title: Getting a file from an authenticated site (with python urllib, urllib2)
body: <p>I'm trying to get a queried-excel file from a site.  When I enter the direct link, it will lead to a login page and once I've entered my username and password, it will proceed to download the excel file automatically.  I am trying to avoid installing additional module that's not part of the standard python (This script will be running on a "standardize machine" and it won't work if the module is not installed)</p>
  
  <p>I've tried the following but I see a "page login" information in the excel file itself :-|</p>
  
  <pre><code>import urllib
  
  url = "myLink_queriedResult/result.xls"
  urllib.urlretrieve(url,"C:\\test.xls")
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>SO.. then I looked into using urllib2 with password authentication but then I'm stuck.</p>
  
  <p>I have the following code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>import urllib2
  import urllib
  
  theurl = 'myLink_queriedResult/result.xls'
  username = 'myName'
  password = 'myPassword'
  
  passman = urllib2.HTTPPasswordMgrWithDefaultRealm()
  passman.add_password(None, theurl, username, password)
  
  authhandler = urllib2.HTTPBasicAuthHandler(passman)
  opener = urllib2.build_opener(authhandler)
  urllib2.install_opener(opener)
  pagehandle = urllib2.urlopen(theurl)
  pagehandle.read()  ##but seems like it still only contain a 'login page'   
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Appreciate any advice in advance. :)</p>