Net-xFTP

Net::xFTP is a wrapper class to combine common functions of Net::FTP, 
Net::SSH2, and Net::SFTP into a single set of functions allowing one to 
switch seemlessly between the two without having to make non-trivial 
code changes.  Only functionality common to both protocols has been 
implemented here with the intent and invitation to add more functions 
and features and maybe other *FTP-ish modules in the future.

This module is a new work in progress - patches and suggestions are most 
welcome!  The methods have been tested and seem to work properly for normal 
cases.  Work is also underway to incorporate Net::xFTP into ptkftp 
which will essentially wrap a Perl/Tk gui around Net::xFTP.

PURPOSE

I created this module when I had developed several web application 
programs which FTP'd data to and from a central server via Net::FTP.  
The client changed to a new remote server that required Net::SFTP.  Faced 
with rewriting these programs without changing functionality (since for 
some reason Net::FTP and Net::SFTP use slightly different methods and 
conventions).  I decided instead to simply create a common module that 
would use the same method calls to do the same things and allow me to 
specify the protocol in a single place.  I also am the author of I<ptkftp>, 
a Perl/Tk graphical user-interface to Net::FTP and Net::SFTP.  I now 
intend to rewrite it to use Net::xFTP and greatly reduce and simplify 
the code for that application.

Hopelfully others will find this module useful.  Patches adding needed 
functionality are welcome.  

SYNOPSIS

	use Net::xFTP;

	#Test for needed protocol module.
	die "..This server connection needs Net::SFTP!" 
		unless (Net::xFTP->haveSFTP());

	#Establish a new connection to a remote host.
	$ftp = Net::xFTP->new('SFTP', "some.host.name", Debug => 0,
			user => 'userid', password => 'opensesme')
		or die "Cannot connect to some.host.name: $@";

	#Establish a "local" (simulated connection) to self.
	$ftp = Net::xFTP->new();

	#Change the current working directory on the remote host.
	$ftp->cwd('/pub')
		or die "Cannot change working directory ", $ftp->message();

	#Get the current working directory on the remote host.
	my $current_remote_path = $ftp->pwd();

	#Get a list of files and subdirectories in "/pub".
	my @filesAndSubfolders = $ftp->ls('/pub');

	#Get a detailed (ls -l) list of files and subdirectories.
	my @ls_l_details = $ftp->dir('/pub');

	#Create a new subdirectory.
	$ftp->mkdir('myownfolder')
		or die "Cannot make subdirectory ", $ftp->message();

	#Remove an empty subdirectory.
	$ftp->rmdir('myownfolder')
		or die "Cannot remove subdirectory ", $ftp->message();

	#Get the contents of a file on the remote server.
	$ftp->get('remote.file', 'local.file')
		or die "get failed ", $ftp->message();

	#Get the contents of a remote file and write to an open filehandle.
	open FHANDLE, ">local.file" or die "Could not open local file ($!)";
	print FHANDLE "A Header Line!\n";
	flush FHANDLE;
	$ftp->get('remote.file', *FHANDLE)
		or die "get failed ", $ftp->message();
	print FHANDLE "A Footer Line!\n";
	close FHANDLE;

	#Put a local file onto the remote server.
	$ftp->put('local.file', 'remote.file')
		or die "put failed ", $ftp->message();

	#Read from a file handle putting the content in a remote file.
	open FHANDLE "<local.file" or die "Could not open local file ($!)";
	$ftp->put(*FHANDLE, 'remote.file')
		or die "put failed ", $ftp->message();
	close FHANDLE;

	#Delete a remote file.
	$ftp->delete('some.file')
		or die "Cannot delete file ", $ftp->message();

	#Rename a remote file.
	$ftp->rename('oldfilename', 'newfilename')
		or die "Cannot delete file ", $ftp->message();

	#Change permissions of a remote file.
	$ftp->chmod(755, 'some.file.or.dir')
		or die "Cannot change permissions ", $ftp->message();

	#Fetch the size of a remote file.
	print "remote.file has ".$ftp->size('remote.file')." bytes.\n";

	#Copy a remote file to a new remote location.
	$ftp->copy('remote.fileA','remote.fileB')
		or die "Cannot copy the file ", $ftp->message();

	#Move a remote file to a new remote location.
	$ftp->move('old/path/old.filename', 'new/path/new.filename')
		or die "Cannot move the file ", $ftp->message();

	#Disconnect an existing connection.
	$ftp->quit();

INSTALLATION

To install this module, run the following commands:

    perl Makefile.PL
    make
    make test
    make install


COPYRIGHT AND LICENCE

Copyright (C) 2005 - 2010 Jim Turner

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself.