An FTP Client is software that is designed to transfer files between two computers over the Internet. It needs to be installed on your computer and can only be used with a live connection to the Internet.

You can use an FTP client to transfer files such as inventory or shipping data to the ChannelAdvisor software.  While any FTP program will work, the following instructions apply to Filezilla, a free FTP solution available for download from here.

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with the following topics before continuing:

• Configuring your FTP Push Settings

Instructions for Using Filezilla

1. Install Filezilla if you have not already done so. You can download this free software by Clicking here. 
2. In Filezilla, browse to File > Site Manager and create a New Site.

• On the General Tab, complete the following as shown:

  • Host Name = ftp.ChannelAdvisor.com. 
    

  • User = ChannelAdvisor FTP Login Prefix:User name

    • Your Login Prefix is entered in ChannelAdvisor Complete under Inventory > Settings > FTP Settings. If you have not already created a login prefix under Inventory > Settings > FTP Settings you can make it anything you want but there is a 6 character maximum. Once you enter this login prefix just click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

    • Example: If you create your login prefix as "abc123" and your ChannelAdvisor login is test@ChannelAdvisor.com, then your FTP user would be abc123:test@ChannelAdvisor.com

  • Password = Your ChannelAdvisor Complete password.

  On the Transfer Settings Tab, select Active mode.  For Comparison Shopping feeds the Transfer Settings Tab should be set to Passive.

3. Then click Connect to return to the main FTP interface.
4. On one side of the screen will be your local computer, referred to as the Local Site.  The other side will show the Remote Site (the ChannelAdvisor server.)
5. Drag and drop the files you wish to upload from the Local Site browser to the Remote Site browser.

• The folder you upload to depends on the type of file that you're sending.
• For Images, copy the image files to the root of the Remote Site.  Do not include folders or directories from the local site as they will not transfer correctly.  For more information about FTPing Images, see Uploading Images.
• Inventory Upload files should be transferred into either the Inventory or the Inventory/Transform folders, depending on the use of a template.  See Configuring an Inventory FTP Push.
• Bulk Action uploads can be transferred to the BulkAction folder on the Remote Site.
• Shipping/Tracking Information can be uploaded to the Orders folder on the Remote Site.