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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Small and medium business | Business Central, N... / Unable to retrieve fil...
Small and medium business | Business Central, N...
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Unable to retrieve files from SFTP server's virtual paths/directories using Logic Apps

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Posted on by Aman Kakkar 1,079
Hi,
 
I have a requirement where I have to connect Business Central to SFTP server. I chose the logic app approach which worked fine till the time the directories were permanent. 
 
Now, they have switched the directories to be virtual. And now when I send any file, I am unable to get any response if my file is uploaded or not. Also, my files vanish as soon as the file reaches the virtual path. I do not get any error that says upload failed or anything, but I do not get the success message either.
 
I also made the connection via Filezilla and WinSCP, using them too I wasn't able to see neither any folder nor any files apart from the root folder.
 
Has anyone worked on virtual paths, if yes, am I missing anything?
 
Also, in my logic app, I have used Create File and List Files in Folders triggers in SFTP-SSH.
 
Any kind of help is welcome.
Categories:
Dynamics 365 Business Central migration
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
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  • Suggested answer
    OussamaSabbouh Profile Picture
    OussamaSabbouh 1,671 on at
    Unable to retrieve files from SFTP server's virtual paths/directories using Logic Apps
    Hello,

    It sounds like you've run into a classic SFTP virtual directory setup. What you're describing is very common and almost certainly isn't an issue with your Logic App but rather with how the SFTP server is configured.

    Here’s a quick summary of what's likely happening and what you can do.
    The "Write-Only" Drop Box
     
    The behavior you're seeing—where files upload but then "vanish" with no error or success message—is a strong indicator that the virtual directory is set up as a write-only "drop box".
    Think of it like a physical mailbox: you can drop a letter in, but you can't open the box to see if it's still there or look at the other letters.
    This is a common security feature. The SFTP server allows your user to upload (create) a file, but it intentionally denies permission to list, read, or see any files in that directory.
    This explains why:
    • Your Create File action sends the file, and the SFTP server accepts it, so there's no "failure" error.
    • Your file immediately "disappears" because your user account doesn't have the rights to see it after the upload.
    • The List Files in Folders trigger fails or returns nothing.
    • FTP clients like FileZilla and WinSCP can't see any files or folders either.
     
    What to Do Next
     
    Your Logic App is likely working correctly; the problem is a permissions mismatch. The solution involves talking to the people who manage the SFTP server.
    1. Contact the SFTP Administrator: Reach out to the team that manages the SFTP server. This is the most important step.
    2. Ask Them These Key Questions:
      • "Is the folder I'm uploading to a write-only or drop-box directory?"
      • "What specific permissions does my user account have for this virtual path?"
      • "Is there an alternative way to confirm a successful file upload? For example, does the server move the file and create a receipt or log file in another folder that I do have read access to?"
    Based on their answers, you can adjust your Logic App. You may need to remove the List Files in Folders step and rely on a different method they provide for confirmation. For instance, they might have a separate directory you can poll for success files.

    Regards,
    Oussama
  • Aman Kakkar Profile Picture
    Aman Kakkar 1,079 on at
    Unable to retrieve files from SFTP server's virtual paths/directories using Logic Apps
    Thanks @OussamaSabbouh for your response,
     
    Just a small reminder — if the answer was generated using AI, please mention that it’s AI-generated as per the community guidelines. 

    That said, I really appreciate your effort and the information you shared!
  • Verified answer
    Aman Kakkar Profile Picture
    Aman Kakkar 1,079 on at
    Unable to retrieve files from SFTP server's virtual paths/directories using Logic Apps
    Hi,
     
    I was able to solve my problem so answering it in the forum.

    Reading files via Logic Apps from an SFTP server isn’t supported when the paths are virtual. In such cases, Logic Apps cannot list or read files because the SFTP connector expects a physical directory structure.

    We had a similar situation — and switching to Azure Functions solved it.

    We can still upload files into virtual folders using Logic Apps, but we won’t be able to read or poll response files that appear in those virtual paths.

     

    Aman K

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