Check if file exist on SFTP remote server

Question

The following code will down the file named file.txt from the SFTP remote server to the local machine.

 sftp.Get("/usr/mine/file.txt" , "C:/Folder/");

What i want to do is to Check if the file file.txt exist in the remote server or not. How can i do this check. Help

I am using SharpSSH

You need to request file attributes. You'll get an error if the file doesn't exist. — Eugene Mayevski 'Callback, Jun 09 '12 at 16:19
You might as well just try to download the file and catch the exception if it doesn't exist. It's a race condition anyways. — Bryan Crosby, Jun 09 '12 at 16:20
@BryanCrosby Yes i thought of this way as well. But there might be a better method i guess. — Illep, Jun 09 '12 at 16:22
@Illep: Let's say you check that the file exists, but then something happens between your check (file gets locked, deleted, etc). You might as well just attempt the download. — Bryan Crosby, Jun 09 '12 at 16:23
Yes, thank you for your reply. I would mark it as an answer if you post it as an answer. — Illep, Jun 09 '12 at 16:26

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 09 '12 at 16:48

You could consider just taking the small hit and attempting to download the file. If it doesn't exist, an exception should be thrown and you can just catch it and move on. Checking for a file's existence is a volatile situation so in the majority of cases it's best to try and perform your action.

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 03 '14 at 13:09

This should do the trick.

 using (var sftp = new SftpClient(host, username, password))
        {
            try
            {

                sftp.Connect();
                MessageBox.Show(sftp.Exists(remoteDirectory).ToString());
            }
            catch (Exception Sftpex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(Sftpex.ToString());
            }
        }

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 01 '14 at 02:26

I'm doing this by using .GetFileList and reading the values into an ArrayList and then looping thru each value, adding the filename to a list box. I then check my input file against the list box to see if it exists. Sample code below to add the .GetFileList values into an ArrayList and then into a list box.

BTW - this is VB.NET :)

Dim InputFileList As ArrayList = oSftp.GetFileList(frmOptions.tbFTPInboundFolder.Text)
 For Each f In InputFileList
                If f.ToString() <> "." AndAlso f.ToString <> ".." Then
                    frmMain.lbFTPInputDirectory.Items.Add(f)
                End If
            Next

Check if file exist on SFTP remote server

3 Answers3