Java

Check if an FTP Listing Entry is a Symbolic Link

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ftp2.GetIsSymbolicLink method, which returns whether a cached directory-listing entry is a symbolic link. The only argument is a zero-based index. This information is available only when the server's listing format reports it.

Background: Symbolic links matter because following one can lead outside the expected directory or into a cycle, so recursive operations often need to identify and skip them. Unlike the file/directory distinction, symlink information is not always present — only listing formats that mark links (typically Unix-style LIST output) expose it, and this returns false when the server does not.

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import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.ChilkatException;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.Ftp2;

public class ChilkatExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Demonstrates the Ftp2.GetIsSymbolicLink method, which returns whether a cached directory-listing
        // entry is a symbolic link.  The only argument is a zero-based index.  This information is only
        // available when the server's listing format reports it.

        Ftp2 ftp = new Ftp2();

        ftp.setHostname("ftp.example.com");
        ftp.setUsername("myFtpLogin");

        // 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.
        ftp.setPassword("myPassword");

        try {
            ftp.connect();

            ftp.changeRemoteDir("public_html");
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }

        // GetDirCount retrieves the directory listing on the first call and returns the number of
        // entries.  A negative return indicates failure.
        int n = ftp.getDirCount();
        if (n < 0) {
            System.out.println(ftp.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }

        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            String name = ftp.getFilename(i);
            if (ftp.getIsSymbolicLink(i)) {
                System.out.println("[LINK] " + name);
            } else {
                System.out.println("       " + name);
            }
        }

        try {
            ftp.disconnect();
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }
    }
}