Hi there,

Both points were very helpful - particularly 1) which explains the odd "Bad File Descriptor" message which had me tearing my virtual (I don't have any) hair out.

As for point 2), yes, I was having problems with files not uploading completely and yet get() would not return with an error, hence the size check. I know already that every file being downloaded is gzipped, therefore I specify the transfer to be binary mode, in which case, the size of the file reported by the ftp server remotely will match (on a successful transfer) the file downloaded.

However, what did enlighten me was the failure of our back-up ISDN link to the remote server (we were using ftp over a VPN over the Internet). It transpires that the intructions were being sent over the Internet, and yet the data was being received via the ISDN link.

Yesterday, the ftp client would connect but could not receive any data. Now I need wave a large stick at whoever configured the firewalls.

I imagine this is where the problem of the short files is coming from - the ISDN linking is either timing out or falling over. Most irritating.

Thanks again,

-Gregor-

-- Gregor Anderson, Edinburgh. http://www.deletia.org/