Command line option to download file in FileZilla

Question

I am using FileZilla (GUI) to download files from an FTP server. Can any one tell me a command line argument to download file from FTP server to local file system?

Answer 1

FileZilla does not have any command line arguments (nor any other way) that allow automatic transfer.

See:
FileZilla Client command-line arguments
https://trac.filezilla-project.org/ticket/2317

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Though you can use any other FTP client that allows automation.

• Built-it Windows ftp.exe (use its get command).

  Though Windows ftp.exe does not support a passive mode, what makes it useless nowadays, when connecting over Internet due to ubiquitous firewalls and NATs.

• WinSCP: You can automatically make it download a file both in GUI and scripting mode

  • GUI:

    winscp.exe ftp://user:password@host/path/file.ext
    

    You will get a dialog, where you select a directory to download the file to.

    See https://winscp.net/eng/docs/commandline

  • Scripting (put the command to a .bat file):

    winscp.com /command ^  
        "open ftp://user:password@host/" ^  
        "get /path/file.ext c:\" ^  
        "exit"
    

    See https://winscp.net/eng/docs/guide_automation

  • The WinSCP can even generate a script from an imported FileZilla session.

    For details, see a guide to FileZilla automation.

  (I'm the author of WinSCP)

Answer 2

FileZilla does support some basic command line options for the upload and download of files. Not all options are documented. You can download a file with the option "-d sourcefile targetdir"

Example (download):

filezilla.exe -d ftp://user:[e-mail]/folder/* "c:\downloads\" ​ /overwrite /close 

Example (upload):

filezilla.exe -u "c:\temp\samplefile.exe" ​ftp://user:[e-mail]/folder /overwrite /close 

/close -- will close the GUI after the download/upload completes

/overwrite -- will overwrite the files in target without prompting the user

You can also connect to a site from the site manager e.g. --site="0/site1".

Below are reference sites with further examples including download links to FileZilla versions (2.32 / 3.1) that supported the feature.

FAQ Link

FileZilla Download link