Re: Verifying Existence of a File on a Server

[Scott Klement <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I am creating an association between some iSeries data and files that 
> reside on Windows servers.  When the file name is entered, I'd like to 
> verify the file exists, but I'm not sure how.

The iSeries can access Windows file shares via the /QNTC filesystem.  For 
example, we have a server named RED (that's just the name we used) and on 
that server we have a share named ISDOCS where we store our documentation 
for the Information Systems department.  If I wanted to access a file 
named "TimeMgt2.xls" in a folder called "scottk" I could refer to it from 
the iSeries using the following IFS path:

    /QNTC/SERVER4/isdocs/scottk/TimeMgt2.xls

When I use that path, it actually logs on to the Windows server named 
SERVER4 (using the userid/password of the iSeries user who tried to access 
it) and refers directly to that file.

If I wanted to check if that file existed, I could write an RPG program 
(or any other ILE HLL) to call the access() API.  That API checks whether 
a file exists (and optionally, whether you have access to it)  for 
example:

 /free
        filename = '/QNTC/SERVER4/isdocs/scottk/TimeMgt2.xls';

        if (access(%trimr(filename): F_OK) = 0);
           // hurray! file exists
        endif;

Personally, that's the approach I'd take.  I wouldn't even look at FTP for 
something like this unless for some reason Windows network access isn't 
available (which would be strange, since it's a Windows server!).

If you must use FTP, it'd be MUCH easier with FTPAPI than it would be with 
the i5/OS FTP client. With FTPAPI you'd be able to keep the session open 
and just check for files.  If you used the i5/OS FTP client, you'd have to 
make a new connection each time, then parse the FTP log.

But, again, I wouldn't even consider FTP unless there isn't a better way. 
I don't understand why everyone is discussing writing a complex, awkward, 
FTP kludge at this point in time.