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Useful Scripts

Uploading single file
Downloading file to timestamped-filename
Downloading the most recent file
Moving local files to different location after successful upload
Shortcut to synchronize any local file with remote directory

Uploading single file

Uploading single file involves so little commands that it is enough to provide them on command line, saving writing a script file:

winscp.com /command "option batch abort" "option confirm off" "open user@example.com" "put examplefile.txt /home/user/" "exit"

However you may want to use a script file anyway, so you can later expand it:

option batch abort
option confirm off
open user@example.com
put examplefile.txt /home/user/
exit

To run the script use following command (proving you have saved the script to file example.txt):

winscp.com /script=example.txt

Downloading file to timestamped-filename

Using local-side date printing tool

You can use any way to produce date string in desired format on command line, store that string to environment variable and use it in script. Although it is possible to produce almost any date string using Windows command-line tools, easier is to use dedicated tool, such as realdate:

First create wrapper batch file to store the date string into environment variable:

for /f %%T in ('realdate.com /f="CCYYMMDDhhmmss"') do (set TIMESTAMP=%%T)
winscp.com /script=example.txt

The script example.txt can use syntax %TIMESTAMP% to retrieve the date string in TIMESTAMP environment variable:

option batch abort
option confirm off
open session
get /home/user/examplefile.txt *.%TIMESTAMP%.txt
exit

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:

option batch abort
option confirm off
open session
get /home/user/examplefile.txt *.<?=date("YmdHis")?>.txt
exit

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

option batch abort
option confirm off
open session
get /home/user/examplefile.txt *.20060605090825.txt
exit

Now pass the generated script file as input to WinSCP:

php -q download.php | winscp.com /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.

option batch abort
option confirm off
open session
# 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.

option batch abort
option confirm off
open session
# 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 successful upload

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

option batch abort
option confirm off
# 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

Shortcut to synchronize any local file with remote directory

You may want to have script that synchronizes any local directory with a same-named subdirectory of fixed remote path, e.g.:

c:\www\gallery with /home/user/www/gallery;
c:\documents and settings\martin\www\forum with /home/user/www/forum.

Such script is particularly useful for integrating with Windows Explorer’s ‘Send To’ menu.

First create wrapper batch file to store the paths you want to synchronize into environment variables (change /home/user/www/ to remote path root you want to synchronize against):

set LOCAL=%1
set REMOTE="/home/user/www/%~n1%~x1"
winscp.com /script=example.txt

The script example.txt may look like:

# Being intended for interactive session, we are not enabling batch mode
# Connect
open session
# Synchronize paths provided via environment variables
synchronize remote %LOCAL% %REMOTE%

Then you can make a shortcut to the batch file:

When placed on desktop, you can drop any local directory to it to start synchronization;
When placed to c:\documents and settings\username\sendto, you can use //Send To > Your Shortcut’' from context menu of any local directory.