Create FTP in python

Author: mjrish96

FTP in python

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+ How to use FTP in Python
+Overview
+This article will show how you can use FTP in Python with the help of the
+ftplib module. 
+Ftplib
+The ftplib module in Python allows you to write Python programs that perform a
+variety of automated FTP jobs. You can easily connect to a FTP server to retrieve
+files and process them locally.
+
+To use the ftplib module in Python, you first have to import it into your script. 
+Open a Connection
+To "open" a connection to the FTP Server, you have to create the object.
+
+Once the connection is made (opened), you can use the methods in the ftplib
+module.
+
+Several methods are available in two flavors: one for handling text files and
+another for binary files.
+
+You can easily navigate the directory structure, manage and download files. 
+How do I use it?
+This program will first connect to a FTP server (ftp.cwi.nl) and then list the
+files and directories in the FTP server root directory using the LIST() method.
+from ftplib import FTP
+
+ftp = FTP('ftp.cwi.nl')   # connect to host, default port
+
+ftp.login()               # user anonymous, passwd anonymous@
+
+ftp.retrlines('LIST')     # list directory contents 
+Our second program opens a connection to 'ftp.sunet.se' as the user 'anonymous'
+with an email address of '[email protected]'
+
+It then lists the files and directories on the FTP server by using the dir()
+method.
+
+The output is saved to the 'files' variable. 
+
+I then use print to see the files on screen. 
+
+If I want I to change directory I would just use ftp.cwd(path) to do so.
+
+To close the FTP connection, use the quit() method.  
+import ftplib
+
+ftp = ftplib.FTP('ftp.sunet.se', 'anonymous', '[email protected]')
+
+print "File List: "
+
+files = ftp.dir()
+
+print files
+
+ftp.cwd("/pub/unix") #changing to /pub/unix
+Common FTP Methods
+FTP.connect(host[, port[, timeout]])
+
+Connect to the given host and port. 
+
+The default port number is 21, as specified by the FTP protocol specification. 
+
+It is rarely needed to specify a different port number. 
+
+This function should be called only once for each instance 
+
+It should not be called at all if a host was given when the instance was created. 
+
+All other methods can only be used after a connection
+has been made.
+
+The optional timeout parameter specifies a timeout in seconds for the connection
+attempt. 
+
+If no timeout is passed, the global default timeout setting will be used.
+FTP.getwelcome()
+
+Return the welcome message sent by the server in reply to the initial connection. 
+
+This message sometimes contains disclaimers or help information that may be
+relevant to the user
+FTP.login([user[, passwd[, acct]]])
+
+Log in as the given user. 
+
+The passwd and acct parameters are optional and default to the empty string. 
+
+If no user is specified, it defaults to 'anonymous'. 
+
+If user is 'anonymous', the default passwd is 'anonymous@'. 
+
+This function should be called only once for each instance, after a connection 
+has been established. 
+
+It should not be called at all if a host and user were given when the instance
+was created. 
+
+Most FTP commands are only allowed after the client has logged in. 
+
+The acct parameter supplies “accounting information”; few systems implement this.
+FTP.retrbinary(command, callback[, maxblocksize[, rest]])
+
+
+ 
+Retrieve a file in binary transfer mode. 
+
+Command should be an appropriate RETR command: 'RETR filename'. 
+
+The callback function is called for each block of data received, with a single
+string argument giving the data block. 
+
+The optional maxblocksize argument specifies the maximum chunk size to read on
+the low-level socket object created to do the actual transfer.
+
+A reasonable default is chosen. rest means the same thing as in the transfercmd()
+method.
+FTP.retrlines(command[, callback])
+
+Retrieve a file or directory listing in ASCII transfer mode. 
+
+Command should be an appropriate RETR command or a command such as LIST, NLST or 
+MLSD.
+
+LIST retrieves a list of files and information about those files. 
+
+NLST retrieves a list of file names. 
+
+On some servers, MLSD retrieves a machine readable list of files and information
+about those files. 
+
+The callback function is called for each line with a string argument containing
+the line with the trailing CRLF stripped. 
+
+The default callback prints the line to sys.stdout.
+FTP.dir(argument[, ...])
+
+Produce a directory listing as returned by the LIST command, printing it to
+standard output.
+
+The optional argument is a directory to list (default is the current server
+directory). 
+
+Multiple arguments can be used to pass non-standard options to the LIST command. 
+
+If the last argument is a function, it is used as a callback function as for 
+retrlines(); the default prints to sys.stdout. 
+
+This method returns None.
+FTP.delete(filename)
+
+Remove the file named filename from the server. 
+
+If successful, returns the text of the response, otherwise raises error_perm on 
+permission errors or error_reply on other errors.
+FTP.cwd(pathname)
+
+Set the current directory on the server.
+FTP.mkd(pathname)
+
+Create a new directory on the server.
+FTP.pwd()
+
+Return the pathname of the current directory on the server.
+FTP.quit()
+
+Send a QUIT command to the server and close the connection. 
+
+This is the “polite” way to close a connection, but it may raise an exception if
+the server responds with an error to the QUIT command. 
+
+This implies a call to the close() method which renders the FTP instance useless
+for subsequent calls.
+FTP.close()
+
+Close the connection unilaterally. 
+
+This should not be applied to an already closed connection such as after a 
+successful call to quit(). 
+
+After this call the FTP instance should not be used any more.
+
+After a call to close() or quit() you cannot reopen the connection by issuing
+another login() method).