What kind of window's batch file allows zipping of ftp files?

What commands should I use to transfer a file via FTP and then compress the files in a backup directory with a filename containing the date/time for reference?

I'd prefer to use batch scripting.

The FTP location is on my home network and the files will be copied to a Windows XP sp3 box.

The compression is merely for archival purposes, not to lessen the transfer size.

Solution 1:

With only your XP machine you'll have to download the contents of the FTP location then ZIP it up, not ZIP then download.

You can download the contents with winscp then ZIP with your favorite program (I know 7-zip can do this)

Solution 2:

A batch file can do this.

You can use Windows XP's ftp Command to connect to your ftp site and then get your content. See this > http://www.robvanderwoude.com/ftp.php You need to create an unattended ftp script (a separate text file containing your Ftp commands).

So in the batch file you'd put something like: ftp -s:ftpcommands.txt hostName

and in the ftpcommands.txt you'd put:

username
password
(CD, GET or whatever)

You can then use the command line interface of any zip program you like to do what it needs to do and the xcopy command to move the archive to your backup folder.