Directory Monitor

Directory Monitor is a windows service which tracks folder changes, such as file creation, removal, modification or renaming.

• Multiple locations can be monitored
• Network shares can be monitored using the UNC path
• Automatically performs user-defined tasks and actions.

Directory Monitor is automatically installed during setup but not configured.

It can be also installed using the command line

To install the Directory Monitor as a service run the following command:

• aetldirectorymonitor.exe /INSTALL (for Advanced ETL Processor)
• vimpdirectorymonitor.exe /INSTALL (for Visual Importer ETL)

If the Monitor is already installed it must be uninstalled first 

To uninstall the Monitor as a Windows service you must run the Monitor with the /UNINSTALL switch as follows

• aetldirectorymonitor.exe /UNINSTALL (for Advanced ETL Processor)
• vimpdirectorymonitor.exe /UNINSTALL (for Visual Importer ETL)

The commands above must be executed as administrator (elevated).

It is recommended to run Directory Monitor using the same user used to design packages/transformations/sql scripts.

• Open windows services
• Find Directory Monitor in the list
• Double click on it
• Dialog box will appear
• Set startup time to automatic
• Change username
• Start the service

1. Make sure that the monitor service is up and running
2. Make sure that the monitor service is using the appropriate username and user
3. Make sure that the user has access to directories monitored
4. Make sure that the monitor is enabled on the maintenance tab
5. Make sure that the directory is enabled on the Event monitors tab
6. Make sure that the execution agent is configured properly

<Monitor ID>
<Directory Monitor File Name>

• Directory Monitor is only available with Enterprise Version.
• Do not use mapped drives, use UNC path instead.
• “Wait until the file is ready” only works for file creation.
• What if you have 1000+ files copied into the directory? The directory monitor will fire a trigger for every single file

The solution to this problem is to use a trigger file. Eg you copy 1000+ files into the directory and copy the last file called trigger.txt. Set monitor mask to trigger.txt. Monitor fires only once. The package moves files into the different directories (with a timestamp) and processes the files one by one.

• Advanced ETL Processor Professional and Enterprise Documentation
• Visual Importer ETL Professional and Enterprise Documentation