Configure Celigo export resources -- the data source step that fetches records from external systems. Use when creating or editing exports, choosing the right adaptor type for a target application, setting up delta/incremental syncs, webhooks, file transfers, or lookups.
An export is the data source in a Celigo integration. It connects to an external system and pulls data into the pipeline. Exports serve two roles:
Source -- the starting point that fetches the primary batch of records
Lookup -- a mid-flow enrichment step (
isLookup: true
) that fetches additional data per-record during processing
Both roles are used across flows, APIs, and tools.
Beyond fetching data, exports also handle post-retrieval processing before records enter the pipeline:
Output filter -- expression-based filtering to skip records that don't match criteria
Transform -- Transformation 2.0 expression rules to reshape/flatten response data before mapping
preSavePage hook -- JavaScript processing on the full page of records before they enter the pipeline
One-to-many -- when used as a lookup, fan out child records from a parent. Set
oneToMany: true
and
pathToMany
to the child array path so each child triggers a separate lookup. Once fanned out, the array element itself is the record -- see One-to-many fan-out
Response mapping -- when used as a lookup, extract fields from the lookup response back into the record. Configured on the flow's
pageProcessors[]
entry, but planned when building the lookup export. The response contains a
data
array and an
errors
array. Use
data[0].fieldName
when you expect a single result (e.g., fetching one order by ID); use
data[*].fieldName
when multiple results are expected. Response mapping uses Transformation 1.0 syntax (extract/generate pairs), not the newer expression-based transforms
postResponseMap hook -- JavaScript processing after response mapping merges the lookup response back into the record. Configured on the flow's
pageProcessors[]
entry, but planned when building the lookup export
Export Execution Pipeline
When a flow runs, each export executes this pipeline in strict order:
API request / query / file read -- fetches raw data from the external system
Response parsing --
resourcePath
extracts the record array from the response body or file (e.g.,
http.response.resourcePath
for HTTP,
file.json.resourcePath
for JSON files, XPath for XML)
Transformation (optional) --
transform
reshapes individual records after extraction (Transformation 2.0)
Output filter (optional) -- discards records that don't match filter expression rules
preSavePage hook (optional) -- JavaScript processing on the full page of records
Key distinction:
resourcePath
tells the export WHERE to find records in the response. Transforms reshape WHAT each record looks like after extraction. When a user says "extract records from X" or "treat each X as a separate record", that's almost always a
resourcePath
change, not a transform. Use transforms when you need to flatten nested objects, rename fields, or restructure individual records.
Three Categories of Export
Not all exports work the same way. Before building, understand which category you need:
Listeners
Receive data pushed to Celigo from an external system. No polling, no scheduling -- the source system sends data when events happen.
WebhookExport
-- inbound HTTP listener (no connection required)
AS2Export
-- AS2 EDI file reception
Distributed exports (
type: "distributed"
) -- real-time event-driven push for NetSuite (via SuiteScript) and Salesforce (via streaming API). The platform installs listeners in the source system that fire when records change.
Change data capture (
type: "stream"
) -- MongoDB change streams that tail the oplog for real-time record changes.
When to use: The source system supports outbound webhooks, push notifications, or change data capture and you want real-time processing.
File Transfers
Read files from a remote location, then either parse them into records or transfer them as blobs.
FTPExport
/
S3Export
/
FileSystemExport
-- fetch files from FTP/SFTP, S3, or local filesystem
HTTPExport
with
http.type: "file"
-- fetch files over HTTP from cloud storage APIs (Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, Azure Blob Storage). The HTTP connector handles auth; the
file{}
config handles parsing.
NetSuiteExport
with
netsuite.type: "file"
-- fetch and parse files (CSV, JSON, XLSX, XML, EDI) from the NetSuite file cabinet
Parsed mode (
file.output: "records"
) -- CSV, XML, JSON, XLSX, EDI files are parsed into individual records
Blob mode (
type: "blob"
) -- binary files transferred as-is without parsing. Supported on HTTPExport, NetSuiteExport, SalesforceExport, FTPExport, and S3Export.
When to use: The source system drops files (CSV, EDI, XML, etc.) into a directory, bucket, file cabinet, or cloud storage rather than exposing a record-based API.
Record-Based Exports
Actively fetch batches of records from an API or database on a schedule.
HTTPExport
-- REST/GraphQL APIs
NetSuiteExport
-- saved searches, restlets, SuiteQL
SalesforceExport
-- SOQL/Bulk queries
RDBMSExport
-- SQL SELECT queries
MongodbExport
,
JDBCExport
,
DynamodbExport
-- other databases
WrapperExport
-- custom stack (Walmart, BigCommerce)
When to use: You need to poll an API or query a database for records on a schedule (full fetch or delta/incremental).
Quick Reference
Adaptor Decision Matrix
Your data comes from...
Use adaptorType
Category
Read schema
REST or GraphQL API
HTTPExport
Record-based
http.yml
Files over HTTP (Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, Azure Blob)
HTTPExport
with
http.type: "file"
File transfer
http.yml + file.yml
NetSuite (any method)
NetSuiteExport
Record-based
netsuite.yml
Salesforce objects
SalesforceExport
Record-based
salesforce.yml
SQL database
RDBMSExport
Record-based
rdbms.yml
MongoDB
MongodbExport
Record-based
mongodb.yml
JDBC database
JDBCExport
Record-based
jdbc.yml
DynamoDB
DynamodbExport
Record-based
dynamodb.yml
Files on FTP/SFTP
FTPExport
File transfer
ftp.yml + file.yml
Files on S3
S3Export
File transfer
s3.yml + file.yml
Webhooks / push events
WebhookExport
Listener
webhook.yml
AS2 EDI messages
AS2Export
Listener
as2.yml
Manual file upload
SimpleExport
File transfer
simple.yml
Local filesystem
FileSystemExport
File transfer
filesystem.yml + file.yml
Pre-built stack connector
WrapperExport
Record-based
wrapper.yml
Raw HTTP is the fallback, not the default. Pick the most specific match, in order:
Native adaptor -- if the application has its own row (NetSuite, Salesforce, databases, FTP/S3), use it. Do not build an
HTTPExport
against that app's REST API.
Pre-built HTTP connector -- for any other REST/GraphQL app, check the 550+ connector catalog before writing HTTP config (see Check for a pre-built connector). The step is still an
HTTPExport
, but it runs on a connector-backed connection and takes its endpoint config from the connector.
Manual HTTP -- hand-write the config from public API docs only when no connector exists or it doesn't cover the endpoint you need.
adaptorType
is case-sensitive:
HTTPExport
, not
httpExport
.
Minimum Required Fields
Every export needs at minimum:
name
-- human-readable label
adaptorType
-- from the matrix above
_connectionId
-- except
WebhookExport
and
SimpleExport
Adaptor config block --
http{}
,
netsuite{}
,
ftp{}
,
salesforce{}
,
rdbms{}
, etc.
Which Schemas to Read
Always:request.yml (base fields for all exports)
Plus: the adaptor-specific file from the matrix above (e.g.,
http.yml
for HTTPExport)
If file-based: also file.yml (CSV, XML, JSON, XLSX, EDI parsing config)
If delta/incremental: check delta.yml or Handlebars URI pattern (
What system are you pulling data from? This determines everything -- adaptor type, connection type, and configuration shape.
2. Check for existing patterns
Before building from scratch, look at what already exists:
bash
# Search across the entire account for related resourcesceligo account search "<keyword>"# Show what an existing export uses (connection) and what uses it (flows)celigo account dependencies export<id># Find orphaned exports not referenced by any flowceligo account lint
# Check if a similar export already exists in the accountceligo exports list |grep-i"<application-name>"# Search the marketplace for pre-built integration templatesceligo templates marketplace
# Preview a template to see its export configurationceligo templates preview <id>--model Export
celigo templates preview <id>--summary
The account index auto-refreshes when stale (>4 hours). Force a fresh snapshot with
celigo account snapshot
.
Existing exports in the account are the best reference -- they show proven patterns for that specific customer's setup. Marketplace templates may provide a complete pre-built integration you can install rather than building from scratch.
3. Check for a pre-built connector
Always run this check before writing any HTTP config. Celigo maintains 550+ HTTP connector definitions and 590+ trading partner connectors. These provide pre-configured auth, base URLs, and endpoint definitions for common applications. Connectors are set on the connection, not the export -- but they determine what the export can do. Hand-write a manual
HTTPExport
from public API docs only when this search comes up empty or the connector doesn't cover the endpoint you need.
bash
# Search HTTP connectors (REST APIs: Shopify, Stripe, HubSpot, etc.)celigo http-connectors list |grep-i"<application-name>"celigo http-connectors get <id>--full# see endpoints, resources, auth config# Drill into the endpoints the connector defines for exportsceligo http-connectors catalog <id> --resource-type export --published-only
celigo http-connectors endpoint-detail <id> --resource-type export --resource-id <rid> --endpoint-id <epid># Search trading partner connectors (EDI, AS2, VAN)celigo tp-connectors list
If an HTTP connector exists for your target app, create the connection from it (
http._httpConnectorId
-- see configuring-connections > Check for a pre-built connector and global iClient) and take the export's
relativeURI
, method, pagination, and response paths from the connector's endpoint metadata rather than reconstructing them from public API docs. The connector-reference fields on the export itself (
http._httpConnectorEndpointId
,
http._httpConnectorVersionId
,
http._httpConnectorResourceId
) are read-only -- the platform sets them; what you control is the connection and the endpoint config you copy from the connector.
If a trading partner connector exists (EDI/AS2), reference it on the export via
ftp._tpConnectorId
(FTP exports) or
as2._tpConnectorId
(AS2 exports). You may also need to set
_ediProfileId
on the export for EDI document validation.
4. Query metadata for the target system
For NetSuite, Salesforce, and RDBMS connections, you can discover available record types and fields directly from the live system:
bash
# List available record types / sObjects / tables# NetSuite also returns saved searches alongside record typesceligo metadata types <connectionId># List fields for a specific entity typeceligo metadata fields <connectionId><entityType>
This tells you what data is available to export before you write any configuration.
NetSuite:
metadata types
returns both record types and saved searches (with IDs you need for
netsuite.restlet.searchId
).
metadata fields
returns field IDs, names, types, and group — including sublist fields you'll need for
mapping.lists[].generate
on the import side.
Salesforce:
metadata types
returns sObjects with queryable/createable flags.
metadata fields
returns fields, types, and relationship names — use these to discover child objects for
distributed.relatedLists[]
and relationship field names for cross-object queries.
RDBMS:
metadata types
returns table names.
metadata fields
returns column names and types for a given table — use these when writing SQL queries or building field mappings.
5. Determine the category
Is this a listener (real-time push from the source), a file transfer (fetch and parse/transfer files), or a record-based export (poll an API or query a database)? This narrows which adaptor types and modes apply.
for base fields, then the adaptor-specific schema, plus
file.yml
if file-based and
delta.yml
if incremental.
Export Design Decisions
A few design choices recur when building exports. Each has a defensible default once the framing is clear.
Delta vs one-time vs full sync
The export's
type
field selects the sync behavior:
Delta (
type: "delta"
) -- pulls only records created or modified since the last successful run. The default for ongoing scheduled syncs when the source exposes a usable "last modified" timestamp. Non-HTTP adaptors set the timestamp field via
delta.dateField
; HTTP exports instead embed
{{{lastExportDateTime}}}
in the
relativeURI
or body. See delta.yml.
One-time (
type: "once"
) -- processes each record exactly once via a tracking flag: each run selects records where
once.booleanField
is
false
, then sets it to
true
after a page succeeds so later runs skip them. Use for backfills and migrations, or when the source has no reliable timestamp but its records can carry a processed flag. See once.yml.
Full (neither
delta
nor
once
mode) -- re-pulls the entire dataset every run. Use when the source has no usable modification timestamp, the dataset is small enough that re-pulling is cheap, or business logic requires a fresh snapshot each run.
When the request is vague ("sync customers"), confirm which kind of sync is intended before building. Delta is a reasonable default when the source exposes a timestamp field; full is reasonable for small static datasets.
Listener/webhook vs scheduled export
Both are starting steps (see Three Categories of Export); the choice is driven by what the source supports and the latency budget, not preference:
Reach for a listener (
WebhookExport
, or NetSuite/Salesforce
type: "distributed"
) when the source pushes events and the flow needs to react quickly ("when X happens, do Y").
Reach for a scheduled export when the source has no push mechanism, or when batch timing at off-peak hours is acceptable.
NetSuite and Salesforce support both for many record types. Mixing them on one flow is a common, good pattern -- a listener handles low-latency reactions while a scheduled export runs as a safety net for backfills, end-of-day reconciliation, and catching up after a webhook outage.
Lookup export vs separate scheduled export
The distinguishing question is when the data is needed:
A lookup export (
isLookup: true
) runs per in-flight record, mid-pipeline, keyed off the upstream record -- fetching the customer for a specific order, or inventory for a specific SKU.
A scheduled export runs once per flow run as a starting point, producing the first batch of records the flow processes.
If the request is "for each X, look up Y", it's a lookup. If it's "every hour, pull all Y", it's a scheduled export.
One-to-many fan-out -- the array element IS the record
With
oneToMany: true
and
pathToMany
set to a child array path, each element of that array triggers its own lookup. Once fanned out, the element becomes the record: templates reference the element's own fields as
{{record.variantId}}
-- not
{{variantId}}
, and not
{{record.lineItems.variantId}}
. The array wrapper is gone; you are inside one element.
Three consequences worth knowing before you debug the wrong thing:
The build-time preview warning is expected. Previewing a fanned-out lookup in isolation reports "
<field>
not defined in the model" because no upstream record is bound yet. That is not a broken template -- don't "fix" a correct
{{record.X}}
reference because of it.
Response mapping merges per element automatically. To get looked-up values back onto each element, author a normal top-level
fields
response mapping; Celigo merges each result into its corresponding fanned-out element.
Two anti-patterns. Don't target the array with a
lists
entry (that nests a new array inside each element), and don't attempt the per-element merge in
postResponseMap
(it sees the page of parent records, not per-element results).
Source-side transform vs destination-side mapping
Both reshape data, but in opposite directions:
A transform on a source export reshapes records as they enter the flow -- flattening nested responses, or aligning multiple sources to a common shape (see Export Execution Pipeline).
A mapping on a downstream import reshapes records as they leave the flow toward a destination.
Don't add a transform to "match a destination" -- that's the destination import mapping's job. Transforms are for entry reshaping; mappings are for exit reshaping.
Async APIs (submit, poll, fetch)
Most APIs return data in the same call and need none of this. Some APIs only acknowledge a request (an HTTP 202, a job ticket, a feed or document id) and process it in the background -- Amazon SP-API feeds, large report generators, bulk extract and file-conversion jobs. For those, attach an async helper to the export via
http._asyncHelperId
. The helper teaches the step the submit-poll-fetch pattern; it is part of the export, not something managed on its own, and bundles three pieces:
A status export (required) -- run on each poll to ask "is it done yet?". Configure the status path to read in the response, the case-sensitive in-progress / done / done-without-data / error value lists (taken from the API's docs), and the initial wait and poll wait intervals in minutes.
A result export (optional, usually present) -- fetches the final payload once status reports done.
Initial-submission handling -- where to find the job ticket in the first acknowledgement: "same as status" when the acknowledgement is itself shaped like a status response, otherwise a resource path (plus transform rules for non-JSON acknowledgements, e.g. Amazon's XML).
Two constraints shape the design: the status and result exports must be ordinary synchronous exports (an async helper cannot nest another), and the async-configured step cannot carry its own transform, output filter, or preSavePage hook -- put any reshaping or filtering on the dedicated result export instead. The same pattern applies symmetrically to imports writing to asynchronous destinations (
_asyncHelperId
on the import).
Reach for an async helper only when the API genuinely forces the fire-and-check-back shape. Adding one to a synchronous API is pure overhead -- extra polling plus a status and result export to maintain.
CLI Commands
bash
# CRUDceligo exports list
celigo exports get <id>celigo exports create < export.json
celigo exports update <id>< export.json
celigo exports set<id>key=value [key2=value2 ...]celigo exports delete <id># Invoke (test-run an export, see what data comes back)celigo exports invoke [id][--all]# Clone and connection managementecho'{"connectionMap":{"oldConnId":"newConnId"}}'| celigo exports clone <id>celigo exports replace-connection <id><newConnectionId># Discoveryceligo account search "<keyword>"celigo templates marketplace
celigo templates preview <id>--model Export
celigo templates preview <id>--summaryceligo http-connectors list
celigo http-connectors catalog <id> --resource-type export --published-only
celigo http-connectors endpoint-detail <id> --resource-type export --resource-id <rid> --endpoint-id <epid>celigo tp-connectors list
celigo metadata types <connectionId>celigo metadata fields <connectionId><entityType># Debugceligo exports enable-debug <id>[--duration <minutes>]celigo exports disable-debug <id>
Pre-built connector was checked -- for HTTP exports,
celigo http-connectors list
found no connector for the app (or the connector lacks the endpoint) before any hand-written
relativeURI
_connectionId
is valid -- points to an existing, online connection of the correct type. Not needed for
WebhookExport
or
SimpleExport
Adaptor config block is present --
http{}
,
netsuite{}
,
ftp{}
, etc. matches the
adaptorType
resourcePath
or query is correct -- wrong path silently returns 0 records with no error
Pagination is configured -- for HTTP exports, set
http.paging
if the API returns paginated results
Delta/incremental is configured -- if using delta, check
delta.dateField
or Handlebars
{{{lastExportDateTime}}}
in the URI
File parsing matches the format -- if file-based,
file.type
matches the actual file format (csv, json, xml, xlsx, edi)
mockOutput
format is correct --
{ "page_of_records": [{ "record": {...} }] }
, not a plain array
No
rest:
block --
rest:
creates a legacy RESTExport. Use only
http:
for new exports
Output filter syntax is valid -- if using an output filter expression, test it against sample data
Lookup config is complete -- if
isLookup: true
, ensure response mapping is planned for the flow's
pageProcessors[]
entry
Gotchas
PUT erases omitted fields. Always GET first, modify, then PUT. The
set
command handles this.
Including a
rest:
block creates a legacy RESTExport. Use only
http:
for new exports.
Wrong
resourcePath
produces 0 records with no error. First thing to check when an export succeeds but returns nothing.
mockOutput
format is
{ "page_of_records": [{ "record": {...} }] }
. Not a plain array.
HTTP delta exports use Handlebars (
{{{lastExportDateTime}}}
in
relativeURI
), not
delta.dateField
.
NetSuite saved searches need
netsuite.restlet.searchId
. Use
celigo metadata types <connectionId>
to find the search ID.
File exports require the
file{}
block. Without it, file-based exports return raw bytes instead of parsed records.
Webhook exports have no
_connectionId
. Setting one causes validation errors.
Distributed exports require
type: "distributed"
on the export AND
distributed: true
on the connection.
type: "once"
needs a dedicated, writeable tracking flag.
once.booleanField
must be writeable by the export's connection, and no other process may update the same field -- a shared flag causes records to be skipped.
An async-helper export cannot carry its own transform, output filter, or preSavePage hook. Build that processing into the helper's result export instead. The status and result exports must themselves be plain synchronous exports -- an async helper cannot nest another. See Async APIs (submit, poll, fetch).
Common Errors
Error
Likely Cause
Fix
404 Not Found
on export invoke
Wrong
relativeURI
or
resourcePath
Verify the endpoint path against the API docs; check for missing path parameters
401 Unauthorized
Connection credentials expired or invalid
Run
celigo connections ping <connId>
; re-authorize OAuth connections
0 records exported
(no error)
Wrong
resourcePath
, empty date range, or overly restrictive filter
Check
resourcePath
, widen delta window, test without output filter
Cannot read property of undefined
in preSavePage
Script assumes a field exists that is missing from some records
Add null checks:
if (record.field)
before access
mockOutput is invalid
Wrong format -- used array instead of object
Use
{ "page_of_records": [{ "record": {...} }] }
Invalid adaptorType
Case mismatch or typo
Use exact casing from the Adaptor Decision Matrix
Connection is offline
Connection failed health check
Fix credentials, re-authorize, then
celigo connections ping <id>
Rate limit exceeded
/
429
Too many concurrent requests to the source API
Lower
concurrencyLevel
on the connection; add retry config
Timeout
on large exports
Query returns too much data or API is slow
Add pagination, narrow the date range, or increase timeout settings
File parsing error
file.type
doesn't match actual file format, or delimiter/encoding mismatch