(Visual Basic) HTTP Download any Type of File (binary or text)

The Download method may be called to download any type of file. It may be a binary file such as a .zip, .pdf, etc., or it may be text (.xml, .txt, etc.). There is no distinction. The Download method downloads the file from the web server and streams it to a file byte-for-byte exactly as received. Any web page may be downloaded in the same fashion. Passing a URL for a page that would normally be viewed in a browser would simply download to a file the HTML delivered by the web server.

SSL/TLS connections are fully supported by simply specifying a URL that begins with "https://".

Download Chilkat HTTP ActiveX

Dim http As New ChilkatHttp

Dim success As Long

'  Any string unlocks the component for the 1st 30-days.
success = http.UnlockComponent("Anything for 30-day trial")
If (success <> 1) Then
    Text1.Text = Text1.Text & http.LastErrorText & vbCrLf
    Exit Sub
End If

Dim localFilePath As String

'  Download a .zip
localFilePath = "/temp/hamlet.zip"
success = http.Download("http://www.chilkatsoft.com/hamlet.zip",localFilePath)
If (success <> 1) Then
    Text1.Text = Text1.Text & http.LastErrorText & vbCrLf
    Exit Sub
End If

'  Download an XML file:
localFilePath = "/temp/hamlet.xml"
success = http.Download("http://www.chilkatsoft.com/hamlet.xml",localFilePath)
If (success <> 1) Then
    Text1.Text = Text1.Text & http.LastErrorText & vbCrLf
    Exit Sub
End If

Text1.Text = Text1.Text & "OK!" & vbCrLf