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Useful Scripts

Downloading file to timestamped-filename
- Using local-side scripting
- Using remote-side scripting
Downloading the most recent file
Moving local files to different location after upload

Downloading file to timestamped-filename

Using local-side scripting

You can use any available scripting language you have on the local host to generate appropriate WinSCP script. Following example uses PHP language:

get /home/user/examplefile.txt *.<?=date("YmdHis")?>.txt
exit

When executed, the generated WinSCP script file may look like:

get /home/user/examplefile.txt *.20060605090825.txt
exit

Now pass the generated script file as input to WinSCP1:

php -q download.php | winscp.com user@example.com /console /script="%temp%\download.tmp"

Using remote-side scripting

If you do not have a scripting language on the local host, you can use remote-side script (like shell script). This approach requires opening separate shell session to invoke remote-side scripting.

# Make copy of the remote file to temporary timestamped file.
# Also add unique extension to easily find the file in the temporary directory.
call cp /home/user/examplefile.txt /tmp/examplefile.`date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S`.unique
# Download all the files with the unique extension.
# There should be only one, the one just created.
# While downloading, remove the unique extension.
get /tmp/*.unique *.
# Remove the temporary file.
rm /tmp/*.unique
exit

Downloading the most recent file

The script below requires opening separate shell session to invoke remote-side scripting.

# Make copy of the most recent file using remote command to new name
# with unique extension to easily find the file in the temporary directory.
call cp `ls -t | head -1` /tmp/`ls -t | head -1`.latest
# Download all the files with the unique extension.
# There should be only one, the one just created.
# While downloading, remove the unique extension.
get /tmp/*.latest *.
# Remove the temporary file.
rm /tmp/*.latest
exit

Moving local files to different location after upload

WinSCP does not support move command for local files. Instead you can combine WinSCP script with batch file:

# Make the script abort on any error
option batch abort
# Connect
open session
# Upload the files
put *.*

Launch the above script from batch file like the one below:

winscp.com /script=example.txt
if errorlevel 1 goto error

echo Upload succeeded, moving local files
move *.* c:\backup\
exit

:error
echo Upload failed, keeping local files

WinSCP console interface tool supports script on standard input since 3.8.2 only. With earlier versions you need to store the script into temporary file first.Back