Date: 2007nov15 Protocol: ftp Q. ftp: Ftp opens another socket every time it lists a directory's contents. Is there a way my program can avoid this overhead? A. The LIST and NLST server commands are usually done when a client program does ls or dir. They open a new socket and require either the POST or PASV commands before hand. But the STAT command sends the same info and does not open a new socket and associated complications. To list the current directory do:

STAT .

To list another directory do:

STAT <dir>

You can also use:

MDTM <file> SIZE <file>

To get a file's modify date/time and size via the same connection.