Computer and Software Support


FTP

This page is from Microsoft

Updated: January 21, 2005

Transfers files to and from a computer running a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server service such as Internet Information Services. Ftp can be used interactively or in batch mode by processing ASCII text files.

 
Syntax
ftp [-v] [-d] [-i] [-n] [-g] [-s:FileName] [-a] [-w:WindowSize] [-A] [Host]
Parameters
-v
Suppresses the display of FTP server responses.
-d
Enables debugging, displaying all commands passed between the FTP client and FTP server.
-i
Disables interactive prompting during multiple file transfers.
-n
Suppresses the ability to log on automatically when the initial connection is made.
-g
Disables file name globbing. Glob permits the use of the asterisk (*) and question mark (?) as wildcard characters in local file and path names. For more information, see Related Topics.
-s:FileName
Specifies a text file that contains ftp commands. These commands run automatically after ftp starts. This parameter allows no spaces. Use this parameter instead of redirection (<).
-a
Specifies that any local interface can be used when binding the FTP data connection.
-w:WindowSize
Specifies the size of the transfer buffer. The default window size is 4096 bytes.
-A
Logs onto the FTP server as anonymous.
Host
Specifies the computer name, IP address, or IPv6 address of the FTP server to which to connect. The host name or address, if specified, must be the last parameter on the line.
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
  • You must prefix ftp parameters with a hyphen (-) rather than a slash (/).
  • Ftp command-line parameters are case-sensitive.
  • This command is available only if the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol is installed as a component in the properties of a network adapter in Network Connections.
  • Ftp can be used interactively. After it is started, ftp creates a subenvironment in which you can use ftp commands. You can return to the command prompt by typing the quit command. When the ftp subenvironment is running, it is indicated by the ftp > command prompt.
  • For more information about ftp subcommands, see Related Topics.
  • Ftp supports the use of IPv6 when the IPv6 protocol is installed. For more information, see Related Topics.
Examples
To log on to the FTP server named ftp.example.microsoft.com, type:

ftp ftp.example.microsoft.com

To anonymously log on to the FTP server named ftp.example.microsoft.com, type:

ftp -A ftp.example.microsoft.com

To log on to the FTP server named ftp.example.microsoft.com and run the ftp commands contained in a file named Resynch.txt, type:

ftp -s:resynch.txt ftp.example.microsoft.com

Formatting legend

Format Meaning
Italic Information that the user must supply
Bold Elements that the user must type exactly as shown
Ellipsis (...) Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line
Between brackets ([]) Optional items
Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} Set of choices from which the user must choose only one
Courier font Code or program output