DataFlex

Create a Symbolic Link on an SFTP Server

Demonstrates the Chilkat SFtp.SymLink method, which creates a symbolic link on the server. The first argument is the link target and the second is the new symbolic-link path.

Background: A symbolic link stores a path that points at another location, so it can span directories or filesystems and can even point at something that does not exist. A common use is a stable name like latest.log that is repointed at each day's file. Argument order is a frequent source of confusion — the target comes first, the new link path second — and note that how the target string is interpreted (relative to what) is up to the server's implementation.

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Use ChilkatAx-win32.pkg

Procedure Test
    Boolean iSuccess
    Handle hoSftp
    Integer iPort
    String sPassword
    String sTemp1

    Move False To iSuccess

    //  Demonstrates the SFtp.SymLink method, which creates a symbolic link on the server.  The 1st
    //  argument is the link target and the 2nd is the new symbolic-link path.

    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatSFtp)) To hoSftp
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoSftp))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoSftp
    End

    //  Connect, authenticate, and initialize the SFTP subsystem.
    Move 22 To iPort
    Get ComConnect Of hoSftp "sftp.example.com" iPort To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
    //  from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    Move "mySshPassword" To sPassword

    Get ComAuthenticatePw Of hoSftp "mySshLogin" sPassword To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Get ComInitializeSftp Of hoSftp To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  Create a symbolic link "subdir/latest.log" that points at "subdir/2026-07-23.log".  The
    //  server's SFTP implementation determines how the target path is interpreted.
    Get ComSymLink Of hoSftp "subdir/2026-07-23.log" "subdir/latest.log" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoSftp To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Showln "Symbolic link created."

    Send ComDisconnect To hoSftp


End_Procedure