FTP Download to specified Directory Error

HI,

Desktop app VS 2022 VB.net VB


I'm trying to FTP a file to "My Documents/PDFs" folder with a desktop app. I have the FTP working just fine but when I set/change the destination path to "My Documents" , "Documents" or "Downloads" (preferred) I get and error
" InnerException: {"Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Downloads\61503.pdf'."}"
I know the C:\downloads directory exists.
Any Ideas?

Code:

---


  Dim FilenameIs As String = ("61503.pdf")
  Dim destinationPath As String = ("C:/Downloads\61503.pdf")
  Dim client As New WebClient()
  client.Credentials = New NetworkCredential("SigPics", "MtPWD") ' Replace with actual credentials

  Try
      'client.DownloadFile("ftp://ftp.dashleywebs.com/61503.jpg", "C:\Users\Public\Pictures\" & FilenameIs & "") ' Replace with actual paths
      client.DownloadFile("ftp://ftp.dashleywebs.com/61503.jpg", destinationPath) ' Replace with actual paths
      Console.WriteLine("File downloaded successfully using WebClient.")
  Catch ex As Exception
      Console.WriteLine("Error downloading file: " & ex.Message)
  End Try

---

Code:

---

C:/Downloads\61503.pdf

---

Should be:

Code:

---

C:\Downloads\61503.pdf

---

@jdc2000


I had it that way and and tried both slashes. Either way with C:\Downloads\61503.pdf I still get

InnerException: {"Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Downloads\61503.pdf'."}

If I change the destination to Dim destinationPath As String = ("C:\Users\Public\Pictures\61503.jpg")
It downloads to that folder. Just can't get it into Downloads folder

What version of .NET are you using? Also, what is the Exception (not just the InnerException)?

The reason I ask is because in .NET core, Microsoft's official position is (reference):

Quote:

---

Recommended action
Use the System.Net.Http.HttpClient class instead.

For FTP, since HttpClient doesn't support it, we recommend using a third-party library.

---

And for the Exception, it very well could be a permissions issue. You can double-check this by running your application as an administrator.

For FTP just try FluentFTP NuGet package. It is open source, MIT license.

Source code link: https://github.com/robinrodricks/FluentFTP

Check this sample (from the repository in GitHub):
https://github.com/robinrodricks/Flu...ownloadFile.vb

Does C:\Downloads exists??
If you refer to the Download folder this is located in your user folder.
Something like this:
C:\Users\Arnoutdv\Downloads

The cure was
Dim userprof As String = Environ("USERPROFILE")
Dim destinationPath As String = (userprof & "\downlaods\61503.jpg")

It had to go to c:\users\<username>\downloads\myfilename
or in m y case c:\users\dan\downloads\filename

Thanks Arnoutdv

-dan

Ah, I incorrectly assumed that you did indeed want to go to C:\downloads and not the user profile's downloads. In that case, use this instead, it is a much better solution:

Code:

---

Private Function GetDestinationPath(filename As String) As String
    Dim userProfilePath As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.UserProfile)
    Dim destinationPath As String = IO.Path.Combine(userProfilePath, "Downloads", filename)
    Return destinationPath
End Function

' usage: Dim destinationPath As String = GetDestinationPath("61503.jpg")

---

@dday C:\downloads was my intent but the user profile' downloads works just as well. I Like the function you provided to so I shall use it. :) Since this app wil run on multiple desktops the use profile is still good.
to answer your ealier question(s) The framework is 4.7.2 and the actual error was: Message: "An exception occurred during a WebClient request." Status: UnknownError {16}.
I agree I think it was a permissons issue. Dosen't matter now. :) It's working with the user profile downloads so I'm content.