FTP delete

This scheduled task type allows deleting files and folders via FTP, FTPS or SFTP protocol.

Remote dir
Remote directory to delete files. If a subdirectory of this directory becomes empty after removal of the files, it is also removed. The directory must include protocol type, server address and path. Optionally, it can include user name and password, and port number. For example,

ftp://example.com/Documents – This specifies the FTP protocol and the Documents directory under the user’s home directory.
ftp://example.com:221/Documents – This specifies the FTP protocol, FTP server’s port 221, and the Documents directory under the user’s home directory.
ftps://user:password@example.com/Documents – This specifies the FTPS protocol, user name and password, and the Documents directory under the user’s home directory.
sftp://user:password@example.com/etc/issue – This specifies the SFTP protocol, user name and password, and /etc/issue directory.
sftp://user@example.com/~/Documents/ – This specifies the SFTP protocol, user name, and the Documents directory under the user’s home directory.

Include files
One or more file names separated by semicolon. Wildcards ("*" and "?") are accepted. Since wildcard characters normally match directory separators ("\"), this option may be used to include any files that are in subdirectories. For example,

"1.txt" - include 1.txt file only
"sf\1.txt" - include 1.txt file from "sf" subdirectory only
"*.txt" - include .txt files from all subdirectories
"sf\*.txt" - include .txt files from "sf" and all its subdirectories
"*\*.txt" - include .txt files from all subdirectories (not from main directory)

Exclude files
One or more file names separated by semicolon. Wildcards ("*" and "?") are accepted. Since wildcard characters normally match directory separators ("\"), this option may be used to exclude any files that are in subdirectories. For example,

"1.txt" - exclude 1.txt file only
"s\1.txt" - exclude 1.txt file from "sf" subdirectory only
"*.txt" - exclude .txt files from all subdirectories
"s\f*.txt" - exclude .txt files from "sf" and all its subdirectories
"*\*.*" - exclude all subdirectories

Notes:

• To delete a single file, specify its remote and local folders, then specify its file name separately, in the Include files filed.
• To delete files without recursing down directories in the file system, specify "*\*.*" in the Exclude files field.

Remote file
Remote file name and path to delete from the FTP server. The file name and path must include protocol type, server address and path. Optionally, it can include user name and password, and port number.

Implicit FTPS and Explicit FTPS
The implicit way is when you use ftps:// in your URL. Security is enabled with SSL as soon as the connection starts. The default FTPS port is 990.
The explicit way of doing FTPS (FTPES) is to keep using an ftp:// URL, but enable the SSL/TLS option to upgrade the connection into a secure one using the AUTH TLS FTP command.

Passive
Use passive mode like WWW browsers.

SSL/TLS
Use FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPES)

Force UTF8 for file names
Use UTF8 file names even if UTF8 is not enabled on the server. This option is useful if your FTP server understands UTF8 encoded file names but does not report that it has UTF8 support.

FTP servers: Advanced Task Scheduler detects UTF8 support in the following way:
If the FEAT command reports UTF8 support, it sends the “OPTS UTF8 ON” command and assumes that UTF8 is enabled.
If the FEAT command does not report UTF8 support, it sends the “OPTS UTF8 ON” command and assumes that UTF8 is enabled only if server reports a success code.

SFTP servers: Version 10 and later: SFTP always use UTF8 as filename encoding.

FTP authentication
Use FTP authentication or SFTP Public key or SSL Certificate and Private key in pem format. Read more here: Public key and Certificate authentication.

Tunneling proxy
Use tunneling proxy.

FTP timeout
Version 10 and later: Timeout of the operation, in seconds.

Returning codes
Error code: Error code of starting the command
Exit code: Number of files deleted

Related Articles
Automate FTP transfers with Advanced Task Scheduler
Public key and Certificate authentication

Categories: Manual, Shortcut type