Excel VBA SFTP without Putty or WinSCP (only standalone excel)

[niceguy_jay]

Hello Members and MVPs,


Good Day.


I had this specific query that can we do an SFTP with stanalone excel (probably wininet) or other method without the need of external dlls ? I am successfully able to do FTP upload and download via wininte but not SFTP.


I usually find almost all solutions the realted to anthing with excel vba without the need of posting a thread but for this specific issue, I have been researching on internet for days now and not able to find a solution.


If anyone can please help me, I will be really obliged.


Awaiting on your response.


Thanks !

 

[Kyle123]

You can't do it, windows doesn't natively support sftp

 

[niceguy_jay]

Thank you verry much Kyle for your response here. So is it 100% sure that we really cannot do sftp without external application.

Because that will be a disaster for me. My current situation is that my employers wants me to build an SFTP tool in excel that supports all modes. The reason for this is the file is going to be distributed to 100's of people.

Most of the people will not have admin rights on the system and hence cannot install putty or winscp. They need to undergo the ITICS process with costs efforts and is a hassle. I am in-charge of making this tool which will solve the purpose. I am facing challenge only with SFTP.


Can some more respected MVPs please share their thoughts and shed some light on the issue before I finally give up

 

[niceguy_jay]

Respected Senior Members,

If someone can please confirm that this is not possible within existing technology of Excel will be fine too for me. I just need to know that part.
If possible by any means, please direct me towards the path and rest I will figure out myself.

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[Kyle123]

Quite simply, it is not possible unless you are prepared to build an SFTP client from scratch. This is possible, but cannot seriously be worth the effort. I'd make the tool in something other than excel and distribute it properly.

If you really want to do it in excel, I'd suggest downloading the source code of Winscp (since it's open source) and work through it, though you'll probably want to learn c first as I think that's what it's written in.

You could also have a look to see if you can find an Activex com solution that will handle SFTP, try searching for SFTP vb6 and see what comes up.

There comes a time when you need to tell the client/boss etc that a request is unreasonable and look for alternative solutions

 

[niceguy_jay]

Thank you very much Kyle once again. I will try to see if I can get WinSCP or Putty installed on all end users and then the macro can use either of client to do the SFTP.

Regards,
Jay