FTP Commands

Technical note:  The FTP command, ftp.exe, is located in the windows “system32″ directory.  (ex:  c:\windows\system32\ftp.exe or c:\winnt\system32\ftp.exe).  If you get a DOS error bad command, then put the full pathname for the executible.

Getting a connection to the FTP server from the DOS prompt:

Get to a DOS Prompt.  (ie:  Start, Run, command.com)

1. c:> ftp [ftp server name or IP Address]
2. Enter your username & Password.
3. To disconnect type:  disconnect

or

1. From DOS, type: ftp
2. ftp> open <hostname or IP address>
3. Enter your username & Password
4. To disconnect type:  disconnect

After you have signed on here is some FTP commands:

• help <enter> – gives a list off FTP commands.
• help [command name] – give brief help.
• ? [command name] – give brief help.
• open [server name] – opens a connection to a new web server.
• disconnect – terminates ftp session.
• bye – logoff & exit FTP.
• exit – Terminate FTP session and exit.
• lcd [directory name] – Change local working directory.
• cd – change remote working directory (at FTP site).
• get [filename]  – download a file to your local working directory.
  get <enter>  – will prompt for remote-file, then local-file.
• mget *.*  – Get multiple files.  If prompt is on, will prompt Y/N for each file matching the wildcard.
  prompt <enter> – toggles prompting on or off.  ON by default.
• put [filename] – upload a file to the web server.
  put <enter> – will prompt for remote-file, then local-file.
• mput *.*  – Put multiple files.  If prompt is on, will prompt Y/N for each file matching the wildcard.
  prompt <enter> – toggles prompting on or off.  ON by default.
• pwd – shows your current working directory on the remote server.
• mkdir [directory name] – creates (make) a new directory on remote server.
• rmdir [directory name] – removes (delete) a directory on remote server – if empty.
• delete [filename] – deletes a remote file.
• user [username]  – changes current user on current server
• quote <command> – sends a command to the ftp server.
• binary – switches to binary file transfer mode.
• hash – This is to show you the progress of the upload.
• ls or dir – List contents of remote directory.
  Warning: This may kick you off of the server (close the connection).  I think this might happen if you don’t have directory listing rights.
• Other FTP commands
  • ! – Escape to shell.
  • append – append to a file.
  • ascii – set ascii transfer type.
  • bell – beep when a command completes.
  • close – terminate ftp session.
  • glob – Toggle metacharacter expansion of local file names.
  • literal – send arbitrary ftp command.
  • mdelete – delete multiple files
  • mdir – list contents of multiple remote directories
  • mget – get multiple files.
  • mls – list contents of multiple remote directories
  • mput – send multiple files
  • prompt – force interactive prompting on multiple commands
  • quote – send arbitrary FTP command
  • recv – receive file
  • remotehelp – get help from remote server (list of remote server commands)
  • rename – rename a file.
  • send – send one file.
  • status – show current status
  • trace – toggle packet tracing
  • user – send new user information (???
  • verbose – toggles verbose mode (default: on)

Example: FTP a file to the server

• Log onto the FTP server (see above)
• cd <pathname> – use this to CD to a directory on the remote computer
• lcd <pathname> – use this to CD to a directory on your local computer.
• bin – Turns on binary transfer.
• hash – Turns on progress.
• put <filename>  – This will FTP the file.
• debug – toggle debugging mode.

Using .bat files and ftp Scripts.

• You can use FTP Scripts to automate your DOS FTP processes.  Here is an example of a batch file and FTP script file that will transfer a file to the root directory of an FTP server:
  • Create a text file with the following content called: DosFtpFile.txt
    Hello World
  • Create a batch file with the following content called: DosFtpFile.bat
    ftp -s:DosFtpFile.ftp <ftp_ server_ name>
    pause
  • Create a script file with the following content cassed: DosFtpFile.ftp
    <place_your_user_name_here>
    <place_your_user_password_here>
    put DosFtpFile.txt
    quit

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