>I need to exchange data with a MySQL database on a web server. You can only get to the MySQL server from a program running on the web server. This is done for security. I have written some PHP programs and can run them from any web browser and they produce the desired data text files.
>
>Now I need to run them from within VFP 9 and, hopefully, in the background so the user does not see IE come up or interfere with the browser he/she already has open.
>
>After I run the PHP programs I then need to download the text files they create.
>
>I can upload/download with FTP if needed (I have a VFP lib that does it all) but I was wondering if there was any other way as the hosting service appears to not have secure FTP but does have HTTPS. (go figure)
>
>Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Google for HTTP-Get and HTTP-Post (using WinHTTP or XmlHTTP COM componenents)
or automate IE in a screen region far away or with IE.visible = .f. ....

HTTPS is easier to work with from client side than SFTP and FTPS (which are different animals),
and secure FTP (which is over here the thing most often abbreviated SFTP) is less secure than
FTP over SSH (which at least here is abbreviated FTPS)

HTH

thomas