Upload files to SFTP as part of your automated tests
Many modern applications rely on file transfers behind the scenes. Reports are exported to SFTP servers, invoices are generated for finance teams, product feeds are sent to partners, and batch jobs are triggered by the presence of a file in a specific directory.
The Upload to SFTP step allows you to programmatically upload files to an SFTP server directly from within your automation flow. This means you can test integrations, background processes, and partner workflows without leaving DoesQA.
Instead of manually preparing files or relying on external scripts, your test can generate, upload, and validate files in a single controlled flow.
Test real file-based integrations
SFTP is still widely used for:
Financial exports
Product catalogue feeds
Settlement reports
Data warehouse imports
Third-party integrations
Secure file exchange between systems
With this step, you can simulate exactly what your system would do in production. You can:
Upload files to a target directory
Use dynamic file names
Pass values from earlier steps
Validate downstream processing
This ensures your file-based integrations work exactly as expected.
Generate files dynamically inside your test
The real power of Upload to SFTP comes when paired with other DoesQA steps.
You can:
Use the Generate Image step to create an image and upload it
Generate a file programmatically before uploading
Upload the last downloaded file from a previous step
Build file names dynamically using stored values
This allows fully automated workflows such as:
Generate a PDF or image
Upload it to SFTP
Trigger processing on the receiving system
Validate the outcome
All within one continuous flow.
Validate SFTP behaviour end to end
Uploading a file is often just the first step. You can combine this with other SFTP validation steps to create robust integration tests.
For example:
Upload to SFTP
Check SFTP File Exists
Check SFTP File Does Not Exist
Check SFTP File Count
This allows you to:
Confirm the file arrived successfully
Validate cleanup processes
Ensure duplicate files are not created
Verify the correct number of files is present
You are not just testing the upload, but the entire lifecycle around it.
Reduce manual coordination and environment risk
Without automation, SFTP testing often involves:
Manually creating files
Logging into servers
Checking directories by hand
Coordinating across teams
With this step, you can automate the full process. That means:
No manual file preparation
No repeated manual checks
No guesswork about what was uploaded
Cleaner and more predictable integration testing
Because this is built into your automated flow, it works consistently across environments and can be triggered via CI/CD or scheduling.
Build confidence in critical backend workflows
Many critical systems depend on file transfers. If an upload fails, customers may not receive invoices, partners may not receive data, or reports may break.
By using Upload to SFTP inside your DoesQA flows, you ensure:
Secure file transfers are working
Backend systems react correctly
File naming conventions are respected
Downstream processing is triggered as expected
This turns a traditionally manual and fragile process into a reliable, repeatable test.
When file transfers matter to your business, this step gives you the control and confidence to validate them properly.