How to download multiple files from web server to local folder and access ?

well... no. one way or another they will have to be downloaded.
but: I suggest using a twebbrowser for displaying the adds. and this way you will be able to display gif, flash etc as well.
regarding the directrory download: if the http://somewebsite.com/files/ is not displaying a list of filles but some index.html with some otehr stuff on it, it will be almost impossible to do if you don't have a ftp access to that directory.

Actually I had a play with it and was able to DL some files from a directory by adding a txt file with the actual file URL's to the same folder on my server.  The program downloads the text file and reads into a comboboxx then should run through and download each image listed in the combobox.  Slight problem here.  The text file comes down great and loads into combo.  The first file downloads ok then it crashes with an EInOutError with message 'I/O error 1784'.
Here is my full code so far.  Can you see what is causing this ?


unit Address;

interface

uses
  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
  Dialogs, StdCtrls, ExtCtrls,  Menus, jpeg, Wininet;

type
  TForm1 = class(TForm)
    Panel1: TPanel;
    Edit1: TEdit;
    Label1: TLabel;
    Panel2: TPanel;
    MainMenu1: TMainMenu;
    File1: TMenuItem;
    Exit1: TMenuItem;
    Edit2: TMenuItem;
    AddContact1: TMenuItem;
    Help1: TMenuItem;
    About1: TMenuItem;
    Label2: TLabel;
    Image2: TImage;
    Image1: TImage;
    ComboBox1: TComboBox;
    ComboBox2: TComboBox;
    Button1: TButton;
    procedure Exit1Click(Sender: TObject);
    procedure getadds(Sender: TObject);

    private
    { Private declarations }
  public
    { Public declarations }
  end;

var
  Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.dfm}

function GetInetFile
(const fileURL, FileName: String): boolean;
const BufferSize = 1024;
var
  hSession, hURL: HInternet;
  Buffer: array[1..BufferSize] of Byte;
  BufferLen: DWORD;
  f: File;
  sAppName: string;
begin
 Result:=False;
 sAppName := ExtractFileName(Application.ExeName);
 hSession := InternetOpen(PChar(sAppName),
                INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_PRECONFIG,
               nil, nil, 0);
 try
  hURL := InternetOpenURL(hSession,
            PChar(fileURL),
            nil,0,0,0);
  try
   AssignFile(f, FileName);
   Rewrite(f,1);
   repeat
    InternetReadFile(hURL, @Buffer,
                     SizeOf(Buffer), BufferLen);
    BlockWrite(f, Buffer, BufferLen);                   // -------------Crashes on this line-----------//
    FlashWindow(Application.Handle,True);
   until BufferLen = 0;
   CloseFile(f);
   Result:=True;
  finally
   InternetCloseHandle(hURL)
  end
 finally
  InternetCloseHandle(hSession)
 end
end;


procedure TForm1.Exit1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
close;
end;


procedure TForm1.getadds(Sender: TObject);
var FileOnNet, LocalFileName, s: string;
i: integer;
begin
 FileOnNet:=
  'http://www.lfoband.com/adds/adds.txt';
 LocalFileName:='c:\adds\adds.txt';
 if GetInetFile(FileOnNet,LocalFileName)=True then
 combobox1.Items.LoadFromFile(localfilename)
 else
 begin
 ShowMessage('Error in file download');
 exit;
 end;
 combobox1.itemindex := -1;
 for i:= 0 to combobox1.items.count-1 do
 begin
 combobox1.itemindex := combobox1.itemindex + 1;
 FileOnNet:= combobox1.items[combobox1.itemindex];
 LocalFileName:= 'c:\adds\' + (extractfilename(combobox1.items[combobox1.itemindex])) ;

 if GetInetFile(FileOnNet,LocalFileName)=true then
 showmessage('Sucess !')
 else
 ShowMessage('Error in file download');
 end;
end;


end.

One more thing.  When I say the first file downloads ok (meaning the first add which is a jpg) it is visible on my hard drive but is 0 bytes so it is not being written properly.  The txt file is being written propery.  
Here is the contents of the txt file.......


http:\\www.lfoband.com\adds\banner.jpg
http:\\www.lfoband.com\adds\lfo.jpg
http:\\www.lfoband.com\adds\addcf.jpg

Hey thanks ciuly I'll try this code when I wake up !  I can't believe that Microcrap has so many limitations.  Thanks for your help and I'll let you know how it goes.

Elvin

Where do I get IdBaseComponent, IdAntiFreezeBase and  IdAntiFreeze from ?
I'm compiling this under delphi 5 but do have delphi studio.

Elvin

install indy 9 from http://www.indyproject.org/Sockets/Download/Files/Indy9.en.aspx

I tried that but am still having a freeze problem.  Here is my form.  It takes forever to download the first .jpg.file even though it's only small.  The DL file is useless ( not openable).  I tried increasing the antifreeze timeout to 1000 but it just hangs.


object Form1: TForm1
  Left = 0
  Top = 0
  Width = 362
  Height = 500
  Caption = 'Form1'
  Color = clBtnFace
  Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
  Font.Color = clWindowText
  Font.Height = -11
  Font.Name = 'Tahoma'
  Font.Style = []
  OldCreateOrder = False
  PixelsPerInch = 96
  TextHeight = 13
  object Button1: TButton
    Left = 128
    Top = 24
    Width = 75
    Height = 25
    Caption = 'Button1'
    TabOrder = 0
    OnClick = Button1Click
  end
  object ComboBox1: TComboBox
    Left = 96
    Top = 72
    Width = 145
    Height = 21
    ItemHeight = 13
    TabOrder = 1
    Text = 'ComboBox1'
  end
  object IdAntiFreeze1: TIdAntiFreeze
    Left = 320
  end
end




//  Any thoughts on this or should I go to a webbrowser like you suggested ?

Elvin

I never suggested a webbrowser.
and you got it wrong: the time should be decreased not increased. I worst cases I used 50 ms and changed the onlyWhenIdle to false.

this is the dfm for the unit posted by me earlier:

object Form1: TForm1
  Left = 192
  Top = 114
  Width = 870
  Height = 640
  Caption = 'Form1'
  Color = clBtnFace
  Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
  Font.Color = clWindowText
  Font.Height = -11
  Font.Name = 'MS Sans Serif'
  Font.Style = []
  OldCreateOrder = False
  PixelsPerInch = 96
  TextHeight = 13
  object Button1: TButton
    Left = 240
    Top = 96
    Width = 75
    Height = 25
    Caption = 'Button1'
    TabOrder = 0
    OnClick = Button1Click
  end
  object ComboBox1: TComboBox
    Left = 376
    Top = 96
    Width = 145
    Height = 21
    ItemHeight = 13
    TabOrder = 1
    Text = 'ComboBox1'
  end
  object IdAntiFreeze1: TIdAntiFreeze
    Left = 144
    Top = 176
  end
end

just for safety, here is the project as well: http://www.ciuly.com/delphi/DownloadMultipleFiles.zip

but since you are reffering to a hang, I am now considering your machine setup: are you using a proxy to access the internet? if so, then modify:

  http:=TIdHTTP.Create(form);
to
  http:=TIdHTTP.Create(form);
  http.ProxyParams.ProxyPassword:=<your proxy password if any>;
  http.ProxyParams.ProxyPort:=<the proxy server port>;
  http.ProxyParams.ProxyServer:=<the proxy server address>;
  http.ProxyParams.ProxyUsername:=<your proxy username if any>;

to automatically detect IE proxy settings see this: http://www.mydesktophelp.com/tips/ie12.php

Just to clarify the Webbrowser...... //I suggest using a twebbrowser for displaying the adds//   that's where I got that from.  Anyhow I'll try the latest and post back on the results.  Thanks dude !

Elvin

oh. that I was reffering just to display, not download. but of course you can also use it for download but then you won't have the issue of download multiple files ;) The reason I suggested webbrowser for displaying is that you will be able to display mostly any type of banner the browser supports.
but in case of using webbrowser then you might think of leaving the multiple download issue out since you will only work with URLs directly (IE caches the files anyway so this will not put an issue in the case of files continuosly being downloaded ;) ) it's a matter of choiuse anyway.
you can still download all files with indy and then load the local file in the webbrowser: works as good.

Thanks Ciurly !

I think I will use the TWebBrowser.  I just used the code to download the text file and loadup the combobox with the urls of the jpg files and have it rotate on a timer.  As far as the firewall issue is concerned, I aren't behind any firewall so I'm not sure on why it is freezing up even when I use IdAntiFreeze component.  I will play with it some more because I would still like to get multiple file downloads working for future reference.  For now, I accept your answer.

Thanks again buddy.

Elvin