asked on

How do I copy a text file from ftp to C:\ with .bat or .vbs?

I have tried a million different variations and cant seem to copy a text file from ftp to my desktop.
below is what I've tried:

Set objFS=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
strFile = ("ftp://tsc:xxxxxxxxx+@ftp.xyz.com/out/TABLES.txt")
strDestination = ("C:\Documents and Settings\xyz\Desktop\")
Set objFile =objFS.OpenTextFile(strFile)
objfs.CopyFile objFile,strDestination

and always get an error for a bad file name or number

I've tried many of the other suggestions but get the same results.

Bill Prew

The easiest way to get a file from a remote server via FTP is to use the WGET command line utility (free). You can get it from the link below and see examples of usage. There is no easy way to initiate an FTP xfer from VBSCRIPT, unless you bulid a BAT file that uses the builtin Windows FTP command line tool. But WGET is a lot easier to use and troubleshoot.

http://www.gnu.org/s/wget/

~bp

Bill Prew

A good related question here as well if you need to do it without using a utility.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/27410499/batch-file-to-upload-to-ftp.html

~bp

LSpiker

ASKER

Can you give me mor info on the .BAT file builtin?

Gerwin Jansen

Save this as your batchfile after installing (copying) wget to a directory in your path:

cd %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
wget ftp://<username>:<password>@ftp.xyz.com/out/TABLES.txt

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Steve Knight

Ok some more examples here for the batch methods if you wish:

http://scripts.dragon-it.co.uk/links/batch-ftp-scripting

I favour the third approach on there generally:

@echo off
(echo open ftp.xyz.com
echo user username 
echo password
echo lcd "C:\Documents and Settings\xyz\Desktop"
echo cd /out
echo bin
echo get TABLES.TXT
echo quit
) | ftp -n -i

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If you want we can hide the password from being in the file using a method to hide it in an alternative data stream which is quite difficult for anyone to stumble across at least:

e.g. http://scripts.dragon-it.co.uk/links/batch-prompt-password-save-it

If you wanted to incoporate that into an ftp script it would be something like this below (without the fancier password box for first use):

@echo off
set /p password=<%~nx0:password

if not "%password%"=="" goto OK
set /p Pwd=Enter password to save: 
echo %pwd%>%~nx0:password
set password=%pwd%
:OK

@echo off
(echo open ftp.xyz.com
echo user username 
echo %password%
echo lcd "C:\Documents and Settings\xyz\Desktop"
echo cd /out
echo bin
echo get TABLES.TXT
echo quit
) | ftp -n -i

exit /b

Open in new window

LSpiker

ASKER

http://scripts.dragon-it.co.uk/links/batch-ftp-scripting

I used this and got everything working except when it put the Tables.txt file on my desktop it was empty. Very Very close though.

My connection seems to work as I can open the ftp Tables.txt file with vbs but I can't copy

LSpiker

ASKER

Also I can physically copy the file from ftp and paste it on my desktop and it has data as well. Hmmmm.

Steve Knight

OK. Good start then. Try it manually then for starters, i.e.

cmd.exe

ftp ftp.xyz.com
(enter username and password)
cd /out
bin
get tables.txt
dir
quit

notepad tables.txt

Does the dir command show it is an empty file, or has size?

Try it the same again then with the word "ASC" instead of "BIN". Could be it needs treating as an ASCII file rather than transferring exactly as is?

Steve Knight

Could be your internet / remote connection won't support getting the file with ftp.exe if this is heading out through a firewall - it doesn't do "Passive mode" that is needed for some situations, though if this in a LAN environment it shouldn't be an issue.

Steve

LSpiker

ASKER

Oh here is the text file I used

open ftp.xxxxx.com
username abc
password xxxxxxx
lcd C:\Documents and Settings\xx\Desktop
cd /Out
bin
get Tables.txt
quit

and the call from the ftp.cmd file
@echo off
ftp -i -s:ftpscript.txt

Steve Knight

OK... don't call it ftp.cmd btw, all sorts of problems with looping back around into itself!

what happens if you just type the commands manually like I said above, including the dir command to see what it brings back, and then see any results it shows when you do the get etc.

Steve

LSpiker

ASKER

Here is what I used to open the file

Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
objShell.run "ftp://xyz:sdddfdfdf+@ftp.xxx.com/out/Tables.txt"

and it opens the file in an explorer view.

LSpiker

ASKER

OK I tried it individually. I'm thinking its not hitting the ftp and just dropping a blank file on my desktop.

Now using the objshell. Like I showed you above I can open tha file very easily. Not sure how to copy from there though. I have tried the copyfile methods and move methods etc.etc.

Steve Knight

Ok, so that is using Internet explorer to handle the URL and open it. So going back to the ftp.exe script does the manual version work. If not we can probably give up on ftp.exe for your system. Have you tried wget as ws suggested above. Works good too and could be combined with hiding the password if needed again.

Steve

LSpiker

ASKER

Well it doesn't open in the ftp.exe. I would like to try the wget version however I am a contractor here and IT will not allow any downloads??? clients!!

LSpiker

ASKER

You know if I right click on the file in ftp it gives an option to export it to an excel file. I wonder if I could do that programatically since I can open it and see it?

Steve Knight

Ok, moving back then.

Is this on the LAN or externally through WAN or the internet?
What happens when you manually do the ftp.exe commands I asked... i.e. post the output if you can?
Steve

LSpiker

ASKER

on Lan running it manually I'll be right with you

LSpiker

ASKER

OK I'm in to ftp on c:\ prompt now what should I try

LSpiker

ASKER

You know I want to check with IT tomorrow and see if they have any locks on this stuff.

thanks

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Steve Knight

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