---
schema_version: "1"
id: 0bf5de8923b8ab314591a765678020e019ad94484ff18d2b43b9a71273d7046e
title: Configure a File Drop Automation
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_as_define_a_triggered_automation.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_define_a_triggered_automation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 669c5c72509c9c222ed8cfd52f08577536a1b39f37ffb437b56ba4507d598612
description: Set up an automation in Marketing Cloud Engagement that starts when a file is uploaded to your Enhanced SFTP location.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Configure a File Drop Automation

Set up an automation in Marketing Cloud Engagement that starts when a file is uploaded to your Enhanced SFTP location.

1. Click **New Automation**.
2. Select **File Drop**.
3. Click **Configure**.
4. Choose whether to use a file name pattern for the trigger.
    
    - If you’re using a file name pattern, select an operator and provide text for the pattern. Don’t include a file extension. If you select **Contains**, Automation Studio reads all files dropped into the Import or Triggered\_Automations directories in the Enhanced SFTP location.
    - If you select **No Filename Pattern**, assign a directory as a trigger for one automation at a time. You can use the Import or Triggered\_Automations directory, or a subdirectory of one of these folders, as the assigned directory.
    
    When a dropped file matches more than one active trigger, Automation Studio randomly selects one trigger. Alternatively, to make sure that your trigger is selected, use subdirectories when you select file name pattern matching.
5. If you want Automation Studio to ignore new requests that occur when an automation is running, turn off queuing.
    
    ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_note.png)
    
    Note If you pause or deactivate a File Drop Automation, any queued instances of the automation that have a status of QueuedFile retain that status permanently.
6. Select the directory for the system to watch. When a file is dropped in this folder, the automation starts.
7. Click **Done**.
8. Drag an activity onto the canvas.
9. To view all activities of the selected type, click **Choose**.
    
    All existing configured activities of that type appear. You can sort the columns or search by keyword, name, or external key. To see a summary, click an activity.
10. Select an activity or create one.
11. Add and configure more activities as needed.
12. Save and activate the automation.
13. To receive notifications about automation success or failure, on the Activity tab, select **Notification Settings** and enter an email address.

If you edit an active automation or the activities in it, all running instances of the automation are stopped. Future runs of the automation are paused until all activities are defined and saved.

#### See Also

- [Filename Patterns Reference](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_filename_patterns_reference.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Review these guidelines for the design of a file naming pattern in Automation Studio.")