Using PHP ftp_get() to retrieve file with wildcard filename

Question

I have a file on an FTP with a dynamic filename. The schema looks something like:

ABCD_2_EFGH_YYMMDD_YYMMDD_randomnumber_.TXT

The dates (

Answer 1

The ftp_get can be used to download a single file only. No wildcards are supported.

---

The only reliable way is to list all files, filter them locally and then download them one-by-one:

$conn_id = ftp_connect("ftp.example.com") or die("Cannot connect");
ftp_login($conn_id, "username", "password") or die("Cannot login");
ftp_pasv($conn_id, true) or die("Cannot change to passive mode");

$files = ftp_nlist($conn_id, "/path");

foreach ($files as $file)
{
    if (preg_match("/\.txt$/i", $file))
    {
        echo "Found $file\n";
        // download with ftp_get
    }
}

Some (most) servers will allow you to use a wildcard directly:

$conn_id = ftp_connect("ftp.example.com") or die("Cannot connect");
ftp_login($conn_id, "username", "password") or die("Cannot login");
ftp_pasv($conn_id, true) or die("Cannot change to passive mode");

$files = ftp_nlist($conn_id, "/path/*.txt");

foreach ($files as $file)
{
    echo "Found $file\n";
    // download with ftp_get
}

But that's a nonstandard feature (while widely supported).

For details see my answer to FTP directory partial listing with wildcards.