Schedule file transfers (or synchronization) to FTP/SFTP server

This guide contains simplified description of scheduling operations on FTP/SFTP server with WinSCP.

To schedule an operation on FTP/SFTP server you can combine scripting/automation functionality of WinSCP with Windows scheduling capability.

Before starting you should:

• Have WinSCP installed;
• Know how to connect to your FTP/SFTP account;
• Automate your operations using WinSCP scripting functionality.

To add new scheduled task:

• Open Task Scheduler:
  • Windows 10: Go to Windows Start Menu > Settings. In Find a setting box type “Task Scheduler”.
  • Windows 8.1: Right click Windows Start button and select Control Panel. In Control Panel, go to System and Security > Administrative Tools > Schedule Tasks.
  • Windows 7: Go to Windows Start Menu > Control Panel. In Control Panel, go to System and Security > Administrative Tools > Schedule Tasks.
• In the Task Scheduler menu go to Action > Create Basic Task.
• Give your task a name and click Next.
• Choose when the task should be run and click Next.
• For task action, select Start a program and click Next.
• Browse for WinSCP.exe executable.
• In Add arguments add appropriate WinSCP command-line parameters to execute the scripting commands you need (typically you will use /script or /command parameters).
• You should also add /log parameter to turn on session logging to file.
• The resulting arguments may look like:
  /log=c:\path\winscp.log /command "open sftp://user:password@example.com/" "put d:\examplefile.txt /home/user/" "exit"
  Note that the command-line parameter /console was not specified, what makes WinSCP.exe not show the console window, not to disturb you while you are using your workstation.
  You can have WinSCP generate the command-line template for you.
• If your script uses local paths relative to the script path or WinSCP executable path, specify the respective path in Start in field.
• When done, click Next, review your options and confirm with Finish.

To add new scheduled task:

• Go to Windows Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks > Add Scheduled Task.
• Browse for WinSCP.exe executable, and setup other task properties (like period of execution).
• In advanced properties add appropriate WinSCP command-line parameters to execute the scripting commands you need (typically you will use /script or /command parameters).
• You should also add /log parameter to turn on session logging to file.
• The resulting command may look like:
  "C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\WinSCP.exe" /log=c:\path\winscp.log /command "open sftp://user:password@example.com/" "put d:\examplefile.txt /home/user/" "exit"
  Note that the command-line parameter /console was not specified, what makes WinSCP.exe not show the console window, not to disturb you while you are using your workstation.
  You can have WinSCP generate the command-line template for you.
• If your script uses local paths relative to the script path or WinSCP executable path, specify the respective path in Start in field.

You can use WinSCP from an Azure WebJob or an Azure Function as a cloud-hosted scheduled task.

• FAQ on scheduler to prevent common mistakes with scheduling;
• Debugging transfer task running in Windows Scheduler or generic troubleshooting guide;
• Guide to automation;
• Command-line parameters;
• Scripting documentation.