---
schema_version: "1"
id: b654a93283cb359e199203a333aa2ea8b635579501a2eadb92bdebcb9188534a
title: Filename Patterns Reference
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_as_filename_patterns_reference.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_filename_patterns_reference.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 132d828c67ea279bea160786eeafe93b11b519829e000175c366e317f7718a12
description: Review these guidelines for the design of a file naming pattern in Automation Studio.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Filename Patterns Reference

Review these guidelines for the design of a file naming pattern in Automation Studio.

You can use filename patterns to set up a file drop automation. These patterns let you designate a naming convention for files dropped into the Enhanced FTP's Import or Triggered\_Automations folders tied to an automation. When you add a file to this folder, Automation Studio reads the filename and runs the corresponding automation.

When you set up a filename pattern, select an operator to dictate how Automation Studio parses the filename. The available operators are **Contains**, **Begins With**, and **Ends With**.

![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 Don’t include a file extension or wildcards (such as \*, %, %%YEAR%%) in the filename pattern.

![Example](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_example.png)

Example

Use **Contains** to look for files whose filename includes the filename pattern before the file extension.

For example, if Filename pattern contains AUG14:

- Files named AUG14import.csv, Update\_AUG14.txt, and NewContactsAUG14profileupdates.zip start this automation.
- Files named AUG\_14data.csv, CustomerFiles.AUG14, and DailyJob-Aug-14.txt don’t trigger this automation.

![Example](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_example.png)

Example

Use **Begins With** to look for files whose filename starts with the filename pattern.

For example, if Filename pattern begins with AUG14:

- Files named AUG14import.csv, aug14files.zip, and Aug14098786.txt trigger this automation.
- Files named 1AUG14data.csv, 120814\_AUG14.zip, and \_AUG14.txt don’t trigger this automation.

![Example](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_example.png)

Example

Use **Ends With** to look for files whose filename ends with the filename pattern before the file extension.

For example, if Filename pattern ends with AUG14:

- Files named ImportAUG14.csv, aug14\_listpull\_aug14.zip, and usersAug14.txt trigger this automation.
- Files named datapullAUG14\_01.csv, listinfoAUG14.run.txt, and Aug14\_.zip don’t trigger this automation.