PHP FTP Synchronizer, update a website from a local content

Free program to update your website from local files. PHP FTP Synchronizer traverses the tree structure of the source directory recursively and updates the file on the website, by replacing the files which were modified. It check for broken links in the page and update the sitemap.

PHP FTP Synchronizer is a script whose source code is writen in Scriptol language and compiled to PHP by the Scriptol 2 compiler available on this site.

Why use PHP FTP Synchronizer?

Compared to the various existing programs, commercial for the majority, the synchronizer offers speed options:

• Possible use of a backup version on which the comparisons are performed, what avoids downloading the remote file and allows an extremely fast update thus. Moreover that builds a second backup of the site, possibly on a removable storage unit.
• Possibility of uploading all files modified in n last days, n being a number of days that you define.

Moreover the executable program is a PHP script, it thus works on all operating systems, Windows, Linux, Mac... And you can extend its possibilities if needed.

How the program works

The required parameters being given (see below), the program has the location of your files, the name of the site (in ftp.xxxx.tld form), login and password, directory on hosting if one does not copy at root, as well as chosen options.
It reads each file by scanning in a recursive way the source directory and the sub-directories, compares files with remote files if there exists, and copies them or replaces them.
If the option of acceleration is selected, it compares the dates or contents of file with the backup, and if they are different uploads the files, copies them on the backup also and synchronizes the date of files in the backup with that of sources.

Install

Download PHP and unzip in a directory, for example: c:\php\

Under Windows add this directory to the PATH variable.

Type "env" in the search field on the task bar, select "path" and click on the modify button. Add this line:

c:\php\.

In the php directory, rename the php.ini-production to php.ini

1. Add the ftp extension. Edit php.ini to remove ";" before extension=ftp
2. Activate also the curl extension.
3. Verify the folder of extensions is well defined, for example:
   extension_dir = "C:\php\ext"

Using curl

The link checker is faster with curl and it also allows to check https links.

To set curl active, remove ';' before curl among extensions in php.ini.
To verify that this ini file is one that is taken into account, type:

php --ini

This will give the path of the ini file loaded.

Memory limit

If the php writes that the memory is exhausted, you can change also the memory limit in the php.ini file.

memory_limit = 1024M  

How to use the synchronizer

One opens a DOS Windows or a console under Linux or Mac.
Type this command:

php ftpsync.php [options]

Texts in brackets [] are optional.

Example:

php ftpsync.php -v -llogin -ppassword -fftp.example.com -dw:\example\ -bf:\example\ -wwww.example.com

The options which are detailed in the handbook allow to pass all the required parameters. If a parameter misses, the program prompt you for it. But if an option is given and that must be followed by a string, this one must be provided in order, it is not asked by the program which in this case displays an error.

Manual of PHP FTP Synchronizer.

Getting the program

The archive contains:

• The Scriptol source.
• The PHP executable script,
• The manual in HTML format, and ODF, you can create a PDF or Word's DOC file with Open Office.
• The ftpcheck script to verify a connection.
• The GPL licence.

Download

Last changes in versions

• 3.2.1. September 2025
  Error codes 503 are now ignored.
• 3.2. March 23, 2024
  Links with error code 303 or 403 (usually Youtube or Twitter) are now longer displayed.
• 3.1. February 3, 2016.
  Https URLs now are correctly checked.
  Fixed the URL in the sitemap when the remote target is a subdirectory.
• 3.0. October 5, 2016.
  Updates the site map (in sitemap.xml) for the pages uploaded.
  Displays the state or curl, enabled or not.
• 2.2. July 1, 2016.
  Now uses curl.
  Https links are recognized by the link checker.
  Supports PHP 7.
• 2.1. June 3, 2016. Simplified the code.
• 2.0. March 30, 2015. Source code rewritten in Scriptol 2 and PHP code compatible with PHP 5.5.
• 1.9. February 13, 2012. Link checker now does not display 302 temporary redirects.
• 1.8 - September 20, 2010. Link checker now handles links relative to the root.
• 1.5 - August 6, 2008. The link check is differed, and performed once all pages are updated.
• 1.4 - July 1, 2008. Results of link check more precise. Only the pages with broken links or redirects are now displayed.
• 1.3 - June 24, 2008. The -u options activates a link check inside last added or modified pages.
• 1.2 - December 13, 2007. Added the -f option for url without ftp prefix.
• 1.1 - September 24, 2007. Added the passive FTP mode.
• 1.0 - September 18, 2007. First release.
  

Troubleshootings

• Without backup, after some times the program could accelerates and wants to upload all the files without distinction.
  That comes from a lack of memory for the PHP interpreter to make the comparisons and to select the modified files.
  One can increase the allocated memory in the php.ini file which is in the Windows directory or equivalent under Unix just as the execution time granted to scripts:

  max_execution_time = 3000 
  memory_limit = 1024M 

• It is possible also that the server closes the connection if it works for a long time. Use a backup directory or the -n option preferably.
• If you have installed Windows Live Oncare, ftp transferts are limited, verify first the results of updates made by the program before to use it in production.

  if saved = 0
    backError(bpath)
  else
    if CONTFLAG
      print "Files compared by content"
      TOUCHFLAG = false
      return 
    /if
    TOUCHFLAG = touch(convertUnix(tempfile), time())
    unlink(tempfile)
    if not QUIET 
      if TOUCHFLAG 
        print "Files compared by time"
      else
        print "Touch failed, files compared by contents"
      /if    
    /if  
  /if

echo filemtime(some url);

void checkRemote(text rpath)
  TOUCHFLAG = filemtime(rpath) != false
return

boolean filecompare(text a, text b)
return filemtime(a) > filemtime(b)

set PATH=%PATH%;c:\PHP\

php ftpsync.php -llogin -ppassword C:\xampp\htdocs\test ftp.xxxx.com -d/remotedir -bd:\backupdir

Warning: ftp_put (): Entering Passive Mode (x, x, x, x, x, x) .. in /home/ftpsync/ftpsync.php on line 215

max_execution_time = 3600

memory_limit = 1024M