Dear list, I am trying to download a text file from an ftp site using download.file(). I used the following code: url <- "ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt" dest <- "c:/test/downloadtest.txt" download.file(url, dest) I get this error message, indicating that R is unable to open the connection: trying URL 'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt' Error in download.file(url, dest) : cannot open URL 'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt' I'm sure there is a simple solution that allows R to open this connection, but after reading the "url" help file for an hour, I can't seem to find the solution. Is anyone willing to help me solve this problem? thanks in advance for any advice, Zack
I ran your script on Windows Vista Ultimate, SP1 and it worked fine: ## R start...> url <- 'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt' > dest <- "//PFO-SBS001/Redirected/tonyb/Desktop/test/downloadtest.txt" > download.file(url, dest)trying URL 'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/ history/idaho/13e19.txt' ftp data connection made, file length 5026 bytes opened URL downloaded 5026 bytes ## R end.> sessionInfo()R version 2.8.1 (2008-12-22) i386-pc-mingw32 locale: LC_COLLATE=English_United Kingdom.1252;LC_CTYPE=English_United Kingdom. 1252;LC_MONETARY=English_United Kingdom. 1252;LC_NUMERIC=C;LC_TIME=English_United Kingdom.1252 attached base packages: [1] stats graphics grDevices utils datasets methods base>On 12 Jan, 14:51, zack holden <zack_hol... at hotmail.com> wrote:> Dear list, > > I am trying to download a text file from an ftp site using download.file(). > > I used the following code: > url <- "ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho..." > dest <- "c:/test/downloadtest.txt" > download.file(url, dest) > I get this error message, indicating that R is unable to open the connection: > trying URL 'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho... > Error in download.file(url, dest) : > ? cannot open URL 'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho... > > I'm sure there is a simple solution that allows R to open this connection, but after reading the "url" help file for an hour, I can't seem to find the solution. Is anyone willing to help me solve this problem? > > thanks in advance for any advice, > > Zack > > ______________________________________________ > R-h... at r-project.org mailing listhttps://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guidehttp://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
First, try the example in the test file (tests/internet.R)
read.table("ftp://ftp.stats.ox.ac.uk/pub/datasets/csb/ch11b.dat")
or
download.file("ftp://ftp.stats.ox.ac.uk/pub/datasets/csb/ch11b.dat",
"test"
That is known to work on many, many R systems.
I get the same error as you on that URL, but it looks to me that the
site required PASV ftp, something R's download.file does not support.
>From the detailed logs (options(internet.info=0)
<<<
230---------------------------------------------------------
230- Welcome To The
230- Natural Resources Conservation Service - USDA
230- NATIONAL WATER and CLIMATE CENTER
230---------------------------------------------------------
230-
230- The Local Date and Time is Mon Jan 12 08:30:25 2009
230- Current Directory is /
230- Information Contact is: info at wcc.nrcs.usda.gov
230- -----------------------------------------------------------
230- Note that data files herein are at most updated once an hour.
230-
230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
--
19: In download.file(url, dest) :
---
--
20: In download.file(url, dest) : Got 230
21: In download.file(url, dest) : Invalid answer to PASV
Since you are on Windows, using --internet2 (see the rw-FAQ) might
work.
On Mon, 12 Jan 2009, zack holden wrote:
>
> Dear list,
>
> I am trying to download a text file from an ftp site using download.file().
>
> I used the following code:
> url <-
"ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt"
> dest <- "c:/test/downloadtest.txt"
> download.file(url, dest)
> I get this error message, indicating that R is unable to open the
connection:
> trying URL
'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt'
> Error in download.file(url, dest) :
> cannot open URL
'ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/snow_course/table/history/idaho/13e19.txt'
>
> I'm sure there is a simple solution that allows R to open this
connection, but after reading the "url" help file for an hour, I
can't seem to find the solution. Is anyone willing to help me solve this
problem?
>
> thanks in advance for any advice,
>
> Zack
--
Brian D. Ripley, ripley at stats.ox.ac.uk
Professor of Applied Statistics, http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/~ripley/
University of Oxford, Tel: +44 1865 272861 (self)
1 South Parks Road, +44 1865 272866 (PA)
Oxford OX1 3TG, UK Fax: +44 1865 272595