# Binary File Source Connector for Confluent Platform
The Kafka Connect Binary File Source connector monitors the SFTP directory specified in `input.path` for files and reads them as binaries, forwarding the complete contents of each file as a binary record value. The recommended converter to use is the [ByteArrayConverter](/platform/current/connect/concepts.html#converters).
```properties
value.converter=org.apache.kafka.connect.converters.ByteArrayConverter
```
To use this connector, specify the name of the connector class in the `connector.class` configuration property.
```properties
connector.class=io.confluent.connect.sftp.SftpBinaryFileSourceConnector
```
## Binary File Source Connector Example
This example follows the same steps as the Quick Start. Review the [Quick Start](overview.md#sftp-source-connector-quickstart) for help running the Confluent Platform and installing the SFTP connector package.
Prerequisites
: - [Confluent Platform](/platform/current/installation/index.html)
- [Confluent CLI](https://docs.confluent.io/confluent-cli/current/installing.html) (requires separate installation)
1. Generate an HTML file using the command below:
```bash
echo $'"\n \n \n \n Hello World\n \n"' > "hello_world.html"
```
2. Create an `sftp.properties` file with the following contents:
```properties
name=BinaryFileSftp
tasks.max=1
connector.class=io.confluent.connect.sftp.SftpBinaryFileSourceConnector
input.path=/path/to/data
error.path=/path/to/error
finished.path=/path/to/finished
input.file.pattern=hello_world.html
behavior.on.error=IGNORE
sftp.username=username
sftp.password=password
sftp.host=localhost
sftp.port=22
kafka.topic=sftp-binary-file-topic
value.converter=org.apache.kafka.connect.storage.ByteArrayConverter
```
3. Load the SFTP Binary File Source connector using the Confluent CLI [confluent local services connect connector load](https://docs.confluent.io/confluent-cli/current/command-reference/local/services/connect/connector/confluent_local_services_connect_connector_load.html) command.
```bash
confluent local load BinaryFileSftp --config sftp.properties
```
## Binary File Source Connector Example (Avro)
The following example loads a binary file into a specific field in an Avro-formatted message using the Hoist SMT.
1. Generate an HTML file using the command below:
```bash
echo $'"\n \n \n \n Hello World\n \n"' > "hello_world.html"
```
2. Create an `sftp.properties` file with the following contents:
```properties
name=BinaryFileSftp
tasks.max=1
connector.class=io.confluent.connect.sftp.SftpBinaryFileSourceConnector
input.path=/path/to/data
error.path=/path/to/error
finished.path=/path/to/finished
input.file.pattern=hello_world.html
behavior.on.error=IGNORE
sftp.username=username
sftp.password=password
sftp.host=localhost
sftp.port=22
kafka.topic=sftp-binary-file-avro-topic
value.converter=io.confluent.connect.avro.AvroConverter
transforms=HoistField
transforms.HoistField.type=org.apache.kafka.connect.transforms.HoistField$Value
transforms.HoistField.field=contents
```
3. Load the SFTP Binary File Source connector using the Confluent CLI [confluent local services connect connector load](https://docs.confluent.io/confluent-cli/current/command-reference/local/services/connect/connector/confluent_local_services_connect_connector_load.html) command.
```bash
confluent local load BinaryFileSftp --config sftp.properties
```
#### IMPORTANT
- The [confluent local](https://docs.confluent.io/confluent-cli/current/command-reference/local/index.html) commands are intended for a single-node development environment and
are not suitable for a production environment. The data that are produced are transient and are intended to be
temporary. For production-ready workflows, see [Install and Upgrade Confluent Platform](/platform/current/installation/index.html).
## Configuration Properties
For connector-specific configuration properties, see
[SFTP Source Connector Configuration Properties](license_config.md#sftp-source-connector-license-config).