CkPython

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 sys
import chilkat

success = False

#  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.

ftp = chilkat.CkFtp2()

ftp.put_Hostname("ftp.example.com")
ftp.put_Username("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.put_Password("myPassword")

success = ftp.Connect()
if (success == False):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

success = ftp.ChangeRemoteDir("public_html")
if (success == False):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

#  GetDirCount retrieves the directory listing on the first call and returns the number of
#  entries.  A negative return indicates failure.
n = ftp.GetDirCount()
if (n < 0):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

for i in range(0,n):
    name = ftp.getFilename(i)
    if (ftp.GetIsSymbolicLink(i)):
        print("[LINK] " + name)
    else:
        print("       " + name)

success = ftp.Disconnect()
if (success == False):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()