Help with ftp BAT and DAT file

[Ancient_Tiger]

I used to know this but...
What's the procedure for having a BAT file ftp files by accessing a DAT file for the ftp commands. I seem to remember the BAT file command being something like:
ftp -s:uploadinstructions.DAT www.yourdomain.com

Then the DAT file format being something like:
username
password
put filename1.html
put filename2.html
put imagename1.jpg
etc
etc
bye

but I've tried every variation I can think of and it's not working.

Any help would be MUCHO apreciated by this old-timer.

[Vernon Frazee]

Here are the contents of an example FTP (File Transfer Protocol) script file named foobar.ftp:

• (Note: Do not use the line numbers on the left within the FTP script file. They are here so each line can be referred to in the brief description below)

[list=1][*] user myusername mypassword[*] cd public_html[*] lcd c:\website\mydomain.com\public_html[*] hash[*] put filename.html[*] binary[*] put filename.jpg[*] cd files[*] lcd files[*] bell[*] mput *.zip[*] ascii[*] put filename.html[*] quit[/list=a]
The DOS (Windows 9x) command needed to execute the above foobar.ftp script file:

• ftp -n -s:foobar.ftp ftp.mydomain.com

Breakdown of this DOS command:

• ftp = Start the Windows 9x FTP (File Transfer Program) program
   
  -n = Suppresses auto-login upon initial connection
   
  -s:foobar.ftp = Specify the name of the text file containing the FTP commands (which in this case is foobar.ftp); the commands will automatically run after FTP starts
   
  ftp.mydomain.com = Specifies the host name (ftp.mydomain.com in this case) or IP address of the remote host to connect to

Brief description of each line in foobar.ftp:
[list=1][*] user myusername mypassword
user = Send new user information
myusername mypassword = My username and password
 [*] cd public_html
cd = Change Directory on remote system
public_html = name of subdirectory
 [*] lcd c:\website\mydomain.com\public_html
lcd = Local system Change Directory
c:\website\mydomain.com\public_html = name of directory
 [*] hash
hash = Toggles printing a "#" for each buffer transferred
 [*] put filename.html
put = Send one file. (Note: FTP's default is transferring ASCII (text) files)
filename.html = the name of the file
 [*] binary
binary = Set binary as transfer type
 [*] put filename.jpg
put = Send one file
filename.jpg = the name of the file
 [*] cd files
cd = Change Directory on remote system
files = name of subdirectory
 [*] lcd files
lcd = Local system Change Directory
files = name of subdirectory
 [*] bell
bell = Beep when command completed
 [*] mput *.zip
mput = Send multiple files
*.zip = name of files (* = wildcard)
 [*] ascii
ascii = Set ascii as transfer type
 [*] put filename.html
put = Send one file
filename.html = name of file
 [*] quit
quit = Terminate ftp session and exit[/list=a]
Quick overview of FTP commands:

• To see FTP's brief description and command line parameters, type ftp -? at the DOS prompt.
   
• To load FTP without logging on to a remote system, type ftp at the DOS prompt.
   
• To see a list of available FTP commands, type help at the FTP "ftp>" prompt.
   
• To see the brief description for a particular FTP command, type help command at the FTP "ftp>" prompt.
   
• To quit FTP and return to the DOS prompt, type quit at the FTP "ftp>" prompt.

[Ancient_Tiger]

Vernon,

Well, I tried it and on the DOS window I'm still getting the error message "error opening script file upload.ftp", then a whole list of commands...all of which I feel that I'm using correctly in my bat file.

Here's the command line I'm using in the bat file:
ftp -n -s:upload.ftp ftp.[mydomain].com

and here's the contents of my upload.ftp file:

user [username] [password]
cd accounts
hash
put systemconfiguration.html
binary
put bgR.jpg
bell
quit


(the [brackets] aren't being used, I just used them to in this example to replace the actual info of my file)

I've checked, rechecked, and triple-checked all the syntax of both and everything's fine. All the files are in the same local directory. I'm at a loss. And ideas?

Thanks

[This message has been edited by Ancient_Tiger (edited 08-18-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Ancient_Tiger (edited 08-18-2000).]

[Ancient_Tiger]

Never mind. I tinkered around with it and got it to work.

Thanks for the effor anyways!

[Vernon Frazee]

Your server may be a little different. Try it like this:
 
[list=1][*] Put the following in your update.ftp file:
 
[username]
[password]
cd accounts
hash
put systemconfiguration.html
binary
put bgR.jpg
bell
quit
 [*] And change the command line to:
 
ftp -s:upload.ftp ftp.[mydomain].com[/list=a]
Also make sure that your upload.ftp file is either in the same directory as you are or else specify the complete path to it so the FTP.EXE program can find it.
 
Another thing I'd do is logon in the interactive mode and check out the commands that are available on your server. To do that, simply do a ftp ftp.[mydomain].com at the DOS prompt, then enter your [username] and [password] when prompted. Once you land at the server's ftp> prompt, type remotehelp to see what's available. You can then usually do a remotehelp command name to see some brief help. After you've played around a bit with controlling the server in this interactive mode, (trying most of the commands), you'll have a better feel for exactly what needs to be in your upload.ftp script file. When you're done type quit (or bye) to logoff.
 
You can also play around interactively with ftp on your local system by simply typing ftp at the DOS prompt. When you're done, type quit to return to DOS.