Overview

The purpose of this article is to detail the process of setting up an automated export of a traffic file to an FTP site.

Why is it useful?

• Upload traffic data to another application, reporting system or data warehouse.
• Automate and schedule uploads at regular intervals as new data is being collected.
• Easily integrate traffic data with different systems.
• Use SMS supplied FTP site or your very own for uploading.
• Receive the export by e-mail.

How to create an export

1. Login to T.M.A.S. (requires access to Administration section)
2. Expand Administration
3. Click Manage Locations
4. Click Import/Export Data
5. Click Add under Exports
6. Complete General Information
   • Label
   • Export Type
     • Traffic_Daily
     • Sensor_Traffic
       
   • Format - Currently CSV only
   • Status (Check to Enable / Disable job)
   • Destination - FTP or E-mail
   • File Name/Mask - Indicate the file name and if you would like the generation date to appear in the file name
   • Windows Style New Line [CR-LF] - Deactivate if you do NOT want carriage returns in the generated file
7. Click Next
8. Define a schedule
   • trigger - Daily / Hourly
   • Hour to start the export - Start time of file generation
9. Set the FTP settings (If FTP destination type was selected previously)
   • The user has the ability to use the default integrated SMS FTP provider or indicate their own private FTP account by bulleting the following option
     • FTP USE DEFAULT - (SMS BRICK FTP)
       1. Bullet Use Default - For SMS Provided FTP site
       2. Indicate an Existing FTP User or create a NEW FTP user for the SMS FTP Site
          • To "Create new Brick FTP Account" do the following
            1. Click the link to Create new BrickFTP Account
            2. Input the e-mail address you want associated to the account
            3. Click Add
               • The e-mail address will receive 2 e-mails (1st from Noreply@BrickFTP.com with the user name account setup and a link to verify the account, and a 2nd from NOREPLY@smssoftware.net with the accounts password)
       3. Verify / Update - FTP address path points to the Import folder or root by default.  (Optional) check off change default path and indicate a new path if other folders were created in the SMS FTP site. Note* This process will not create folders on the FTP, you would need to login separately to create these.
       4. Click Next
     • FTP CUSTOM - (USING YOUR OWN PRIVATE FTP)
       1. Bullet Custom for FTP
       2. Input the URL of the FTP address
       3. Indicate a port (Common ports are FTP=21, FTP/SSL(aka FTPS)=21 or 990, SFTP=22)
       4. Input username
       5. Input password
       6. Indicate file path
       7. Click Next

     • NOTE* - A connection test will be performed at the end of the 'add export' setup wizard - if the connection test fails, an error message will be displayed and the export job will NOT be added.

10. Indicate Columns Information
    • Traffic Interval to be displayed - determines traffic grouping for locations 
      • 15 Minutes (Note* - Requires counter interval to be 15min)
      • 30 Minutes (Note* - Requires counter interval to be 30min or less)
      • 1 hour
      • Daily
    • Columns Layout (Selections vary depending on Traffic interval selected)
      • 15min, 30min or 1 hour output selections are as follows
        
      • Daily output selections
        
    • Check business hours if you would like export to only contain business hours currently configured in T.M.A.S.
11. Click Save
12. Test the export by clicking on the Run on demand icon, then login to the FTP and verify that the file has been received.  (Note* could take a couple minutes for generation depending on the number of locations in the export)

How to Edit, Delete or Run an export on demand

1. Check off the export line - additional options will appear
2. Click the button which responds to the what you would like to do
   •  Edit will open the previously configured Export and allow changes to be made and saved such as change the scheduled timing
   • Delete will remove the export job after responding Yes to the confirmation window
   • Run Now - will launch the export job prior to the next scheduled run time. Once clicked, a confirmation message will be shown to indicate it has been run successfully.  Allow a couple minutes after clicking the run now for the export to be generated and uploaded to the FTP site.

Export setting sample files

Other ways of exporting traffic data

SMS has custom exports which can be configured upon request to Techsupport@storetraffic.com for the following POS systems.