Recommended solution for scripting file operations over WebDAV? - powershell

Question

I have a task: files available over WebDAV on a remote server (SSL required) must be checked for whether they may have been updated recently, and if so copied to a local folder. There are a number of other actions that need to be performed after they arrive (copied to other folders, processed, etc.). The operating system I'm working from is Windows 2003 Server. I'd love to be able to use PowerShell for this task.
Naturally, I need to browse the files. I've looked tentatively at several solutions:
Trying to map a drive using "net use" (so far, I get a system 67 error)
Using a product like WebDrive to map a drive (as it happens, WebDrive and another utility on the server seem to conflict with each other for mysterious reasons)
Browse and manipulate the files by issuing http requests using the .NET HTTPWebRequest object hierarchy through PowerShell (works, but seems a bit complicated)
Purchase a commercial .NET assembly that simplifies working with WebDAV (ones that I've seen look pricey)
Have you needed to do something similar? Which approach is best? Any that I have missed? TIA.

Answer 1

It will work from powershell. Note this example:
http://thepowershellguy.com/blogs/posh/archive/2008/05/31/cd-into-sysinternals-tools-from-powershell.aspx
The problem is that the 'web client service' not running on the windows 2003 server (it's disabled by default).
The clue was the "System 67 error"
I confirmed this from a win2k3 server, starting the 'web client service' will get WebDAV working (and probably powershell). It will work out of the box on an XP client (service is running by default).
Let me know if this doesn't resolve it for you.

Answer 2

As an alternative to PowerShell, you could always do this from a WSH script. Example:
<job>
<reference object="ADODB.Connection"/>
<object id="cnIPP" progId="ADODB.Connection"/>
<object id="recDir" progId="ADODB.Record"/>
<script language="VBScript">
Option Explicit
Private waArgs
Private strSubDir
Private rsItems
Private strLine
Set waArgs = WScript.Arguments
If waArgs.Count < 3 Then
WScript.Echo "Parameters: FolderURL User PW [SubDir]"
WScript.Quit
End If
cnIPP.Open "Provider=MSDAIPP.DSO;Prompt=NoPrompt;" _
& "Connect Timeout=10;" _
& "Data Source=" & waArgs(0), _
waArgs(1), waArgs(2), adConnectUnspecified
If waArgs.Count = 4 Then
strSubDir = waArgs(3)
Else
strSubDir = vbNullString
End If
Set waArgs = Nothing
recDir.Open strSubDir, cnIPP, adModeRead, adFailIfNotExists, _
adDelayFetchFields Or adDelayFetchStream
Set rsItems = recDir.GetChildren()
With rsItems
WScript.Echo .Fields("RESOURCE_PARENTNAME").Value
Do Until .EOF
If .Fields("RESOURCE_ISCOLLECTION").Value Then
strLine = " [DIR] " & .Fields("RESOURCE_PARSENAME").Value
Else
strLine = " " _
& " " & .Fields("RESOURCE_PARSENAME").Value _
& " " & CStr(.Fields("RESOURCE_LASTWRITETIME").Value)
End If
WScript.Echo strLine
.MoveNext
Loop
.Close
End With
Set rsItems = Nothing
recDir.Close
cnIPP.Close
</script>
</job>
A sample run:
D:\Scripts>cscript WebDAV.wsf https://my.dav.com/~fred fred fredPW
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.7
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
https://my.dav.com/~fred
junk.htm 2/26/2008 4:28:44 AM
test.log 3/30/2009 12:30:45 PM
[DIR] _private
[DIR] stuff
D:\Scripts>
This approach should work with both WebDAV and FrontPage enabled servers without change. The example defaults to protocol auto-negotiation.
To actually retrieve data you'd open an ADODB.Stream on an ADODB.Record opened on the non-directory item.