Identifying the end of a file transfer

[Richard Miller]

I've got one stack sending a file out to server, and a separate stack  
(on a separate machine) scanning the server for the availability of  
that file. When it sees it, it needs to retrieve it from the server.

Problem is, this second stack is seeing the availability of the file  
BEFORE it has completely transferred onto the server. If it starts  
retrieving it when it first sees it, well... the result isn't good.

Is there any simple way for the second stack to know the file  
transfer is complete before it starts accessing this file? I realize  
I could have the first stack send a small "flag" file out to the  
server after the original file was transferred, and the second stack  
could wait until it sees that flag... but I'm wondering if there  
isn't some easier way.

Thanks.
Richard Miller
Imprinter Technologies