As one of the most popular ERP systems in the world, NetSuite offers numerous high-end applications and tools suitable for a variety of industries, including finance. However, getting files from NetSuite into a SharePoint site can be a challenge. NetSuite doesn't have a direct connector to SharePoint, so you'll need to get the files out of NetSuite in a different way. 

The recommended method is using SFTP to transfer the files to another location first, and then from that location to SharePoint. This involves setting up and configuring the NetSuite SFTP SuiteApp to send files via SFTP. Then you'll also need a way to SFTP to SharePoint, something Couchdrop or other third-party apps can handle.

Connecting the SFTP Connector SuiteApp

Before transferring the files to SharePoint, you'll need to set up an SFTP connection. To do this, you'll need to install the SFTP Connector Suite App from NetSuite. 

You'll need to check some settings before you can use the SFTP Connector. First, make sure you have the following features enabled in your account: 

  • File Cabinet
  • Custom Records
  • Client SuiteScript
  • Server SuiteScript

If any of these features aren't currently enabled, you'll need to enable them using an account with appropriate permissions before you can set up an SFTP connection. 

Installing and configuring the SFTP Connector SuiteApp

Once you have the features enabled, install the SFTP Connector SuiteApp. Currently, this SuiteApp is not managed, meaning that you'll need to manually download updates to the app if you wish to update it. 

To install the connector, go to SuiteApps and then find the SFTP Connector SuiteApp. Once installed, you'll need to create folders you want to use with the connector and create an outbound SFTP connection. 

Creating SFTP Connector folders

After connecting the SFTP server, the next step is to specify the folders with the files you want to send to SharePoint. To do this, use NetSuite File Cabinet to create a folder for the SFTP Connector by following these steps:

  1. In NetSuite File Cabinet, go to Documents > File > File Cabinet > New.
  2. In the Folder Name field, enter a name for the folder to be used by the SFTP Connector SuiteApp.
  3. Choose any information to add for the optional fields.
  4. Click Save. The folder that you created is now displayed in the File Cabinet Folders list.

Repeat this process to create additional folders. 

Setting up an Outbound SFTP connection

Once you've configured folders to use for the SFTP connection, you need to set up an Outbound SFTP Connection. 

In the SFTP Connector, start by choosing SFTP > SFTP Records > Outbound Configurations. Enter the details of your SFTP server, then go to the Outbound Mapping tab. 

In the Outbound Mapping tab, fill out the following information: 

  • SFTP – Folder Mapping Name: Enter the name of a folder mapping.
  • NS Folder ID – For Processing – Enter the Internal ID* of the file cabinet folder that has unprocessed files for SFTP file transfer
  • NS Folder ID – Processed – Enter the Internal ID of the file cabinet folder that has processed files by SFTP Connector.
  • Bank Folder – Enter the path of a folder you want to transfer files to. You can leave this blank to transfer files to the root folder of the SFTP server. When using Couchdrop, you can use your virtual SharePoint folder here for a direct transfer into SharePoint, which will cover later on. 

*If you can't see Internal IDs in the file cabinet, they may need to be enabled at Home > Set Preferences > Show Internal IDS

Test the connection. You'll need to establish a successful connection before you can save your configuration.

Next, you need to specify if you want to transfer files manually or on a schedule.

Specifying manual or scheduled transfers

When you have a saved Outbound Configuration, you can then choose to manually send files or to set up a transfer schedule. One important thing to keep in mind is that NetSuite requires you to transfer all files in the folder, meaning you can't specify specific files to move. 

For manual transfers, navigate to the configured Outbound Configuration, click View > Outbound-Manual > Transmit Files.  

For scheduled transfers, navigate to the configured Outbound Configuration and click View >Outbound-Schedule. A script deployment page will appear where you can set a transfer schedule using a Script Record. 

SFTP from Netsuite to SharePoint

Once you have a successful connection set up and the files have been saved to a remote location, the next step is getting those files into a SharePoint site. The main problem here is connectivity. SharePoint doesn't have an SFTP connection, so you'll need to configure that connection another way. 

Depending on your technical skills, there are several ways you can make this connection. For example, one method that stays within the Microsoft Ecosystem is moving files from SFTP to SharePoint using Power Automate. While technically possible, this method has some caveats and requires you to save NetSuite files to a separate SFTP server first. It also has several limitations and any automations would need to be built out manually. 

Often, organizations choose to use a third-party tool for SFTP to SharePoint. Like with Power Automate automations, most third-party solutions still require using an SFTP server for temporary storage, then transferring the files from that server into SharePoint.

However, you can bypass this temporary storage completely by using Couchdrop. 

Using Couchdrop for NetSuite to SharePoint transfers

One of the main benefits of Couchdrop is that it lets you connect your existing cloud storage platforms and directly transfer files between them. And, because Couchdrop deploys a fully-functional SFTP server automatically at signup, you can use your Couchdrop connection details to directly transfer files from NetSuite to SharePoint. 

There are two things you’ll need to do to connect NetSuite to SharePoint. First, you need to set up the NetSuite Connector as shown above. Next, you’ll need to add SharePoint to Couchdrop, which you can do in minutes either with delegated access using OAUTH or via application access. Here, you can specify a specific folder for your connection, such as a NetSuite folder that connects to a folder in a specific document library in a SharePoint site. The connection will use this folder as its root. 

Once you've configured the SharePoint integration that goes to your target folder, that folder will appear in the virtual file system in Couchdrop. Next, create an external user in Couchdrop and isolate the user to the virtual folder, and be sure to check that SFTP connections are enabled. For this scenario, we'll call this user netsuite_sftp.

Connecting NetSuite to SharePoint

In NetSuite, you can use the new user to establish your SFTP connection in the SFTP Connector SuiteApp. For your Outbound Connection, simply use the new user's credentials in your SFTP configuration, in this case nestuite_sftp. 

Because this user is isolated to the SharePoint folder (The NetSuite folder in this instance), what this configuration is actually doing is establishing an SFTP connection directly to that NetSuite folder in SharePoint. This means that your manual or scheduled transfers that were configured in NetSuite will transfer those files via SFTP directly to SharePoint. All without having to have a temporary storage layer in the middle. 

From there, you can use the full power of Couchdrop on files in that folder. Most users who want to copy or transfer files from NetSuite to SharePoint are looking to do this on a regular basis. Couchdrop can automate this process by using a workflow connected to the connected folder, giving the ability for automatic file transfers as well as additional processing like renaming, copying, and encrypting files. 

File transfers from SharePoint to NetSuite

It's also possible to transfer in the opposite direction and transfer files from SharePoint to NetSuite using an inbound connection in NetSuite. The process is mostly the same, except that in NetSuite you would set up an Inbound Configuration instead of Outbound. In this case, you would manually download or schedule downloads from the folder that is connected to the SFTP user, such as the NetSuite folder above. 

Again, NetSuite only allows for all files in the folder to be downloaded with this method, but you can use filtering as part of an automation to make sure only specific folders are uploaded into the folder NetSuite monitors. 

Overview of NetSuite to SharePoint via SFTP

Transferring files from NetSuite to SharePoint is both simple and secure with Couchdrop and doesn't require a temporary storage platform in the middle. This reduces overhead and saves space, while reducing risk as the files are securely transferred directly between the platforms.

For a simple way to transfer files from NetSuite to SharePoint, try Couchrop. All new sign-ups get a 14-day trial with no credit card required. Simply register now to get started.