Server Setup
Make sure you have the following information ready:
- Server address and credentials — the hostname or IP address, username, and password or SSH key for your SFTP server (skip this if you plan to use eCourtDate's Managed Infrastructure option — the simplest path for agencies that don't operate their own SFTP server)
- Directory to monitor — the folder path on the remote server where your case management system places export files
- An Upload Template — determines how file columns map to eCourtDate fields (you can create one during setup)
Setting up SFTP is a three-step process: create a server connection, create one or more SFTP Profiles, and enable Auto-Sync.
Step 1 -- Create a Server
Navigate to Console > SFTPs > Add Server and choose one of the three server types below.
SFTP Server
Connect to an existing SFTP server that your agency manages.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Server Name | A friendly label for this connection. |
| Host / IP | The hostname or IP address of the SFTP server. |
| Username | The login username on the remote server. |
| Password or SSH Private Key | Provide either a password or paste the contents of your SSH private key. See Authentication for key setup. |
| Port | The SSH port. Default: 22. |
| Timeout | Connection timeout in seconds. Default: 10. |
| Directory | The root directory on the remote server to monitor. |
S3 Bucket
Connect to an Amazon S3-compatible storage bucket.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| S3 Host | The S3 endpoint (e.g., s3.amazonaws.com). |
| Bucket Name | The name of the S3 bucket. |
| Region | The AWS region where the bucket is hosted (e.g., us-east-1). |
| Access Key | The IAM access key ID. |
| Secret Key | The IAM secret access key. |
| Path | An optional prefix/path within the bucket to monitor. |
The IAM user or role must have the following permissions on the bucket:
s3:ListBuckets3:GetObjects3:PutObjects3:DeleteObject(optional -- required only if Delete File After Upload is enabled)
Managed Infrastructure
eCourtDate provisions a dedicated SFTP server hosted on AWS GovCloud on behalf of your agency. This option is ideal for agencies that do not operate their own SFTP infrastructure.
Note: Allow 1 business day for the eCourtDate team to complete provisioning after you submit a Managed Infrastructure request.
Step 2 -- Create an SFTP Profile
After the server is created, add one or more SFTP Profiles to define how files are discovered and processed.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Source Directory | The directory on the remote server to monitor for new files. |
| Upload Template | The Upload Template that maps file columns to eCourtDate fields. |
| Filename Keyword | An include filter. Only files whose name contains this keyword are picked up by this profile. |
| Blockword | An exclude filter. Files whose name contains this word are skipped. |
| Max Files per Upload | The maximum number of files to process in a single sync cycle. |
| Delete File After Upload | When enabled, the source file is removed from the remote server after successful processing. |
You can create multiple profiles per server to route different file types to different Upload Templates. See Directory Structure for recommended layouts.
Step 3 -- Enable Auto-Sync
Toggle Auto-Sync Enabled on the server record. When enabled, eCourtDate checks the remote server once per hour for new files that match your SFTP Profile criteria.
After enabling Auto-Sync:
- Upload a test file to the source directory.
- Wait for the next sync cycle (up to one hour).
- Verify the file appears in the Files list on the server detail page in the Console.
- Check the corresponding Upload for processing results.
See Auto-Sync & Downloads for recommended scheduling practices.
Need help? Contact the eCourtDate team at help@ecourtdate.com.