Hello,

     I have a requirement to download files automatically from my scripts server, however I cannot find a good way to do it.   Most of the scripts available out there use SharePoint modules which only exist on servers running SharePoint, not on the box where I need to run the script.    I found a way to use .Net WebClient, but that downloads HTML rendered file, instead of full file.     Can someone help?

Kory

Hi,

According to your post, my understanding is you need to download files from SharePoint library automatically. For this, I would recommend you to follow the PowerShell approach which will help you to download the files from SharePoint library. 

Please follow the below approach which will help you to download the files automatically.

- Write a PowerShell scripts to download the files

- Schedule a task with written PowerShell script to run automatically

If its not helping you please let u

I tried the Powershell / .Net approach, however the InfoPath xml file I am downloading comes down as an HTML file rather then XML.   Seems like it downloads the webpage vs the actual file.

Also cant use SharePoint approach since I don't have those modules installed.

Add-Type Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\Web Server Extensions\15\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll"
Add-Type Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\Web Server Extensions\15\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll"
$siteUrl = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter web URL"
$username = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter your username"
$password = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter password" -AsSecureString
$source = "/filepath/sourcefilename.dat" #server relative URL here
$target = "C:/detinationfilename.dat" #URI of the file locally stored

$ctx = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext($siteUrl)
$credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($username, $password)
$ctx.Credentials = $credentials

[Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.FileInformation] $fileInfo = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.File]::OpenBinaryDirect($ctx,$source);
[System.IO.FileStream] $writeStream = [System.IO.File]::Open($target,[System.IO.FileMode]::Create);

$fileInfo.Stream.CopyTo($writeStream);
$writeStream.Close();
you need to use the above script which is a combination of Powershell and SharrPoint Client Object Model.
Please check the following link to have and initial understanding of how it works:
http://www.sharepointnutsandbolts.com/2013/12/Using-CSOM-in-PowerShell-scripts-with-Office365.html
Next copy the relevant SharePoint dlls to your local server and put them in a folder.
Change the dll references in the above script accordingly.
Then run the script locally.
Hope this will help. I got the script from this link.

• Edited by Avijit Sur 18 hours 47 minutes ago edited

can you verify this code?    I copied the files locally, added them, but the credential part errors out.

At first, please check if you have adequate access to the SharePoint file or not.

If you are using Office 365 instead of SharePoint on-premise  then change the following line:

$credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($username, $password)

to

$credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.SharePointOnlineCredentials($username, $password)

I am using on prem SharePoint.     I get this error:

Exception calling "OpenBinaryDirect" with "2" argument(s): "Cannot invoke HTTP DAV request. There is a pending query."

when I execute the query, I don't think its mine query, so I get unauthorized.

Please try this revised code:

Add-Type Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\Web Server Extensions\15\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll"
Add-Type Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\Web Server Extensions\15\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll"
$siteUrl = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter web URL"
$username = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter your username"
$password = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter password" -AsSecureString
$source = "/filepath/sourcefilename.dat" #server relative URL here
$target = "C:/detinationfilename.dat" #URI of the file locally stored

$ctx = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext($siteUrl)
$credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($username, $password)
$ctx.Credentials = $credentials

[Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.FileInformation] $fileInfo = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.File]::OpenBinaryDirect($ctx,$source);
[System.IO.FileStream] $writeStream = [System.IO.File]::Open($target,[System.IO.FileMode]::Create);

$fileInfo.Stream.CopyTo($writeStream);
$writeStream.Close();

Just one line changed, from:

$credentials = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($username, $password)

to 

$credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential($username, $password)

Thanks.   This helped but now I get the issue of not finding the file I am trying to download.    Would you be able to help with command to get file listings?

Quick question: If this is a local SharePoint farm, why not just use the \\sharepoint\webapplication\sitecollection\library\ virtual directory and use standard file copy processes?

• Marked as answer by Lisa Chen1226Microsoft contingent staff, Moderator 3 hours 1 minutes ago

Honestly, because I choose this route and completely forgot you can map a drive to SharePoint directly.   Thank you for reminding me

• Marked as answer by KoryGrin32434 8 hours 31 minutes ago

Hi

I am very glad to here that the issue is solved.

Have a nice day.

Best Regards,

Lisa Chen