need Azure Blog Storage or One Drvie link some FTP folder with access

If you find this helped , Please mark as "Verified"

Regards

Pallavi Phade

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