FTP Commands

A day back I was required to create a batch file for transferring some data from FTP to one of my servers using FTP commands .It has been long time that I worked with FTP and I was not able to recollect the commands .For those who find themselves in these kind of situation, I am listing few useful FTP commands . Note that the words in Square brackets are parameters whose description can be found in the Parameters column

Client Command	Description	Syntax	Parameters
!	Runs the specified command on the local computer	! [command]	Specifies the command to run on the local computer.
?	Displays descriptions for ftp commands.	? [command]	Specifies the name of the command to be described
append	Appends a local file to a file on the remote computer using the current file type setting.	append local-file [remote-file]	local-file - Specifies the local file to add. remote-file - Specifies the file on the remote computer to which local-file will be added. If remote-file is not there, the local filename is used for the remote filename.
ascii	Sets the file transfer type to ASCII.	ascii	FTP supports two file transfer types, ASCII and binary image. ASCII should be used when transferring text files. In ASCII mode, character conversions to and from the network standard character set are performed
bell	Toggles a bell to ring after each file transfer command is completed. By default, the bell is off.	bell
binary	Sets the file transfer type to binary.	binary	FTP supports two file transfer types, ASCII and binary image. Binary should be used when transferring executable files. In binary mode, the file is moved byte-by-byte.
bye	Ends the FTP session with the remote computer and exits ftp.	bye
cd	Changes the working directory on the remote computer	cd remote-directory	remote-directory - Specifies the directory on the remote computer to change to.
close	Ends the FTP session with the remote server and returns to the command interpreter.	close
debug	Toggles debugging. When debugging is on, each command sent to the remote computer is printed, preceded by the string --->. By default, debugging is off.	debug
delete	Deletes a single file on a remote computer	delete remote-file
dir	Displays a list of a remote directory's files and subdirectories.	dir [remote-directory] [local-file]	remote-directory - Specifies the directory for which you want to see a listing. If no directory is specified, the current working directory on the remote computer is used. local-file - Specifies a local file to store the listing. If not specified, output is displayed on the screen.
disconnect	Disconnects from the remote computer, retaining the ftp prompt.	disconnect
get	Copies a remote file to the local computer using the current file transfer type	get remote-file [local-file]	remote-file Specifies the remote file to copy. local-file Specifies the name to use on the local computer. If not specified, the file is given the remote-file name.
glob	Toggles filename globbing. Globbing permits use of wildcard characters in local file or path names. By default, globbing is on.	glob
hash	Toggles hash-sign (#) printing for each data block transferred. The size of a data block is 2048 bytes. By default, hash mark printing is off	hash
help	Displays descriptions for ftp commands	help [command]	Specifies the name of the command about which you want a description.
lcd	Changes the working directory on the local computer. By default, the working directory is the directory in which ftp was started.	lcd [directory]	Specifies the directory on the local computer to change to. If directory is not specified, the current working directory on the local computer is displayed
literal	Sends arguments, verbatim, to the remote FTP server. A single FTP reply code is expected in return.	literal argument [ ...]	Specifies the argument to send to the FTP server.
ls	Displays an abbreviated list of a remote directory's files and subdirectories.	ls [remote-directory] [local-file]	remote-directory - Specifies the directory for which you want to see a listing. If no directory is specified, the current working directory on the remote computer is used. local-file - Specifies a local file to store the listing. If not specified, output is displayed on the screen.
mdelete	Deletes one or more files on a remote computer.	mdelete remote-files [ ...]	Specifies the remote files to delete.
mdir	Displays a list of a remote directory's files and subdirectories. Mdir allows you to specify multiple files.	mdir remote-files [ ...] local-file	remote-files - Specifies the directory for which you want to see a listing. Remote-files must be specified; type "-" to use the current working directory on the remote computer. local-file - Specifies a local file to store the listing. Type "-" to display the listing on the screen.
mget	Copies one or more remote files to the local computer using the current file transfer type	mget remote-files [ ...]	Specifies the remote file(s) to copy to the local computer.
mkdir	Creates a remote directory.	mkdir directory	Specifies the name of the new remote directory
mls	Displays an abbreviated list of a remote directory's files and subdirectories.	mls remote-files [ ...] local-file	remote-files - Specifies the files for which you want to see a listing. Remote-files must be specified; type "-" to use the current working directory on the remote computer. local-file - Specifies a local file to store the listing. Type "-" to display the listing on the screen.
mput	Copies one or more local files to the remote computer using the current file transfer type	mput local-files [ ...]	Specifies the local files to copy to the remote Computer.
open	Connects to the specified FTP server	open computer [port]	computer - Specifies the remote computer to connect to. Computer can be specified by IP address or computer name (a DNS or HOSTS file must be available). If auto-login is on (default), FTP also attempts to automatically log the user in to the FTP server (see Ftp command-line options to disable auto-login). port - Specifies a port number to use to contact an FTP server.
prompt	Toggles prompting. Ftp prompts during multiple file transfers to allows you to selectively retrieve or store files.	prompt
put	Copies a local file to the remote computer using the current file transfer type.	put local-file [remote-file]	local-file - Specifies the local file to copy. remote-file - Specifies the name to use on the remote computer. If not specified, the file is given the local-file name.
pwd	Displays the current directory on the remote computer.	pwd
quit	div>Ends the FTP session with the remote computer and exits ftp.	quit
quote	Sends arguments, verbatim, to the remote FTP server. A single FTP reply code is expected in return. Quote is identical to literal .	quote argument [ ...]	Specifies the argument to send to the FTP server.
recv	Copies a remote file to the local computer using the current file transfer type . Recv is identical to get .	recv remote-file [local-file]	remote-file - Specifies the remote file to copy. local-file - Specifies the name to use on the local computer. If not specified, the file is given the remote-file name.
remotehelp	Displays help for remote commands.	remotehelp [command]	Specifies the name of the command about which you want help. If command is not specified, ftp displays a list of all remote commands
rename	Renames remote files.	rename filename newfilename	filename - Specifies the file you want to rename. newfilename - Specifies the new filename.
rmdir	Deletes a remote directory.	rmdir directory	Specifies the name of the remote directory to delete.
send	Copies a local file to the remote computer using the current file transfer type. Send is identical to put .	send local-file [remote-file]	local-file - Specifies the local file to copy. remote-file - Specifies the name to use on the remote computer. If not specified, the file is given the local-file name.
status	Displays the current status of FTP connections and toggles.	status
trace	Toggles packet tracing; trace displays the route of each packet when running an ftp command.	trace
type	Sets or displays the file transfer type	type [type-name]	Specifies the file transfer type; the default is ASCII. If type-name is not specified, the current type is displayed.
user	Specifies a user to the remote computer.	user user-name [password] [account]	user-name - Specifies a user name with which to log in to the remote computer. password - Specifies the password for user-name. If not specified, but required, ftp prompts for the password. account - Specifies an account with which to log on to the remote computer. If account is not specified, but required, ftp prompts for the account.
verbose	Toggles verbose mode. If on, all ftp responses are displayed; when a file transfer completes, statistics regarding the efficiency of the transfer are also displayed. By default, verbose is on.	verbose

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