Search code examples
pythonpython-2.7downloadftpftplib

"Permission denied" error from downloading all files from FTP folder

So far I have the gotten the names of the files I need from the FTP site. See code below.

from ftplib import FTP
import os, sys, os.path

def handleDownload(block):
     file.write(block)

ddir='U:/Test Folder'
os.chdir(ddir)
ftp = FTP('sidads.colorado.edu')
ftp.login()

print ('Logging in.')
directory = '/pub/DATASETS/NOAA/G02158/unmasked/2012/04_Apr/'

print ('Changing to ' + directory)
ftp.cwd(directory)
ftp.retrlines('LIST')

print ('Accessing files')

filenames = ftp.nlst() # get filenames within the directory
print (filenames)

Where I am running into trouble is the download of the files into a folder. The code below is something I have tried however I receive the permission error due to the file not being created before I write to it.

for filename in filenames:
     local_filename = os.path.join('C:/ArcGis/New folder', filename)
     file = open(local_filename, 'wb')
     ftp.retrbinary('RETR '+ filename, file.write)
     file.close()

ftp.quit()

Here is the error and callback.

enter image description here

Solution

  • The directory listing includes the . reference to the folder (and probably also .. reference to the parent folder).

    You have to skip it, you cannot download it (them).

    for filename in filenames:
    if (filename != '.') and (filename != '..'):
        local_filename = os.path.join('C:/ArcGis/New folder', filename)
        file = open(local_filename, 'wb')
        ftp.retrbinary('RETR '+ filename, file.write)
        file.close()

    Actually you have to skip all folders in the listing.