Running curl via powershell - how to construct arguments?

Question

I'm trying to run curl to upload a file in my script, using batch was painful because I need to do string manipulation etc so I turned to powershell.

However I can't seem to get powershell to execute Curl:

$hash = "test"
$fileToUpload = "hello world.txt"
$user = "user"
$password = "passy"
curl --ftp-create-dirs -T $fileToUpload -u ${user}:${pass} ftp://example.com/$hash/$fileToUpload

This results in:

Invoke-WebRequest : Parameter cannot be processed because the parameter name 'T' is ambiguous. Possible matches include: 
-TimeoutSec -TransferEncoding.
At line:5 char:24
+ curl --ftp-create-dirs -T $fileToUpload -u ${user}:${pass} ftp://example.com/$ha ...
+                        ~~
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidArgument: (:) [Invoke-WebRequest], ParameterBindingException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : AmbiguousParameter,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.InvokeWebRequestCommand

Curl.exe is in my PATH.

To add to what @PetSerAl said - when calling "curl", it is mapped as an alias to the Invoike-WebRequest cmdlet. Use "curl.exe" to call the curl executable. You can confirm this with: Get-Alias -name curl — dugas, Jun 12 '15 at 16:09
Ah I didn't know it was a built in thing, if someone adds an answer I'll accept — paulm, Jun 12 '15 at 16:12

score 55 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 14 '18 at 18:56

55

In PowerShell curl is a built in alias to Invoke-WebRequest cmdlet. And aliases have priority in command resolution. To solve your problem you have more specifically, use curl.exe instead of curl, so command not resolved to alias. Or you can remove alias Remove-Item alias:curl, but as it is build in alias you have to put this command in your profile, or invoke it in every session.

If you are not sure how PowerShell resolve your command, then you can use Get-Command cmdlet:

Get-Command curl
Get-Command curl.exe

edited Sep 14 '18 at 18:56

Gineer

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answered Jun 12 '15 at 16:19

user4003407

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You can also check if an alias exists for a given command name by running `Get-Alias -Name yourcommand`. – Ansgar Wiechers Jun 12 '15 at 16:43
@AnsgarWiechers You mean `-Definition`? `Get-Alias -Definition Invoke-WebRequest` – user4003407 Jun 12 '15 at 16:44
2

I meant `-Name`: `Get-Alias -Name curl`. I probably should've said "to check if for a given command name an alias with the same name exists". – Ansgar Wiechers Jun 12 '15 at 17:05
1

Thank you...In my case using curl.exe instead of curl, solved the problem. – HassanSh__3571619 Oct 15 '19 at 06:32
correct answer! thanks. .exe extension such a annoying thing when using powershell. – neo Mar 03 '22 at 03:47
For me, I need to use `curl.exe`... because of a `-sL` parameter will not work. `curl -sL https://aws-amplify.github.io/amp...` – Jaider Jul 23 '23 at 02:02

Running curl via powershell - how to construct arguments?

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