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# Collect files from cloud folders into Mammoth

> Set up a File Collection automation to bring files from Dropbox, Google Drive, SFTP, SharePoint, OneDrive, IMAP email or GCS into a Mammoth folder.

A File Collection automation collects files from folders in Dropbox, Google Cloud Storage, Google Drive, Email (IMAP), SFTP, SharePoint or OneDrive into a folder in Mammoth, on a schedule or when you run it. Create one from **Automations** > **New automation** > **File Collection**, or choose **Collect external files into this folder** on a folder's menu. It is a plan feature, and your plan can also limit how often it runs.

## When to use File Collection

- Pull files that partners or systems drop into cloud storage into Mammoth without manual downloads.
- Feed a folder that a [Data Consolidation](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/consolidate/) automation watches, so collected files are merged into one dataset.

Datasets saved once from a file connector can't be refreshed by Dataset Refresh. File Collection followed by Data Consolidation is how you keep bringing in new files from those sources.

## Before you start

- Your plan must include File Collection. If it doesn't, the **File Collection** card shows a plan pill. See [What you see when your plan doesn't include a type](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/#what-you-see-when-your-plan-doesnt-include-a-type).
- Your project role needs the **Create/manage orchestration flows** permission.
- You need a saved connection to the cloud platform, or the details to connect a new one. See [Manage saved connections](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/get-data-in/connections/).

## Set up a File Collection automation

The wizard has four steps: **Select source**, **Select destination**, **Set Schedule** and **Review & save**.

### Choose the cloud folders to collect from

The **Select source** step reads "Choose the cloud folder(s) to monitor and collect files from."

1. Click **Select Cloud Source**. The **Select Cloud Platform** window opens.
2. Pick a platform: **Dropbox**, **Google Cloud Storage**, **Google Drive**, **Email (IMAP)**, **SFTP**, **SharePoint** or **OneDrive**.
3. Choose a saved connection for that platform, or connect a new one.
4. On **Select Folders**, tick the folders to collect from.

Each source appears as a card with its folder. On the card:

| Option | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Switch** | Picks a different platform or folder for this source |
| **Settings** (pencil) | Opens the file options below for this source. Click **Done** to close them |
| **Include subfolders** | Also collects files from folders inside the ones you picked |
| **Only collect files matching a name pattern** | Collects only files whose name **Starts with**, **Ends with**, **Contains** or **Matches exactly** the text you type (for example `Sales`) |
| **Case sensitive** | Makes the name pattern match upper and lower case exactly |
| Close (X) | Removes this source |

To collect from more than one folder or platform, click **Add more**. One automation can have several sources.

### Choose the Mammoth folder for collected files

1. In the **Select destination** step ("Choose a folder inside Mammoth where collected files will be stored."), click **Select folder**.
2. Choose the folder inside Mammoth where collected files are stored. Click **Switch** to change it.

If you start the automation from a folder's menu (**Collect external files into this folder**), that folder is already filled in. The first step then shows "Collected files will be stored in" followed by the folder name.

If the chosen folder was deleted, the step asks you to pick another: "Please select a new folder to continue."

### Schedule the collection

In the **Set Schedule** step, choose **On schedule** or **Manual only**. For **On schedule**, pick the unit, **Repeat every**, **First run** and an optional **End date**. Your plan can limit how often a File Collection runs. See [Schedules and triggers](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/schedules-and-triggers/).

A File Collection runs on its schedule, or manually with **Run now**.

### Review and save the collection

On **Review & save**, name the automation, add an optional description, check the summary and click **Save automation**. See [Name the automation and save it](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/create/#name-the-automation-and-save-it).

## Combine collected files into one dataset

1. Set up the File Collection with a Mammoth folder as its destination.
2. Set up a [Data Consolidation](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/consolidate/) automation that watches that folder and adds its files to a dataset.

In the watched folder's toolbar, the File Collection has its own box with **Brings in** and **Last run**. When a collected file doesn't go into the destination dataset, only the Data Consolidation automation's owner is told, because nobody added the file by hand. See [Who is told when a file doesn't go in](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/watched-folder-files/#who-is-told-when-a-file-doesnt-go-in).

## Edit a File Collection

Open the automation and click **Edit**. Under **CONFIGURATION** you can change the sources, the destination folder and the schedule. See [Manage automations](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/manage/#edit-an-automation).

While a File Collection runs, Monitor's **Running** tab lists it as **File Collection** (a cloud storage file retrieval run), with captions such as *12 file(s) collected*. See [Monitor running and failing work](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/monitor/#see-what-is-running-now).

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "Please select a new folder to continue." | The destination folder was deleted | Pick another folder with **Select folder** |
| Saving fails with "Following frequency not allowed in your plan, please upgrade the plan" | The schedule is more frequent than your plan allows | Pick a coarser unit |
| A scheduled run was skipped | After a plan change, the saved schedule is more frequent than the plan allows | Edit the schedule to a unit your plan allows |
| The **File Collection** card opens an upgrade window or "Contact Owner to Upgrade" | Your plan doesn't include File Collection | Ask the workspace owner to change the plan |
| Some files weren't collected | A name pattern or **Case sensitive** excluded them, or they are in subfolders without **Include subfolders** | Open the source card's **Settings** and adjust the options |

## Related

- [Combine incoming data](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/consolidate/): add collected files to one dataset.
- [Schedules and triggers](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/schedules-and-triggers/): schedule options and plan limits.
- [Create an automation](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/create/): the steps every type shares.
- [Manage saved connections](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/get-data-in/connections/): the cloud connections File Collection uses.
- [Folders and folder rules](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/organise/folders/): the Mammoth folders that receive collected files.

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Source: https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/automate/collect-files.md · Updated: 2026-11-08