Download and Delete Matching Files

Python example showing how to FTP download files matching a wildcarded file pattern and delete them from the FTP server.

Download Chilkat Python Library

import sys
import chilkat

ftp = chilkat.CkFtp2()

#  Any string unlocks the component for the 1st 30-days.
success = ftp.UnlockComponent("Anything for 30-day trial")
if (success != True):
    print ftp.lastErrorText()
    sys.exit()

ftp.put_Hostname("www.example-code.com")
ftp.put_Username("****")
ftp.put_Password("****")

#  Connect and login to the FTP server.
success = ftp.Connect()
if (success != True):
    print ftp.lastErrorText()
    sys.exit()

#  Note: It may be tempting to call MGetFiles(pattern,localDir)
#  followed by a call to DeleteMatching(pattern), however,
#  if new files are uploaded to the FTP server while MGetFiles
#  is running, those files will be deleted by DeleteMatching.

#  Instead, it's best to set the ListPattern and then iterate
#  over each file...

#  Set the ListPattern = "*.xml" to match all XML files.
ftp.put_ListPattern("*.xml")

#  NumFilesAndDirs contains the number of files and sub-directories
#  matching the ListPattern in the current remote directory.
#  The first time it is accessed after changing ListPattern,
#  or after calling ChangeRemoteDir, a snapshot of the directory
#  listing is fetched and saved in memory. During this loop,
#  the value of NumFilesAndDirs will not change.

n = ftp.get_NumFilesAndDirs()
if (n < 0):
    print ftp.lastErrorText()
    sys.exit()

if (n > 0):
    for i in range(0,n):

        fname = ftp.getFilename(i)
        print fname

        #  Download the file into the current working directory.
        success = ftp.GetFile(fname,fname)
        if (success != True):
            print ftp.lastErrorText()
            sys.exit()

        #  Now delete the file.
        success = ftp.DeleteRemoteFile(fname)
        if (success != True):
            print ftp.lastErrorText()
            sys.exit()

ftp.Disconnect()