Writing ftp macros

These steps describe how to create an ftp macro.

You must have created the $HOME/.netrc file.

To write an ftp macro:

1. Edit the $HOME/.netrc file to include the following instructions:

   
   macdef init
   put schedule

   Be sure to insert a blank line at the end of your ftp macro. The blank line terminates the ftp macro. In the above example, the macdef subcommand defines the subcommand macro init. The line following is the command the macro specifies, in this case put schedule, where schedule is the name of a file.

2. After you create the ftp macro, at the command line prompt, type:

   ftp 
   hostname
   

   Where hostname is the name of the host to which you are connecting.

   ftp scans the $HOME/.netrc file for a login definition matching your host name and uses that login definition to log you in.
3. After you log in, at the command line prompt, type:

   ftp init

   In this example, ftp scans for the macro named init and executes the command or commands the macro specifies.

   An ftp macro is associated with the login entry immediately preceding it. ftp macros are not global to the $HOME/.netrc file. The macro init is executed automatically upon login. Other macros can be executed from the ftp prompt (ftp>) by typing the following:

   $getit

   In this example, the $ executes the ftp macro getit.