Until a few weeks ago, I was happily updating a web page on an hourly schedule using the native ftp client that is built into windows. The updates were being done from a simple batch file that invoked the ftp -s:scriptfile.txt option. After some digging, I've concluded that the server side no longer supports the Active communications protocol, in favor of what I gather is a newer Passive protocol. But the old windows ftp client doesn't support the Passive protocol.
I tried a couple of alternative clients (passive-ftp, and ncftp) neither of which will run under Win-98SE, which unfortunately I'm stuck with. But I did finally find a client that apparently originated in the Linux universe in a version that runs under Windows,
called gFTP.
When I tried to just substitute gFTP into my batch file in place of the windows ftp, I discover that it doesn't recognize the -s command argument the specifies the script file. There is no documentation included with the gFTP executable, other than a help command that enumerates the commands it recognizes, and gives a very brief summary the purpose of each. In particular, there is a macdef command whose purpose is to create a macro file of ftp commands, equivalent to my script file.
And, there is a $ command which is supposed to run the macro. When I try these commands, the macro seems to be getting built, but when I then execute the $ command I get an error return that the macro wasn't found. And when I search for a file containing the macro, I don't find anything either.
So, my question is, is anyone familiar with this macdef/$ approach to scripting an ftp session? I get the feeling that the Linux based origins of this ftp client probably have something to do with my difficulties.
I tried a couple of alternative clients (passive-ftp, and ncftp) neither of which will run under Win-98SE, which unfortunately I'm stuck with. But I did finally find a client that apparently originated in the Linux universe in a version that runs under Windows,
called gFTP.
When I tried to just substitute gFTP into my batch file in place of the windows ftp, I discover that it doesn't recognize the -s command argument the specifies the script file. There is no documentation included with the gFTP executable, other than a help command that enumerates the commands it recognizes, and gives a very brief summary the purpose of each. In particular, there is a macdef command whose purpose is to create a macro file of ftp commands, equivalent to my script file.
And, there is a $ command which is supposed to run the macro. When I try these commands, the macro seems to be getting built, but when I then execute the $ command I get an error return that the macro wasn't found. And when I search for a file containing the macro, I don't find anything either.
So, my question is, is anyone familiar with this macdef/$ approach to scripting an ftp session? I get the feeling that the Linux based origins of this ftp client probably have something to do with my difficulties.
