---
schema_version: "1"
id: bfe3cb6045d6bccf6b362bfde4fb6433e4546e25bc640106c69ab720f8637e17
title: FTP and File Drop Automation Example
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_as_ftp_and_triggered_automation_scenario.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_ftp_and_triggered_automation_scenario.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: caf9dafe281b2cf5386d987e7bc174cda5618f8a027c0bbbfa10bdd58ef1845d
description: In this use case, learn how to trigger an automation in Automation Studio by dropping a file in an FTP location.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# FTP and File Drop Automation Example

In this use case, learn how to trigger an automation in Automation Studio by dropping a file in an FTP location.

This high-level overview shows the key steps to set up a file drop automation. For more details on each step, such as how to create a file transfer activity, see the relevant topic links.

1. On your Enhanced SFTP site, create a directory inside the Import directory. For this example, the new directory name is NEWDR.
2. In Setup, create a file location for the new directory.
    
    - Name the file location and external key. For example, NEWDR File Location.
    - Select the **Relative location under FTP Site** type.
    - Enter the path to the new directory. In this example, it's Import\\NEWDR. Don't use a leading backslash (\\).
3. To import encrypted or compressed files, create a file transfer activity in Automation Studio. Otherwise, skip this step.
    
    - Select the **Manage File** transfer type.
    - Enter the file naming pattern. For example, %%BASEFILENAME\_FROM\_TRIGGER%%.
    - Select the source file location. In this example, it's NEWDR File Location.
4. Create a Data Copy or Import activity.
    
    - Select the new file location. In this example, it's NEWDR File Location.
    - Select File Location as your data source.
    - Enter the same file naming pattern that’s used in the file transfer activity, if applicable. In this example, it's %%BASEFILENAME\_FROM\_TRIGGER%%.txt.
5. Use the new activities to create a file drop automation.
    
    - Select the new directory as the trigger.
    - Add the file transfer activity to the first step.
    - Add the Data Copy or Import to the second step.
    - Save and activate the automation.

#### See Also

- [Set Up a Marketing Cloud Engagement Enhanced FTP or Safehouse File Location](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_overview_create_file_transfer_location.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Create a File Transfer Activity in Automation Studio](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_create_a_file_transfer_activity.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use the File Transfer Activity in Automation Studio to move, unzip, encrypt, or decrypt a file.")
- [Considerations When Importing a File](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_use_an_import_activity.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use an external file to update a subscriber list or data extension in Automation Studio. During the process, you also create an import definition to configure the Data Copy or Import (formerly Import File) activity’s behavior while running. The activity uses the import definition each time it runs.")
- [Configure a File Drop Automation](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_define_a_triggered_automation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Set up an automation in Marketing Cloud Engagement that starts when a file is uploaded to your Enhanced SFTP location.")