the file I'm checking is about 2.4Megs so I dont want to pull the file down each time I check it.

Have a look at the batch script that was created that does this for ftp.mcafee.com.

Check if FTP file has changed

Here is an updated version that not only checks for a new version, but gets it.

FTP File Check

We have used this with ePO (ePolicy Orchestrator) for about a year and a half with no problems.

HTH,

- Kent

; Kixtart script for retrieving
; latest superdat file from McaFee's
; FTP site.
; 02/19/02 by Jason Hammond
;
$userlogin="anonymous" ; user name for ftp.nai.com
$userpass="youraddress@yourdomain.com" ; email address
$ftpdir="/pub/antivirus/superdat/intel"
$ftpsite="ftp.nai.com"
$ftpbat="ftp.scr"
$loc="c:\ftp" ; location of script files
; and flag file

Break ON
Shell "%COMSPEC% /C ftp -s:" + $loc + "\" + $ftpbat
If Not Exist($loc + "\vcheck.txt")
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c copy $loc\vcheck.txt $loc\current.log"
If not Exist($loc + "\vcheck.txt")
? "ftp login failed" ; Im working on adding a loop to
; try loggin in again.
Goto End
EndIf
EndIf

If Open(1, $loc + "\vcheck.txt") =0
$vcheck = ReadLine(1)
If Open(2, $loc + "\current.log") =0
$current = ReadLine(2)
If $vcheck <> $current
$version=$vcheck
Close (1)
Close (2)
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c copy $loc\vcheck.txt $loc\current.log"
Goto Download
EndIf
EndIf
EndIf
Goto End

ownload
If Exist($loc + "\ftpget.scr")
Del "$loc\ftpget.scr"
EndIf
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo open $ftpsite >$loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo $userlogin >> $loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo $userpass >> $loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo CD $ftpdir >> $loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo lcd $loc >> $loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo get $version >> $loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c echo bye >> $loc\ftpget.scr"
Shell "%COMSPEC% /c ftp -s:$loc\ftpget.scr"
:End

contents of ftp.scr

open ftp.nai.com
anonymous
youremail@yourdomain
cd /pub/antivirus/superdat/intel
dir s*.exe c:\ftp\currentd.txt
ls s*.exe c:\ftp\vcheck.txt
bye

code:

---

If RedirectOutput($loc + "\ftpget.scr") = 0
  "open " + $ftpsite ?
  $userlogin ?
  $userpass ?
  "CD " + $ftpdir ?
  "lcd " + $loc ?
  "get " + $version ?
  "bye" ?
$rc = RedirectOutput("")
Endif

---

I dont want to confuse the issues but this is something that I have been working on for quite some time but never got around to finishing. I wanted to acheive exactly the same thing, check an FTP site (symantec) for a changed definition file and download it if the date and time is different to what was previously downloaded.

Although this is not a working script (to be honest, I can't even remember where I am up to), you may get some idea's behind what I have done (specifically the "DeterminNewNavDef" section). Like I said before, I hope I am not confusing you.

I should note that I have taken snippets out of an FTP script that I got of this board (I think it was Bryce's). Appologies for not knowing...
Terry.

code:

---

break on
cls
;debug on
N:
CD "\Miscellaneous\Scheduled Jobs\Virus Def Update"
Call "\\ittbinghamt\x$\workarea\kix\BreakFile.udf"

Gosub InitVaribles
Gosub GetFTPDirList
Gosub GetServerFileSize	
GoSub DeterminNewNavDef
If $NewNavUpdate = "Yes"
	GoSub GetVirusUpdate
EndIf
Exit
;INITVARIBLES-------------------------------------------------------------
:InitVaribles
	$ftpsite = "ftp.symantec.com"
	$username = "anonymous"
	$password = "guest@@guest.com"
	$FTPdir = "/public/english_us_canada/antivirus_definitions/norton_antivirus/static"
	$DownloadDir = "n:\Norton Anti Virus\Client Installations\NAVCE 7.6"
	$NavUpdateFileName = "sarcx86.exe"
	$NavUpdateFile = FileNotExt($NavUpdateFileName)  ;fuction in Breakfile.udf
	$NavUpdateExt = FileExt($NavUpdateFileName)      ;fuction in Breakfile.udf
	$cr = chr(13)+chr(10)
	$FTPLogFile = "NAV.out"
	$FTPScript = "NAVUpdate.ftp"
	$NAVError = ""
	$NewNavUpdate = "No"

RETURN
;DETERMINNEWNAVDEF-----------------------------------------------------
  :DeterminNewNavDef
$NavLocalFileSize = GetFileSize($DownloadDir + "\" + $NavUpdateFileName)
If $RemoteFileSize > 0 and $RemoteFileSize <> $LocalFileSize ; there is a different file on the ftp site
	$NewNavUpdate = "Yes"
Endif
$Tmp = close(1)
del $FTPLogFile
exit
;GETFTPDIRLIST----------------------------------------------------------------
:GetFTPDirList
	$ftpcommand = "open $ftpsite$cr"+
	"$username$cr"+
	"$password$cr"+
	"cd $ftpDir$cr"+
	"dir $cr"+
	"quit$cr"
	$Tmp = open(10,"$FTPScript",5)
	$Tmp = writeline(10,"$FTPCommand")
	$Tmp = close(10)
	shell "%comspec% /c ftp -s:$FTPScript > $FTPLogFile" 
	del "$FTPScript"
RETURN
;GETSERVERFILESIZE-------------------------------------------------------
;$RemoteFileSize = File size of sarcx86.exe on FTP server
:GetServerFileSize
$UpdateFoundInLog = "No" ;checking varible to check to see the nav update is actually found in the ftp log file.

	$tmp = Open(1,$FTPLogFile,2)
	$RemoteFileSize = 0
	If $tmp = 0 ; File opened sucessfully
		$LogLine = ReadLine(1)
		Do
			$LogLinePointer = Instr($LogLine,"$NavUpdateFileName") ;The position in the line of the start of the string sarcx86.exe
			debug on
			If $LogLinePointer > 0
				debug on
				$UpdateFoundInLog = "Yes"
				? $LogLine
				$LogLinePointer = $NAVLogLinePointer - 15 ;The file size value last char is 15 spaces from the start of the sarcx86.exe string
				$cnt = 0
				Do
					$x = Substr($LogLine,$LogLinePointer - $cnt,1)
					$cnt = $cnt + 1
				Until $x = " "
				$cnt = $cnt - 1
				$RemoteFileSize = Substr($LogLine,$LogLinePointer - ($cnt-1),$cnt)
			Else
				$LogLine = ReadLine(1)
			Endif
		Until @Error<>0 or $LogLinePointer > 0
		Close (1)
		If UpdateFoundInLog = "No"  ;$NavUpdateFileName was not found in the ftplogfile.....
			debug on
			$NavError = $NavError + "ERROR. Could not find $NavUpdateFileName within FTP LogFile($FTPLogFile)." + $CR
			$NavError = $NavError + "Possible causes could be:" + $CR
			$NavError = $NavError + "    1. A failure to FTP to $FTPSite" + $CR
			$NavError = $NavError + "    2. A failure to change directories to $FTPdir at $FTPSite" + $CR
			$NavError = $NavError + "    3. $NavUpdateFileName not found in $FTPdir at $FTPSite" + $CR
			$NavError = $NavError + $CR + "Check $FTPLogFile for Error Outputs."
			Goto NAVError
		EndIf
	Else ; Error opening $FTP Log File
		Select
			Case $Tmp = -3
				$NavError = $NavError + "ERROR: $tmp. Error Opening $FTPLogFile. (Script Error, File number already in use)!" + $CR
			Case $Tmp = -2
				$NavError = $NavError + "ERROR: $tmp. Error Opening $FTPLogFile. (Script Error.  Invalid File Number)!" + $CR
			Case $Tmp = -1
				$NavError = $NavError + "ERROR: $tmp.  Error Opening $FTPLogFile. ($FTPLogFile Not found)!" + $CR
			Case $Tmp >0
				$NavError = $NavError + "ERROR: $tmp.  Error Opening $FTPLogFile. (System Error: @SERROR)!" + $CR
		EndSelect
 		Goto NAVError
	Endif
Return
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------
:GetVirusUpdate
;ftp file down as .new	
;If ftp was successfull (file exists)	
	Gosub BackupFiles
Return

;-------------------------------------------------------------------------

:GetFTPFile
	$ftpcommand = 'open $ftpsite$cr'+
	'$username$cr'+
	'$password$cr'+
	'cd $ftpDir$cr'+
	'bin $cr'+
	'get $ftpfile "$downloadDIR\Virus Definitions\$ftpfile.new"$cr'+
	'quit$cr'
	$Tmp = open(10,"$FTPScript",5)
	$Tmp = writeline(10,"$FTPCommand")
	$Tmp = close(10)
	shell "%comspec% /c ftp -s:$FTPScript > $Nav"
	del "Ftpcommand.tmp"
	If getfilesize("$FTPScript") <> $RemoteFileSize ;Determined in :GetServerFileSize
		$NavError = $NavError + "Error: The Downloaded $FTPFile is inconsitent with previous detemined size." + $CR
		$NavError = $NavError + "Possible causes could be:" + $CR
		$NavError = $NavError + "    1. The ftp process was interupted and an imcomplete $FTPFile was downloaded" + $CR
		$NavError = $NavError + "    2. The $FTPFile has been updated since the script check its file size" + $CR + $CR
		$NavError = $NavError + "Check $FTPLogFile for errors."
		$NavError = $NavError + "The Downloaded $FTPFile is considered corrupt and will be deleted."		
		Goto NAVError
	Endif
	
	If Exist($NavUpdateFile + "(10).bak")
		Del $NavUpdateFile + "(10).bak"
	Endif
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(09).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(10).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(08).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(09).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(07).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(08).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(06).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(07).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(05).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(06).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(04).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(05).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(03).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(04).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(02).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(03).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile(01).bak" "$NaveUpdateFile(02).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile.exe" "$NaveUpdateFile(01).bak"'
	SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c RENAME "$DownloadDir\Virus Definitions\$NaveUpdateFile.exe.new" "$NaveUpdateFile.exe"'
  SHELL '%COMSPEC% /c sarcx86.exe virdef /EXTRACT /Q'
	del $FTPScript
RETURN

;NAVERROR--------------------------------------------------------
:NAVError
? $NavError
EXIT

---

Here is BreakFile.udf

code:

---

 
Function FileExt($FileName)
	$DotPoint = instr($filename,".")
	If $DotPoint > 0
		$FileExt = SubStr($FileName,$DotPoint+1,Len($FileName) - $DotPoint)
	Else
		$FileExt = ""
	Endif
Endfunction
Function FileNotExt($FileName)
	$DotPoint = instr($filename,".")
	If $DotPoint > 0
		$FileNotExt = SubStr($FileName,1,$DotPoint-1)
	Else
		$FileNotExt = ""
	Endif
EndFunction

---

[ 20 February 2002: Message edited by: binghamt ]

Wow you sure put some serious time into that script. Thanks for posting that, there is some syntax that you are using that I didnt realize you could do. I have it easy since mcafee's superdat files are numbered sdat4168, especially since I have heard pulling version info, date,time etc can sometimes be unreliable from ftp sites.

thanks again.