I have automated my ftp session as given in on of the previous threads as:
#! /usr/bin/ksh

HOST=remote.host.name
USER=whoever
PASSWD=whatever

exec 4>&1
ftp -nv >&4 2>&4 |&

print -p open $HOST
print -p user $USER $PASSWD
print -p cd directory
print -p binary
print -p get xyz

wait
exit 0

the problem is i want to check which one of the two files :xyz, abc exist on the server and then get that file.
So how do i use a conditional statement in this case??

I have tried doing something like this in the past. In-order to make decisions like "Is there room on the remote server for this file, if not make room" kinda stuff with ftp. I used expect and had expect use ftp.

The solution I found was using a program called expect.
http://expect.nist.gov/

I embedded it directly in my script(bash) like this:


I hope this helps : )

Edit:

Get both files.
FTP will not die if the source file does not exist.
Put the received files into an empty directory, so that there is no mistaking that only one file exists on the server.

chalk one up for keep'n it simple.