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Delphi Programming

FTP programming with the WinInet API

These notes are not intended as a complete guide to the WinInet API, but are provided for guidance when developing FTP applications with Delphi that use the WinInet API. A full list of functions may be found at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa385473(VS.85).aspx or by examining the Delphi file WinInet.pas.

FTP functions provided by the Win32 Windows Internet (WinInet) API:

Function Description
FtpCommand Issues an FTP comment on the server.
FtpCreateDirectory Creates a new directory on the server.
FtpDeleteFile Deletes the specified file from the server.
FtpFindFirstFile Starts a wildcard file search of a directory on the server.
FtpGetCurrentDirectory Retrieves the current working directory on the server.
FtpGetFile Copies a file from the server to a local directory.
FtpGetFileSize Returns the size of a previously opened file from the server.
FtpOpenFile Opens a file on the server.
FtpPutFile Copies a local file to the server.
FtpRemoveDirectory Deletes a directory from the server.
FtpRenameFile Renames the specified file on the server.
FtpSetCurrentDirectory Sets the current working directory on the server.
HttpQueryInfo Retrieves response header information associated with a HTTP request.
InternetAttemptConnect Attempts to make a connection to the Internet.
InternetCloseHandle Closes an internet handle.
InternetConnect Opens a session for FTP, HTTP or Gopher application.
InternetDial Dials a connection using a modem.
InternetGetConnectedState Retrieves the connection state of the local system.
InternetGetConnectedStateEx Retrieves the connection state of the local system.
InternetGetLastResponseInfo Returns the text of the last WinInet error or server response.
InternetFindNextFile Used to continue a search started with FtpFindFirstFile.
InternetHangUp Hangs up a modem connection.
InternetOpen Initialises the WinInet API.
InternetOpenUrl Opens an FTP, Gopher or HTTP resource.
InternetReadFile Reads data from an open handle.
InternetSetOption Sets a WinInet configuration option.
InternetSetStatusCallback Sets a callback function used to provide feedback during asynchronous use of the WinInet API.

Function definitions and types are defined in the unit "WinInet". WinInet errors are listed in a separate note, follow this link to view WinInet errors.

FtpCommand

Issues an FTP command on the server. (If you are used to using the command line version of FTP, this equates to the FTP "literal" command.)

function FtpCommand(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    fExpectResponse: BOOL;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    lpszCommand: PChar;
    dwContext: DWORD;
    var phFtpCommand: HINTERNET): BOOL;

Parameters:

hConnect
Connection handle for the current FTP session.
fExpectResponse
Flag indicating whether (a stream of) data is expected back in response to the command.
dwFlags
Flags affecting the behaviour of the function. Use 0 or one of:
FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_ASCII
File/data transfer in ascii.
FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY
File/data transfer in binary mode.
lpszCommand
The FTP command to execute on the server. The server response can be read by calling InternetGetLastResponseInfo.
dwContext
Application defined value, which is used only if the application has already called InternetSetStatusCallback to set up a callback. Otherwise use 0.
phFtpCommand
Pointer to handle that will be created for response data, only created if fExpectResponse is true. Use InternetReadFile to read the data returned.

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError().

Note:

  • The FTP acknowledgement from the server can be read using InternetGetLastResponseInfo.
  • In Delphi 5, 6 and 7 (and possibly other versions besides) the function definition provided in WinInet is incorrect and is missing the last parameter 'phFtpCommand'. The correct definition is:
function FtpCommand(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    fExpectResponse: BOOL;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    lpszCommand: PChar;
    dwContext: DWORD;
    var phFtpCommand: PHINTERNET): BOOL;
    stdcall; external 'wininet.dll' name 'FtpCommandA';
  • If there is any data content (such as a directory listing) then you must set fExpectResponse true and read the data (even if you ultimately discard it). Setting fExpectResponse to true when there is no data content will result in a call to InternetReadFile hanging until it eventually times-out.
  • Follow this link for an example of using FtpCommand.
  • For a list of possible commands see: http://www.nsftools.com/tips/RawFTP.htm.
  • Tip: Include a call to InternetGetLastResponseInfo immediately after FtpCommand - even if you are expecting a stream of data (i.e. if fExpectResponse=true). Without this any server response returned is likely to cause WinInet to get out of sync - and stop working!

FtpCreateDirectory

Creates a new directory on the server.

function FtpCreateDirectory(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszDirectory: PChar): BOOL;

FtpDeleteFile

Deletes the specified file from the server.

function FtpDeleteFile(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszFileName: PChar): BOOL;

FtpFindFirstFile

Starts a new wildcard file search of a directory on the server, returning details of the first of the files found.

function FtpFindFirstFile(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszSearchFile: PChar;
    var lpFindFileData: TWin32FindData;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    dwContext: DWORD): HINTERNET;

Parameters:

hConnect
Connection handle for the current FTP session.
lpszSearchFile
Pointer to a null terminated string that specifies the directory path or file spec. May contain wildcards. If NIL or empty then it will match against all the files in the current server directory.
lpFindFileData
Pointer to the record that will receive details of the first matching file.
dwFlags
Flags affecting the behaviour of the function. Use 0 or one of:
INTERNET_FLAG_HYPERLINK
INTERNET_FLAG_NEED_FILE
INTERNET_FLAG_NO_CACHE_WRITE
Directory listing is not to be cached.
INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD
Forces the directory listing to come from the FTP server rather than using cached information.
INTERNET_FLAG_RESYNCHRONIZE
dwContent
Application defined value, which is used only if the application has already called InternetSetStatusCallback to set up a callback. Otherwise use 0.

Returns: A handle for the search (use with InternetFindNextFile to retrieve the remaining matching files). If the function fails it returns NULL. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError(), typically ERROR_NO_MORE_FILES if there were no matching files.

Note:

  • Be aware that only one search can be made within a given FTP session. Call InternetCloseHandle to close the search handle to close the session handle, otherwise future searches will fail with ERROR_FTP_TRANSFER_IN_PROGRESS.
  • Some of the common information about files, such as file creation date and time is not always available. FtpFindFirstFile and InternetFindNextFile will fill in unavailable information based on what information is available. For this reason creation and last access dates will often be the same as the file modification date.
  • To ensure that what is read is current, and not older cached information, use INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD.
  • Follow this link for an example using FtpFindFirstFile.

FtpGetCurrentDirectory

Retrieves the current working directory from the server.

function FtpGetCurrentDirectory(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszCurrentDirectory: PChar;
    var lpdwCurrentDirectory: DWORD): BOOL;

FtpGetFile

Copies a file from the server to a local directory.

function FtpGetFile(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszRemoteFile: PChar;
    lpszNewFile: PChar;
    fFailIfExists: BOOL;
    dwFlagsAndAttributes: DWORD;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    dwContext: DWORD): BOOL

Parameters:

hConnect
Connection handle for the current FTP session.
lpszRemoteFile
The name of the file to be copied down from the server.
lpszNewFile
The name of the file after it is copied down. This is normally the same as the remote file name, but does not need to be.
fFailIfExists
Flag indicating whether the download should go ahead if a file with the new-file-name already exists. If True and the file exists then the function will fail. If False and the file exists then it will be overwritten.
dwFlagsAndAttributes
File attributes to specify for the new downloaded file.
dwFlags
Flags affecting the download.
Use on of:
FTP_TRANSER_TYPE_ASCII
Copy the file using ASCII transfer.
FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY
Copy the file as a binary file.
FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_UNKNOWN
Uses FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY.
INTERNET_FLAG_TRANSFER_ASCII
Uses FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_ASCII.
INTERNET_FLAG_TRANSFER_BINARY
Uses FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY.
and any combination of the following (which affect caching of the file):
INTERNET_FLAG_HYPERLINK
Forces a download of the file if the server if the server does not return Expires or LastModified times for the file.
INTERNET_FLAG_NEED_FILE
Causes a temporary file to be created even if the file cannot be cached.
INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD
Forces a download of the file from the server, even if it has already been cached.
INTERNET_FLAG_RESYNCHRONIZE
If the file has already been cached then it causes a download of the file if the version at the server has been modified more recently than that in the cache.
dwContext
Application defined value, which is used only if the application has already called InternetSetStatusCallback to set up a callback. Otherwise use 0.

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError().

FtpGetFileSize

Returns the size of a previously opened file from the server.

function FtpGetFileSize(
    hFile: HINTERNET;
    lpdwFileSizeHigh: LPDWORD): DWORD;

Parameters:

hFile
Handle returned from FtpOpenFile.
lpdwFileSizeHigh
High order unsigned long integer of the file size.

Returns: The low order unsigned long integer of the file size.

FtpOpenFile

Opens a file on the server.

function FtpOpenFile(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszFileName: PChar;
    dwAccess: DWORD;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    dwContext: DWORD): HINTERNET;

FtpPutFile

Copies a local file to the server.

function FtpPutFile(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszLocalFile: PChar;
    lpszNewRemoteFile: PChar;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    dwContext: DWORD): BOOL;

Parameters:

hConnect
Connection handle for the current FTP session.
lpszLocalFile
Pointer to a null-terminated string that contains the name of the local file. This should include the path to the file if the file is not in the current directory.
lpszNewRemoteFile
Pointer to a null-terminated string that contains the name of the file to create on the remote system.
dwFlags
Transfer and caching control flags. Specify one of the following transfer flags:
FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_ASCII
Copy the file using ASCII transfer. Copying from a Windows system to a Unix system carriage-return-line-feed pairs are replaced by carriage-return, and vice versa when copying to Windows from a Unix system.
FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY
Copy the file as a binary file - file copies exactly as is with no character translation.
FTP_TRANFER_TYPE_UNKNOWN
Uses FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY.
INTERNET_FLAG_TRANSFER_ASCII
Same as FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_ASCII.
INTERNET_FLAG_TRANSFER_BINARY
Same as FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY.

If required, specify one or more of the following flags (OR them):

INTERNET_FLAG_HYPERLINK
INTERNET_FLAG_NEED_FILE
INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD
INTERNET_FLAG_RESYNCHRONIZE
dwContext
Application defined value, which is used only if the application has already called InternetSetStatusCallback to set up a callback. Otherwise use 0.

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError().

For example:

if not FtpPutFile(m_hFtpSession,PChar(localFile),
    PChar(fileName), FTP_TRANSFER_TYPE_BINARY,0)
then                                                         
    WriteLn(Format('Failed to copy file %s to %s (error %d).',
    [fileName,toDirectory,GetLastError()]));

See also:

FtpRemoveDirectory

Deletes a directory from the server.

function FtpRemoveDirectory(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszDirectory: PChar): BOOL;

FtpRenameFile

Renames the specified file on the server.

function FtpRenameFile(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszExisting: PChar;
    lpszNew: PChar): BOOL;

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError(). Additional information may be found by calling InternetGetLastResponseInfo.

FtpSetCurrentDirectory

Sets the current working directory on the server.

function FtpSetCurrentDirectory(
    hConnect: HINTERNET;
    lpszDirectory: PChar): BOOL;

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError(). Additional information may be found by calling InternetGetLastResponseInfo.

HttpQueryInfo

Retrieves response header information associated with a HTTP request.

function HttpQueryInfo(
    hRequest: HINTERNET;
    dwInfoLevel: DWORD;
    lpvBuffer: Pointer;
    var lpdwBufferLength: DWORD;
    var lpdwIndex: DWORD): BOOL;

Parameters:

hRequest
Handle returned by HttpOpenRequest or InternetOpenUrl.
dwInfoLevel
Flags indicating what information is required. HTTP_QUERY_RAW_HEADERS_CRLF returns all the headers, separated by carriage return line feed combinations. HTTP_QUERY_STATUS_CODE returns just the status code response. See the WinInet unit for a full list of flags, the flags are named HTTP_QUERY_???.
lpvBuffer
Character buffer to hold the header information.
lpdwBufferLength
The size of the buffer passed in.
lpdwReserved
In many versions of Delphi this parameter is lpdwReserved, but in later versions is lpdwIndex. It is a zero based index indicating which header to return. Useful where server may result multiple headers.

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError().

Note:

InternetAttemptConnect

Attempts to make a connection to the internet. An application can use this to evoke the dial-up dialog box if there is no internet connection. If the connection attempt fails then the application should enter offline mode.

function InternetAttemptConnect(
    dwReserved: DWORD): DWORD;

Parameters:

dwReserved
Reserved parameter. Must be set to 0.

Returns: ERROR_SUCCESS if a connection to the internet has been established. successful, or other error code if unsuccessful.

InternetCloseHandle

Closes an internet handle previously returned/opened by InternetConnect or InternetOpen.

function InternetCloseHandle(hInet: HINTERNET): BOOL;

InternetConnect

Opens a session for FTP, HTTP or Gopher application.

function InternetConnect(
    hInet: HINTERNET;
    lpszServerName: PChar;
    nServerPort: INTERNET_PORT;
    lpszUsername: PChar;
    lpszPassword: PChar;
    dwService: DWORD;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    dwContext: DWORD): HINTERNET;

Parameters:

hInet
Valid handle returned by a previous call to InternetOpen.
lpszServerName
String containing the host name of the server. Alternately this may contain the ip address of the server in text notation.
nServerPort
Value indicating the TCP/IP port on the server. Use one of:
INTERNET_DEFAULT_FTP_PORT
Use the default port for FTP servers (port 21).
INTERNET_DEFAULT_GOPHER_PORT
Use the default port for Gopher servers (port 70).
INTERNET_DEFAULT_HTTP_PORT
Use the default port for HTTP servers (port 80).
INTERNET_DEFAULT_HTTPS_PORT
Use the default port for HTTPS servers (port 443).
INTERNET_DEFAULT_SOCKS_PORT
Use the default port for SOCKS firewall servers (port 1080).
INTERNET_INVALID_PORT_NUMBER
Use the default port for the type of service specified by dwService.
lpszUsername
User name to connect with. If NIL then an appropriate default is used, except for HTTP where the function will fail.
lpszPassword
Password to use. If a username is supplied but the password is nil then the blank password is used. If the username is nil and the password is nil then the default password 'anonymous' is used, except for FTP where the default password is the users's e-mail name.
dwService
Value indicating the type of service to access. Use one of:
INTERNET_SERVICE_FTP
FTP service.
INTERNET_SERVICE_GOPHER
Gopher service.
INTERNET_SERVICE_HTTP
HTTP service.
dwFlags
Flags specific to the type of service. Use one of:
INTERNET_FLAG_EXISTING_CONNECT
Use an existing connection if there is already an identical connection.
INTERNET_FLAG_PASSIVE
Use passive FTP semantics. Required if server is behind certain firewalls.
WININET_API_FLAG_ASYC
Allow asynchronous operations.
WININET_API_FLAG_SYNC
Forces synchronous operations.
dwContent
Application defined value, which is used only if the application has already called InternetSetStatusCallback to set up a callback. Otherwise use 0.

Returns: A valid handle for use with other API calls, or NIL if the call fails. The actual error code is returned by a call to GetLastError(). A call to InternetGetLastResponseInfo may help determine why access to the service was denied.

Note:

  • For FTP connections the function establishes a connection immediatly, for all other types the connection is actually established when the application first interacts with the server.
  • When the application has finished with the returned handle is should be closed using InternetCloseHandle.

InternetDial

Dials an internet connection using a modem.

function function InternetDial(
    hwndParent: HWND;
    lpszConnectoid: LPTSTR;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    lpdwConnection: LPDWORD;
    dwReserved: DWORD): DWORD;

Parameters:

hwndParent
Handle to the parent window. Typically use either 'self.Handle' or 'application.Handle'.
lpszConnectoid
String containing the name of the dial up connection to use.
dwFlags
Dial options, use one or more of the following (or-ed together):
INTERNET_AUTODIAL_FORCE_ONLINE
Forces the wininet system online.
INTERNET_AUTODIAL_FORCE_UNATTENDED
Use an unattended dial-up. The dial-up will fail if user intervention is required (such as for entering a password).
INTERNET_DIAL_FORCE_PROMPT
Forces the dialing interface dialog to be displayed.
INTERNET_DIAL_UNATTENDED
If user attention is not required then dial up without displaying the dial-up dialog.
INTERNET_DIAL_SHOW_OFFLINE
Display "Work Offline" instead of "Cancel" on the dial-up interface dialog.
lpdwConnection
On exit holds a connection number. Use this with InternetHangUp to hang up the connection.
dwReserved
Reserved. Must be set to 0.

Returns: ERROR_SUCCESS if successful, or an error value which will typically be one of:

ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER
One or more of the parameters is incorrect.
ERROR_NO_CONNECTION
Failed to connected - there is a problem with the dial-up connection.
ERROR_USER_DISCONNECTION
The user selected either the 'Work Offline' button or the 'Cancel' button from the connection dialog box.

Note:

  • If the WinInet subsystem is currently working off-line then this function will return ERROR_SUCCESS, 0 for the connection number and will not dial the connection specified. In this instance to force the dial-up connection, change the state of the WinInet subsystem to online and call the function again.
  • The function will also return ERROR_SUCCESS and 0 for the connection number if the connection has already been dialled and is already active.
  • If you are missing the definition for INTERNET_DIAL_FORCE_PROMPT then use the following:
const
  INTERNET_DIAL_FORCE_PRMPT = $2000;

InternetFindNextFile

Used to continue a search started with FtpFindFirstFile.

function InternetFindNextFile(
    hFind: HINTERNET;
    lpvFindData: Pointer): BOOL;

Note:

InternetGetConnectedState

Retrieves the connection state of the local system.

function InternetGetConnectedState(
    var lpdwFlags: DWORD;
    dwReserved: DWORD): BOOL;

Parameters:

lpdwFlags
On exit holds a combination of flags (or-ed together) giving the connection status of the locate system:
INTERNET_CONNECTION_CONFIGURED
Local system has a valid connection to the Internet, but it might or might not be currently connected.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_LAN
Local system uses a local area network to connect to the Internet.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_MODEM
Local system uses a modem to connect to the Internet.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_OFFLINE
Local system is in offline mode.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_PROXY
Local system uses a proxy server to connect to the Internet.
INTERNET_RAS_INSTALLED
Local system has RAS installed.
dwReserved
Not currently used. Must be set to 0.

Returns: True if there is an Internet connection, False otherwise.

InternetGetConnectedStateEx

Retrieves the connection state of the local system.

function InternetGetConnectedStateEx(
    var lpdwFlags: DWORD;
    lpszConnectionName: PCHAR;
    dwNameLen: DWORD;
    dwReserved: DWORD): BOOL;

Parameters:

lpdwFlags
On exit holds a combination of flags (or-ed together) giving the connection status of the locate system:
INTERNET_CONNECTION_CONFIGURED ($40)
Local system has a valid connection to the Internet, but it might or might not be currently connected.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_LAN ($02)
Local system uses a local area network to connect to the Internet.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_MODEM ($01)
Local system uses a modem to connect to the Internet.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_OFFLINE ($20)
Local system is in offline mode.
INTERNET_CONNECTION_PROXY ($04)
Local system uses a proxy server to connect to the Internet.
INTERNET_RAS_INSTALLED ($10)
Local system has RAS installed.
lpszConnectionName
String buffer into which is written the name of the current connection.
dwNameLen
Size of the buffer (lpszConnectionName) supplied
dwReserved
Not currently used. Must be set to 0.

Returns: True if there is an Internet connection, False otherwise.

Note: If the WinInet unit is missing a definition for InternetGetConnectedStateEx then use the following:

function InternetGetConnectedStateEx(
    lpdwFlags: LPDWORD;
    lpszConnectionName: LPTSTR;
    dwNameLen: DWORD;
    dwReserved: DWORD): BOOL; stdcall;
    external 'wininet.dll' name 'InternetGetConnectedStateEx';

InternetGetLastResponseInfo

Returns the text of the last WinInet error or server response (for the current thread).

function InternetGetLastResponseInfo(
    var lpdwError: DWORD;
    lpszBuffer: PChar;
    var lpdwBufferLength: DWORD): BOOL;

Parameters:

lpdwError
Updated to hold the most recent error code.
lpszBuffer
Buffer to receive the error text.
lpdwBufferLength
On entry this should be set to the available size of the buffer (lpszBuffer), updated on exit to hold the size of the string written to the buffer (less the null terminator). If the buffer is too small this will hold the necessary buffer size.

Returns: True if some error text was successfully written to the buffer, False (0) otherwise. If the function fails, further information can be found by calling GetLastError. If the buffer is too small to hold the full error text then GetLastError will return ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER.

Note:

InternetHangUp

Hangs up the modem connection which had previously been opened by InternetDial.

function InternetHangUp(
    dwConnection: DWORD;
    dwReserved: DWORD): DWORD;

Parameters:

dwConnection
Connection id (as returned by InternetDial) indicating the connection to be disconnected.
dwReserved
Reserved. Must be 0.

Returns: ERROR_SUCCESS on success or any other error value on failure.

Note:

  • This function will hang up the modem even if another application is using the connection.

InternetOpen

Initialises the WinInet API.

function InternetOpen(
    lpszAgent: PChar;
    dwAccessType: DWORD;
    lpszProxy: PChar;
    lpszProxyBypass: PChar;
    dwFlags: DWORD): HINTERNET;

Parameters:

lpszAgent
Name of the calling application (for example 'PChar(Application.Title)'). This is used as the user agent for HTTP protocol.
dwAccessType
Access type required, use one of:
INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_DIRECT
Resolve all host names locally.
INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_PRECONFIG
Retrieve proxy or direct configuration from the registry.
INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_PRECONFIG_WITH_NO_AUTOPROXY
Retrieves proxy or direct configuration from the registry and prevents the use of any start-up script.
INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_PROXY
Requests passed on to the proxy. If a proxy bypass list is supplied and the name is on that list then INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_DIRECT is used instead.
lpszProxy
If dwAccessType is set to INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_PROXY then this should be the name of the proxy server(s) to use. WinInet API functions recognise only CERN type proxies (HTTP only) and TIS FTP gateway (FTP only). If Internet Explorer is installed then SOCKS proxy are also supported. For all other values of dwAccessType this should be set to nil.
lpszProxyBypass
String containing an optional list of host names or IP addresses, which should not be routed through the proxy. If dwAccessType is not INTERNET_OPEN_TYPE_PROXY then this parameter is ignored and should be set to nil.
dwFlags
Various configuration options. Use one or more of:
INTERNET_FLAG_ASYNC
Makes only asynchronous requests.
INTERNET_FLAG_FROM_CACHE
All entries are returned from the local cache. Requests will fail if the item is not in the local cache.
INTERNET_FLAG_OFFLINE
Same as INTERNET_FLAG_FROM_CACHE

Returns: Handle for use with the other WinInet API functions or nil if the function fails in which case details of the specific error can be found by calling GetLastError().

Note:

  • InternetOpen should be the first WinInet API function called by the application.
  • When the application finishes using the WinInet API it should call InternetCloseHandle to free the handle and any associated resources.
  • Applications may make more than one call to InternetOpen (although only one is required).

InternetOpenUrl

Opens an FTP, Gopher or HTTP resource.

function InternetOpenUrl(hInet: HINTERNET;
    lpszUrl: PChar;
    lpszHeaders: PChar;
    dwHeadersLength: DWORD;
    dwFlags: DWORD;
    dwContext: DWORD): HINTERNET; stdcall;

Parameters:

hInet
Valid handle returned by a previous call to InternetOpen or InternetConnect.
lpszUrl
String containing the URL to read. Only URLs beginning with ftp:, gopher:, http:, or https: are supported.
lpszHeaders
String containing the headers to be sent to the HTTP server. (For more information refer to the Microsoft documentation.) May be nil.
dwHeadersLength
The length of the headers string. If -1 and lpszHeaders is not nil then the lpszHeaders string is assumed to be null terminated.
dwFlags
One or more of:
INTERNET_FLAG_EXISTING_CONNECT
INTERNET_FLAG_HYPERLINK
INTERNET_FLAG_IGNORE_CERT_CN_INVALID
INTERNET_FLAG_IGNORE_CERT_DATE_INVALID
INTERNET_FLAG_IGNORE_REDIRECT_TO_HTTP
INTERNET_FLAG_IGNORE_REDIRECT_TO_HTTPS
INTERNET_FLAG_KEEP_CONNECTION
INTERNET_FLAG_NEED_FILE
INTERNET_FLAG_NO_AUTH
INTERNET_FLAG_NO_AUTO_REDIRECT
INTERNET_FLAG_NO_CACHE_WRITE
INTERNET_FLAG_NO_COOKIES
INTERNET_FLAG_NO_UI
INTERNET_FLAG_PASSIVE
INTERNET_FLAG_PRAGMA_NOCACHE
INTERNET_FLAG_RAW_DATA
INTERNET_FLAG_RELOAD
INTERNET_FLAG_RESYNCHRONIZE
INTERNET_FLAG_SECURE
dwContext
Application defined value, which is used only if the application has already called InternetSetStatusCallback to set up a callback. Otherwise use 0.

Returns: If successful a handle to the FTP, Gopher or HTTP URL resource. Nil on failure, in which case use GetLastError and InternetGetLastResponseInfo to determine the cause of failure.

Note:

InternetReadFile

Reads and returns data from an open handle.

function InternetReadFile(
    hFile: HINTERNET;
    lpBuffer: Pointer;
    dwNumberOfBytesToRead: DWORD;
    var lpdwNumberOfBytesRead: DWORD): BOOL; stdcall;

Parameters:

hFile
Handle returned by FtpCommand, InternetOpenUrl, FtpOpenFile, GopherOpenFile or HttpOpenRequest.
lpBuffer
Buffer that will receive the data read.
dwNumberOfBytesToRead
The number of bytes to read (must be equal to or less than the size of the buffer), normally the size of the buffer.
lpdwNumberOfBytesRead
The number of bytes of data read. This will be 0 if no data was read - either because there is no more data or on error.

Returns: True if successful, False (0) otherwise. If the function fails, further information can be found by calling GetLastError.

Note:

InternetSetOption

Sets a WinInet configuration option.

InternetSetOption(
    hInet: HINTERNET;
    dwOption: Cardinal;
    lpBuffer: Pointer;
    dwBufferLength: Cardinal);

Parameters:

hInet
Valid handle returned by a previous call to InternetOpen or InternetConnect. For some options this may be nil.
dwOption
The desired option to set. This must be one of:
INTERNET_OPTION_CALLBACK
INTERNET_OPTION_CONNECT_TIMEOUT
Sets the timeout (in milliseconds) used for internet connection requests. Data is a Cardinal value. Use $FFFFFFFF to indicate no timeout.
INTERNET_OPTION_CONNECT_RETRIES
Sets the number of times WinInet attempts to resolve and connect to a host. WinInet only attempts to connect once to a given IP address, but where a DNS name resolves to multiple IP addresses this option sets the limit on the number of IP addresses considered. The data is a Cardinal value.
INTERNET_OPTION_CONNECT_BACKOFF
INTERNET_OPTION_SEND_TIMEOUT
Sets the timeout (in milliseconds) used when waiting for a send request to complete. Data is a Cardinal value.
INTERNET_OPTION_RECEIVE_TIMEOUT
Sets the timeout (in milliseconds) used when waiting for a response to a request. Data is a Cardinal value.
INTERNET_OPTION_DATA_SEND_TIMEOUT
INTERNET_OPTION_DATA_RECEIVE_TIMEOUT
INTERNET_OPTION_HANDLE_TYPE
INTERNET_OPTION_READ_BUFFER_SIZE
INTERNET_OPTION_WRITE_BUFFER_SIZE
INTERNET_OPTION_ASYNC_ID
INTERNET_OPTION_ASYNC_PRIORITY
INTERNET_OPTION_PARENT_HANDLE
INTERNET_OPTION_KEEP_CONNECTION
INTERNET_OPTION_REQUEST_FLAGS
INTERNET_OPTION_EXTENDED_ERROR
INTERNET_OPTION_OFFLINE_MODE
INTERNET_OPTION_CACHE_STREAM_HANDLE
INTERNET_OPTION_USERNAME
INTERNET_OPTION_PASSWORD
INTERNET_OPTION_ASYNC
INTERNET_OPTION_SECURITY_FLAGS
INTERNET_OPTION_SECURITY_CERTIFICATE_STRUCT
INTERNET_OPTION_DATAFILE_NAME
INTERNET_OPTION_URL
INTERNET_OPTION_SECURITY_CERTIFICATE
INTERNET_OPTION_SECURITY_KEY_BITNESS
INTERNET_OPTION_REFRESH
INTERNET_OPTION_PROXY
INTERNET_OPTION_SETTINGS_CHANGED
INTERNET_OPTION_VERSION
INTERNET_OPTION_USER_AGENT
INTERNET_OPTION_END_BROWSER_SESSION
INTERNET_OPTION_PROXY_USERNAME
INTERNET_OPTION_PROXY_PASSWORD
INTERNET_OPTION_CONTEXT_VALUE
INTERNET_OPTION_CONNECT_LIMIT
INTERNET_OPTION_SECURITY_SELECT_CLIENT_CERT
INTERNET_OPTION_POLICY
INTERNET_OPTION_DISCONNECTED_TIMEOUT
INTERNET_OPTION_CONNECTED_STATE
Sets the connected state. Use TInternetConnectedInfo for the data.
INTERNET_OPTION_IDLE_STATE
INTERNET_OPTION_OFFLINE_SEMANTICS
INTERNET_OPTION_SECONDARY_CACHE_KEY
INTERNET_OPTION_CALLBACK_FILTER
INTERNET_OPTION_CONNECT_TIME
INTERNET_OPTION_SEND_THROUGHPUT
INTERNET_OPTION_RECEIVE_THROUGHPUT
INTERNET_OPTION_REQUEST_PRIORITY
INTERNET_OPTION_HTTP_VERSION
INTERNET_OPTION_RESET_URLCACHE_SESSION
INTERNET_OPTION_ERROR_MASK
A list of flags together with more comprehensive descriptions can be found on the Microsoft site here.
lpBuffer
A record containing information applicable to the selected option.
dwBufferLength
The length of the record passed as lpBuffer. Use sizeof(...).

Returns: True if successful, False otherwise. If the function fails, further information can be found by calling GetLastError.

InternetSetStatusCallback

Sets a callback function used to provide feedback during asynchronous use of the WinInet API.

function InternetSetStatusCallback(
    hInet: HINTERNET;
    lpfnInternetCallback: PFNInternetStatusCallback
): PFNInternetStatusCallback;

Parameters:

hInet
Valid handle returned by a previous call to InternetOpen or InternetConnect.
lpfnInternetCallback
The callback function to be used, or NIL to unregister the existing callback function. For more information see InternetStatusCallback.

Returns: Reference to the previously defined status callback function or NIL if there was no previously defined callback function.

Note:

  • Both synchronous and asynchronous functions can use the callback function to monitor the progress of a WinInet function.
  • A callback function is required for asynchronous operation.
  • Asynchronous requests will call the callback function with INTERNET_STATUS_REQUEST_COMPLETE when a WinInet function completes.
  • Callback functions can be specified independently for each handle.
  • Callback functions can be changed at any time provided there is no request outstanding on the handle.
  • If a callback is defined on the handle returned by InternetOpen then the callback will be inherited for all subsequent handles created by InternetConnect.

InternetStatusCallback

There is no WinInet function called InternetStatusCallback - these notes describe the callback function (which an application sets using InternetSetStatusCallback). To define a callback function the application must provide a callback function with the following definition (procedure and parameter names are not significant, although parameter types are):

procedure InternetStatusCallback(
    hInet: HINTERNET;
    dwContext: DWORD;
    dwInternetStatus: DWORD;
    lpvStatusInformation: Pointer;
    dwStatusInformationLength: DWORD); stdcall;

Parameters:

hInet
Handle for the connection on which the callback function has been invoked.
dwContext
The context value provided by the application when the the WinInet call was made.
dwInternetStatus
Status value indicating why the callback function is being called. This will be one of:
INTERNET_STATUS_CLOSING_CONNECTION
Connection to the server is being closed. lpvStatusInformation will be nil.
INTERNET_STATUS_CONNECTING_TO_SERVER
Connecting to the socket address pointed to by lpvStatusInformation.
INTERNET_STATUS_CONNECTION_CLOSED
Connection to the server has been closed. lpvStatusInformation will be nil.
INTERNET_STATUS_CTL_RESPONSE_RECEIVED
Not implemented.
INTERNET_STATUS_DETECTING_PROXY
Proxy has been detected.
INTERNET_STATUS_HANDLE_CLOSING
The handle is closing.
INTERNET_STATUS_HANDLE_CREATED
InternetConnect has created a new handle. lpvStatusInformation will point to a record of type INTERNET_ASYNC_RESULT. The new handle is created prior to the connection, so the application could terminate the connection (using InternetCloseHandle) if the connection takes too long.
INTERNET_STATUS_INTERMEDIATE_RESPONSE
Received an intermediate status code message from the server.
INTERNET_STATUS_NAME_RESOLVED
Successfully resolved the IP address of the name contained in lpvStatusInformation.
INTERNET_STATUS_PREFETCH
Not implemented.
INTERNET_STATUS_RECEIVING_RESPONSE
Waiting for response from server. lpvStatusInformation will be nil.
INTERNET_STATUS_REDIRECT
An HTTP request is redirecting the request. The lpvStatusInformation parameter points to the new URL. Callback will not be made if the original request specified INTERNET_FLAG_NO_AUTO_REDIRECT.
INTERNET_STATUS_REQUEST_COMPLETE
Asynchronous operation has completed. lpvStatusInformation will point to a record of type INTERNET_ASYNC_RESULT.
INTERNET_STATUS_REQUEST_SEND
Successfully sent request to server. lpvStatusInformation points to a DWORD value containing the number of bytes sent.
INTERNET_STATUS_RESOLVING_NAME
Attempting to resolve IP address of name indicated by lpvStatusInformation.
INTERNET_STATUS_RESPONSE_RECEIVED
Received a response from the server. lpvStatusInformation points to a DWORD containing the number of bytes received.
INTERNET_STATUS_SENDING_REQUEST
Sending a request to the server. lpvStatusInformation will be NIL.
INTERNET_STATUS_STATE_CHANGE
Moved between a secure (HTTPS) and nonsecure (HTTP) site. lpvStatusInformation points to a DWORD containing one or more of the following flags:
INTERNET_STATE_CONNECTED
Connected (i.e. not disconnected).
INTERNET_STATE_DISCONNECTED
Disconnected - no network connection could be established.
INTERNET_STATE_DISCONNECTED_BY_USER
Disconnected by user request.
INTERNET_STATE_IDLE
No network requests are being made by WinInet.
INTERNET_STATE_BUSY
Network requests are being made by WinInet.
INTERNET_STATUS_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED
The request requires user input for completion.
lpvStatusInformation
Pointer to additional information. Possibly NIL.
dwStatusInformationLength
Size of the record pointed by by lpvStatusInformation.

Note:

  • The callback function may be called in a thread context different from that of the thread which initiated the request.
  • Microsoft recommends always notifying the user when a state change from a secure (HTTPS) site to a non-secure (HTTP) site occurs in order to guard against involuntary information disclosure.
  • Minimise work done within the callback function - the WinInet thread is essentially blocked until the callback completes.
  • The callback function is never called if the originating WinInet function is passed a context of 0.

These notes are believed to be correct for Delphi 6 and Delphi 7, and may apply to other versions as well.

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