# Script for downloading files **URL:** \ **Category:** Alerts and Toolboxes\ **Created:** [March 18, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.simple-help.com/t/script-for-downloading-files/1008 "2022-03-18T15:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darrell\_Swafford](https://community.simple-help.com/user_avatar/community.simple-help.com/darrell_swafford/32/82_2.png) [@Darrell\_Swafford](https://community.simple-help.com/u/Darrell_Swafford)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.simple-help.com/t/script-for-downloading-files/1008/1 "2022-03-18T15:27:47Z")
I keep running into areas with crappy internet and I need to prep a client computer without disturbing them. So I made a script to download a file from a URL. Example: The client is busy. I cant take over the machine. I can’t download the file to my computer and then transfer it because of crappy internet. I need to download the large file directly to the client’s machine from a service provider, normally done via a browser. The script asks the tech for the URL of the file then downloads it to the client machine under c:\temp\downloads. Hopefully, this will help someone else as well. Maybe you can even improve it with a download bar or time remaining etc…hint hint. 🙂 > ##Refrence material: > ##[Split-Path (Microsoft.PowerShell.Management) - PowerShell | Microsoft Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/split-path?view=powershell-7.2) > ##[https://lazyadmin.nl/powershell/download-file-powershell/](https://lazyadmin.nl/powershell/download-file-powershell/) > ##[PowerShell - Create Directory If Not Exists - ShellGeek](https://shellgeek.com/powershell-create-directory-if-not-exists/) > ##[https://4sysops.com/archives/use-powershell-to-download-a-file-with-http-https-and-ftp/](https://4sysops.com/archives/use-powershell-to-download-a-file-with-http-https-and-ftp/) > > #Set destination to download file too. > $destination = "c:\temp\downloads" > > #Ask tech where to download from. > $source = “ServerUtilsAskTech (URL,text,[http://test](http://test))” > > #Check if destination exists. If not create it. > if (Test-Path $destination) { > Write-Host “Folder Exists” > } > else > { > #PowerShell Create directory if not exists > New-Item $destination -ItemType Directory > Write-Host “Folder Created successfully” > } > > #get file name from download url > $destination = $destination + $(Split-Path -Path $source -Leaf) > > #Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $source -OutFile $destination > > Import-Module BitsTransfer > $Job = Start-BitsTransfer -Source $source -Destination $destination -Asynchronous -Priority normal -TransferType Download > echo “Running Job” > > while (($Job.JobState -eq “Transferring”) -or ($Job.JobState -eq “Connecting”)) ` > { sleep 5;} # Poll for status, sleep for 5 seconds, or perform an action. > > echo “completing job” > echo $Job > > Switch($Job.JobState) > { > “Transferred” {Complete-BitsTransfer -BitsJob $Job} > “Error” {$Job | Format-List } # List the errors. > } ---
**Author:** ![Kevin\_Dillon](https://community.simple-help.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@Kevin\_Dillon](https://community.simple-help.com/u/Kevin_Dillon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.simple-help.com/t/script-for-downloading-files/1008/2 "2022-03-18T18:54:00Z")
Seems like this would be very convenient indeed. I tried it and got the following error: At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:26 - while (($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq … - ``` ~ ``` You must provide a value expression following the ‘-eq’ operator. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:27 - while (($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq … - ``` ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ``` Unexpected token ‘�?oTransferring�??’ in expression or statement. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:26 - while (($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq … - ``` ~ ``` Missing closing ‘)’ in expression. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:26 - while (($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq … - ``` ~ ``` Missing closing ‘)’ after expression in ‘while’ statement. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:45 - while (($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq … - ``` ~ ``` Unexpected token ‘)’ in expression or statement. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:69 - … ($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq �?oConn … - ``` ~ ``` You must provide a value expression following the ‘-eq’ operator. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:70 - … q �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq �?oConnecting�??)) { sle … - ``` ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ``` Unexpected token ‘�?oConnecting�??’ in expression or statement. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:69 - … ($Job.JobState -eq �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq �?oConn … - ``` ~ ``` Missing closing ‘)’ in expression. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:86 - … �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq �?oConnecting�??)) { slee … - ``` ~ ``` Unexpected token ‘)’ in expression or statement. At C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\toolbox8036547725440715274run\Download20File-2-1647629459317-eudpw7gh.ps1:33 char:87 - … �?oTransferring�??) -or ($Job.JobState -eq �?oConnecting�??)) { sleep … - ``` ~ ``` Unexpected token ‘)’ in expression or statement. + CategoryInfo : ParserError: (🙂 [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ExpectedValueExpression ---
**Author:** ![Craig\_Harris](https://community.simple-help.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Craig\_Harris](https://community.simple-help.com/u/Craig_Harris)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.simple-help.com/t/script-for-downloading-files/1008/3 "2022-03-18T20:38:50Z")
I think it’s just “smart curly quotes” instead of “boring straight quotes” issue - does this boring version work? > **[\##Refrence material:##https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/micro...](https://pastebin.com/3MNjveAD)** > > Pastebin.com is the number one paste tool since 2002. Pastebin is a website where you can store text online for a set period of time. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin\_Dillon](https://community.simple-help.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@Kevin\_Dillon](https://community.simple-help.com/u/Kevin_Dillon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.simple-help.com/t/script-for-downloading-files/1008/4 "2022-03-18T23:29:07Z")
Yes, this works! I had to add a trailing slash after c:\temp\downloads but its working - this will be very handy. I was always connecting command line and using curl - but nw I will use this. Thank you for sharing! ---
**Author:** ![Darrell\_Swafford](https://community.simple-help.com/user_avatar/community.simple-help.com/darrell_swafford/32/82_2.png) [@Darrell\_Swafford](https://community.simple-help.com/u/Darrell_Swafford)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 12:16am UTC](https://community.simple-help.com/t/script-for-downloading-files/1008/5 "2022-03-19T00:16:50Z")
ah,ya. Something probably got formated wierd when I copy and pasted it from my toolbox. Glad you got it worked out.