FTP code - need a wildcard in a string

[jimswork1341]

So, I have my FTP code working... only issue is, the file I need to download from the FTP server will have a new name each day... and the only constant in the naming convention will be the first 28 digits (out of about 35). The first 28 will be a label and the date (ie: HM_PROD_CSV_PARTIAL_20151107), after that, it's just random numbers. No rhyme or reason.

I need to be able to tell the code to look for the label (which is always the same) and today's date (easy enough), but I need a wildcard for the rest of the numbers. But it doesn't like wildcards in the string definition.

Please help! Code is attached.

conTARGET = "ftp://ftp.myjob.com/MAP_Outbound/HM_PROD_CSV_PARTIAL_201511070405642.zip"                 
Set objFTP = New FTP
With objFTP
.FtpURL = conTARGET  

[zmbd]

I don't do much with the FTP side; however, have you tried something simple like the asterisk (<shift-8>):
"HM_PROD_CSV_PARTIAL_20151107*.zip" ?

[jimswork1341]

Yep. Tried it. It looks for the literal string, so it attempts to find the * in the name (and obviously doesn't find it).

[Rabbit]

We don't know what FTP library you're using so there's not a whole lot we can tell you about the functions available in said library.

But I'm willing to bet the library, if it doesn't have a wildcard option, at least has a way to traverse the files within the target FTP site. You need to look at the documentation for that library to find the functions you need.

[jimswork1341]

Well, I'm pretty ignorant to this FTP stuff (I'm barely getting these things to even work), but I can tell you that I downloaded the code from here: http://access.mvps.org/access/modules/mdl0037.htm

[Rabbit]

It looks like the documentation is in the file itself and our firewall blocks third party storage sites. Sorry, you'll have to read through the documentation yourself unless someone else on this forum can access that file for you.

But from what I can tell from the description on that page, it says that it can "FTP: Enumerate remote folders" which probably means it can also enumerate the files in those folders. That's probably what you'll have to do.

[NeoPa]

Interesting code from Dev Ashish. He's one of the earliest Access MVPs and is also brilliant when it comes to working outside of the standard application object structure. Much of my understanding has come from looking at his work in such areas.

Unfortunately, it's a bit of a black-box situation. Unless you have access to the documentation I can't see a way to use it to get what you need.

[jimswork1341]

Found a way to get this done - I had my coworker talk to the people who name the files on the FTP site, and they were able to drop the random string at the end of the file name. Success! (Not quite the same as me figuring this out, but I'll take it!) Thanks guys.