Count number of files in ftp account

When connected to the server via FTP, try:
ls [remote-directory] [local-file]    # list the files & redirect the output to a file on your system
!wc -l [local-file]                          # Run a local shell process to count the lines in the file

if your win2k ftp has no command for it, then you only can write a script to do it
BTW, to know the number of files while using ftp is useless, in most cases .. Or do you knwo a good reason?

tfewster - funny. didn't get the email from ee for your response.
suppose i'm already in the directory, please tell me the commands with examples?
i don't think "ls file" would do.

ahoffmann - why is number of files useless?

thanks

> why is number of files useless?
wrong question!
must be: what is it usefull for?

I don't know what it's useful for, but while connected via ftp, try:

ftp> ls . listing    
ftp> !wc -l listing

(If ftp gives you the prompt "output to local-file: listing?", type Y to confirm; Or you can disable prompting)

Note that the number `wc -l` returns will include the "total blocks" line returned by the ls command - If absolute accuracy is required, you could grep that out.

1.  >ls . listing
it says output truncated to 2000 matches. my other ftp program says the same thing. of course, i have a lot more than 2000 files.
2. >!wc -l listing
says: 'wc' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

sorry, thought it was an easy thing. when solved, i will increase the points to 150.

ls . listing
!find /C " " listing

ftp> ls . listing
200 PORT command successful
150 Connecting to port 29538
226 Output truncated to 2000 matches
ftp: 26480 bytes received in 0.63Seco
ftp> !find /C " " listing
FIND: Parameter format not correct

thanks for the try. above is the result. still not doing it. any other ideas?
ftp is on unix, i believe. the host is lunarpages.com

eric - good try. however, it still truncates to 2000 matches
i guess there's no solution.
for trying, i will award 50 points each. thanks.

whow, roughly 10 lines of description how to click some buttons, and the same result as with 2 simple command previously suggested 2 times.
No offence, just wondering ...

ahoffmann - sorry. it's because the other 2 lines with wc and find didn't work for me. i pasted the error and there was no response to it.
ftp> !find /C " " listing
FIND: Parameter format not correct

thank you for trying - and that' why i awarded 50 each.