---
schema_version: "1"
id: 85c1289ab2a88fd529f2641e6083a65f0bcf13363afb8b848cb4b9bb757a81a5
title: Manage a File with the File Transfer Activity in Automation Studio
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_as_file_management_with_the_file_transfer_activity.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_file_management_with_the_file_transfer_activity.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 593a344f730b297424bbb6fee4be63dcf51e6e3e12c7ab9dce82356ddc60d81f
description: In Automation Studio, unzipped or decrypted files using file transfer are typically named according to a filename pattern. If the file you’re unzipping or decrypting resulted from a data extract activity, the file name pattern must match the data extract pattern.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Manage a File with the File Transfer Activity in Automation Studio

In Automation Studio, unzipped or decrypted files using file transfer are typically named according to a filename pattern. If the file you’re unzipping or decrypting resulted from a data extract activity, the file name pattern must match the data extract pattern.

1. In Automation Studio, complete the fields on the Configuration page.
    
    <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
            <colgroup>
              <col style="width:50%">
              <col style="width:50%">
            </colgroup>
            <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
              <tr class="">
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d37130e45">Checkbox</th>
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d37130e48">Information</th>
              </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Checkbox" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d37130e45 ">File Naming Pattern</td>

                <td data-label="Information" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d37130e48 ">
                  <p>The name or naming pattern of the file. You can enter a static name or you can
                    include placeholders for the date. Use these personalization strings for file naming. </p>
                  <ul>
                    <li>%%Year%%</li>
                    <li>%%Month%%</li>
                    <li>%%Day%%</li>
                    <li>%%Hour%%</li>
                    <li>%%Minute%%</li>
                    <li>%%Second%%</li>
                  </ul>
                  <div class="slds-box slds-box_x-small slds-theme_shade slds-m-top_medium slds-m-bottom_medium">
                    <div class="slds-media slds-media_responsive">
                      <div class="slds-media__figure"><span class="slds-icon_container slds-icon_container_circle slds-icon-note-warning"><img style="margin-bottom:0;" src="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_important.png" alt="Important"></span></div>
                      <div class="slds-media__body" style="padding-top:.5rem;padding-bottom:.5rem;"><span class="slds-text-title_caps">Important</span> If you use the %%Second%% and %%Minute%% personalization
                        strings, a File Not Found error can occur. The error is a result of the extended time
                        required to process those strings.</div>
                    </div>
                  </div>
                </td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Checkbox" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d37130e45 ">Use local time zone setting</td>

                <td data-label="Information" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d37130e48 ">Select if you want the activity to match the date and time personalization strings
                  to the same time zone of the activity creator. The activity compares the values to the
                  current Central Standard Time by default. The timestamp for the resulting file isn’t
                  updated, the checkbox only adjusts the time-frame the File Transfer looks for.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Checkbox" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d37130e45 ">Source File Location</td>

                <td data-label="Information" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d37130e48 ">The location where the system can find the file.</td>

              </tr>
            </tbody>
          </table>
    
    ![Tip](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_tip.png)
    
    Tip Use these file types for each transfer activity:
    
    - Unzip compressed file: .zip .gz .tar
    - Decrypt file .pgp .gpg
    - Move: No validation for filename extension.
2. Select unzip and decryption actions according to the storage method in the file.
    
    ![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 This activity outputs the unzipped, decrypted version of the target file to the import folder.
    
    ![Important](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_important.png)
    
    Important We don't support Deflate64 as a compression method. Use Zip64 instead.
3. Set qualifications to skip or fail a file. These qualifications don't apply if your File Naming Pattern includes these substitution strings: %%BASEFILENAME\_FROM\_TRIGGER %% %%FILENAME\_FROM\_TRIGGER\_BASE%%.
    
    ![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 Automation Studio examines the modified date of the file as reported by the FTP Server in the selected File Transfer Location. If the difference between the modified date and the current system time is greater than the specified hours, the file transfer activity errors.
4. Click **Next**.