downloading a file from SharePoint Online with PowerShell

Question

I have a requirement to download files from a sharepoint online document library using powershell

I\'ve managed to get to the point where the download should happen

Answer 1

While the CSOM code above likely can be made to work I find it easier to use the web client method.

(from http://soerennielsen.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/use-csom-from-powershell/)

I've used the code below, to retrieve a bunch of files (metadata from CSOM queries) to a folder (using your $result collection, other params should be adjusted a bit):

#$siteUrlString site collection url
#$outPath path to export directory


$siteUri = [Uri]$siteUrlString
$client = new-object System.Net.WebClient
$client.UseDefaultCredentials=$true

if ( -not (Test-Path $outPath) ) {
    New-Item $outPath -Type Directory  | Out-Null
}

$result |% {
    $url = new-object Uri($siteUri, $_["FileRef"])
    $fileName = $_["FileLeafRef"]
    $outFile = Join-Path $outPath $fileName
    Write-Host "Downloading $url to $outFile"

    try{
        $client.DownloadFile( $url, $outFile )      
    }
    catch{
        #one simple retry...
        try{
            $client.DownloadFile( $url, $outFile )      
        }
        catch{
            write-error "Failed to download $url, $_"
        }
    }
}   

The trick here is the $client.UseDefaultCredentials=$true

which will authenticate the webclient for you (as the current user).