Manipulating files on an FTP server

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Overview
FTP
How it works
Use in WLanguage
Relative path/Absolute path
Secure FTP server: SFTP and FTPS
1. SFTP protocol
2. FTPS protocol

WINDEV

WEBDEV

WINDEV Mobile

Others

See also

Standard FTP functions

Manipulating files on an FTP server

Overview

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol for transferring files from one computer to another. This protocol allows you to exchange files over TCP/IP or the Internet.

On the Internet, thousands of file servers can be accessed via FTP. FTP servers host shareware or freeware software accessible to the public.

WINDEV and WEBDEV include several WLanguage functions for managing files on an FTP server from your applications or websites.

FTP

How it works

In theory, you cannot connect to an FTP server without an FTP account and a password. Only users with an account and a password can access the server.
However, most public FTP servers allow you to log in anonymously. In this case, you will need to enter your email address as your password.

To download files from an FTP server, simply access as an "anonymous user".

To upload files to an FTP server server (e.g. to send HTML pages to your website), you need to enter a username and a password.

Use in WLanguage

WINDEV, WEBDEV and WINDEV Mobile include a series of WLanguage functions for manipulating files on an FTP server.

To manipulate files on an FTP server, follow these steps:

Connect to an FTP server (FTPConnect).
Send and retrieve files (according to the connection mode).
For a passive connection, the WINDEV application or WEBDEV website must request authorization from the FTP server to manipulate the files on the FTP server. You can also:
- get the characteristics of the files located on an FTP server: attributes, size, etc, ...
- manipulate files on an FTP server: create or delete files, etc, ...
- list the files of a directory on the FTP server and run a procedure for each file found.
Disconnect from the FTP server (FTPDisconnect).

Remarks:

You need to install the TCP/IP communication protocol and define an IP address.
An FTP server must be installed and configured on one of the computers used for the transfer.
FTP functions cannot be used in the Android emulator.
You can connect to an FTP server:
- by passing all the necessary parameters to FTPConnect.
- New in version 2026
  by manipulating a variable of type ftpConnection containing the various parameters of the FTP connection to be used.

Relative path/Absolute path

Relative and absolute paths are very important concepts in an application that handles files via FTP.

A path beginning with a slash is considered an absolute path. This path is relative to the root of the FTP server (server-specific parameter).
e.g.: /pub/user/FIONA
If the path does not begin with a slash, it is considered a relative path, i.e. the path relative to the current directory on the FTP server. This current directory can be obtained or changed using FTPCurrentDir.

When connecting to an FTP site, the initial directory (the "base directory" of the user) is not necessarily found at the root of the FTP server. Therefore, we recommend that you use relative paths.

Secure FTP server: SFTP and FTPS

There are different types of secure connection:

FTPIS: FTP secured using SSL with implicit encryption.
FTPES: FTP secured using SSL with explicit encryption.
SFTP: FTP secured using an SSH tunnel.

To use one of these connection modes, simply use FTPConnect and specify the desired mode.

1. SFTP protocol

SFTP is the acronym for "Secure File Transfer Protocol". This protocol is based on an SSH tunnel (secure SSH connection).

The symmetric encryption algorithms supported are: 3DES, Blowfish, AES and APRCFOUR.

This protocol is used by the Unix and Linux servers.

2. FTPS protocol

FTPS is the acronym for "File Transfer Protocol Secure". Communication is secured by the SSL protocol.

The symmetric encryption algorithms supported are: 3DES, Blowfish, AES and APRCFOUR.

This protocol is used by the IIS web servers.

Note: The certificate of the certification authority must be saved in the local certificate registry.

Example:

"XX" has generated a certificate for the "Doc" server: "xx-DocPC".
The "xx-DocPC" certificate is used for configuring the server.
On the other hand, the certificate certifying "XX" (let's call it the "XX certificate") must be saved on the client computer.

Most certification authorities are already registered in the client's operating system.

However, if a specific authority creates a certificate, and the base certificate is not registered on the client computer, the error "The certificate could not be verified" will appear.