Scripting and Task Automation

See command-line parameters to learn how to enter the console/scripting mode.

For automation, commands can be read from a script file specified by /script switch, from standard input or passed from the command-line using the /command switch.

By default an interactive mode is used (the user is prompted in the same way as in GUI mode). To switch to a batch mode (all prompts are automatically answered negatively) use the command option batch abort. For the batch mode it is recommended to turn off confirmations using option confirm off to allow overwrites (otherwise the overwrite confirmation prompt would be answered negatively, making overwrites impossible).

Multiple sessions can be opened simultaneously. Use the session command to switch between them.

Note that the first connection to an SSH server requires verification of the host key. Also the first connection to FTPS host with certificate signed by untrusted authority requires verification of the certificate.

WinSCP returns exit code 1, when any command is interrupted due to an error or any prompt is answered Abort (even automatically in batch mode). Otherwise it returns the exit code 0.1

To further analyze results of scripted operations, you will find XML logging useful.

All WinSCP commands have syntax:

command -switch -switch2 parameter1 parameter2 ... parametern

Command parameters that include space(s) have to be enclosed in double-quotes. To use double-quote literally, double it:

put "file with spaces and ""quotes"".html"

You can use environment variables in the commands, with syntax %NAME%2:

put "%FILE_TO_UPLOAD%"

You can reference script arguments (passed on command-line using parameter /parameter) using syntax %N%, where N is ordinal number of argument2:

put "%1%"

Note that WinSCP treats filenames in case sensitive manner. So even if your server treats filenames in case insensitive manner, make sure you specify case properly3.

Learn about winscp.com, the console interface tool.

The first connection to an SSH server requires verification of the host key. To automate the verification in script, use hostkey switch of open command to accept the expected hostkey automatically.

You can find the key fingerprint on Server and Protocol Information Dialog. You can also copy the key fingerprint to clipboard from the confirmation prompt on the first (interactive) connection using Copy Key button.

FTPS certificate signed by untrusted authority may also need to be verified. To automate the verification in script, use certificate switch of open command to accept the expected certificate automatically.

If you are going to run the script under a different account (for example using the Windows scheduler), don’t forget that WinSCP still needs to access its configuration. Note that when using registry as configuration storage, the settings are accessible only for your Windows account, so in such a case you may need to either transfer the configuration from your account registry to the other account’s registry or use the INI file instead.

Note that the configuration also includes verified SSH host keys.

The example below connects to example.com server with account user, downloads file and closes the session. Then it connects to the same server with the account user2 and uploads the file back.

# Automatically abort script on errors
option batch abort
# Disable overwrite confirmations that conflict with the previous
option confirm off
# Connect using a password
# open sftp://user:password@example.com -hostkey="ssh-rsa 1024 xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx"
# Connect
open sftp://user@example.com -hostkey="ssh-rsa 1024 xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx"
# Change remote directory
cd /home/user
# Force binary mode transfer
option transfer binary
# Download file to the local directory d:\
get examplefile.txt d:\
# Disconnect
close
# Connect as a different user
open user2@example.com
# Change the remote directory
cd /home/user2
# Upload the file to current working directory
put d:\examplefile.txt 
# Disconnect
close
# Exit WinSCP
exit

Save the script to the file example.txt. To execute the script file use the following command. As the script connects the session itself, using the command open, omit the session command-line parameter.

winscp.exe /console /script=example.txt

For simple scripts you can specify all the commands on command-line using /command switch:

winscp.exe /console /command "option batch abort" "open user@example.com" "get examplefile.txt d:\" "exit"

Instead of using open command you can also open a session using a command-line parameter. Note that in that case session is opened yet before script starts. Particularly option commands do not apply yet. Generally you should avoid using this method.

winscp.exe /console /script=example.txt user@example.com