SFMC FTP Delete is not working

Question

Cannot seem to delete files from the SFTP in Automation Studio. It returns success but doesn't delete.

Step 0) Transfer file hello_world_2021-05-27T17-06-19Z.csv to sftp import folder.

Create Automation with the following:

Step 1) Create File Drop for files which start with hello_world_

Step 2) Import into DE

Step 3) Delete file from Import folder with Data Extract Filenaming Pattern: %%BASEFILENAME_FROM_TRIGGER%%.csv Extract Type: Delete File from ET FTP or Safehouse

FTP Folder: Import Input Filename: %%BASEFILENAME_FROM_TRIGGER%%.csv (to match naming pattern above)

Alternate Test:

Open SFTP via terminal.

1. cd Import
2. rm hello_world_2021-05-27T17-06-19Z.csv

Result:

Removing /import/hello_world_2021-05-27T17-06-19Z.csv
Couldn't delete file: No such file or directory

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Any insight into why I can't delete files from the SFTP would be appreciated, thank you.

Edit: If i write a manual filename in and execute the activity once, it will delete. It's when i try to use substitute strings that it doesn't work. Can anyone else confirm that they have this working? Thanks.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, you cannot use the usual Substitution string in Data Extract activity. Remember that those Substitution strings are applicable only in Import and File Transfer activities.

To dynamically select a file in Data Extract, you can add some Date and Time Substitution Strings like:

• %%Year%%: four-digit year
• %%Month%%: two-digit month
• %%Day%%: two-digit day
• %%Hour%%: two-digit hour
• %%Minute%%: two-digit minute
• %%Second%%: two-digit second

For example - hello_world_%%Year%%-%%Month%%-%%Day%%.csv - probably it is not good to add lesser time parts since Data Extract will always need to match the current time and date to the numbers in the file name.