General Information About Using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Programs

• Introduction
• Downloading and Opening WS-FTP for a PC
  
• Host Type, User ID, and Password
  
• The difference between the Local Host and Remote Host (the left and right sides of the ftp program)
  
• To Transfer a File or a Folder from your local computer to a Remote Computer / Transferring Files from the left to the right
• To Retrieve a File or Folder From a Remote Computer / Transferring Files from the right to the left
  
• Explanation of Buttons

Introduction

FTP programs allow a user to transfer files from one computer to another. This is the fundamental activity of the Internet; when you are looking at a page in the Internet, you have actually transferred a page from another computer, or server, and brought it into your own computer. In order for this to happen, though, your computer must be networked to that other computer. Without getting into too much technical detail, this simply means that your computer must be connected to a network cable or telephone line so that you can dial-up to the Internet. For most people this means using a modem. To retrieve html documents from a particular server, browsers such as Netscape or Internet Explorer (IE) use HyperText Transfer Protocol (hence the "http://" at the beginning of a web address).

As you begin to create web pages, you will become very familiar with the whole procedure of transferring and retrieving files. In order for your pages to be viewable via the Internet, you will need to upload them to a server. No matter what platform you are on or FTP application you are using, the information needed to connect to another computer is basically the same:

1. What is the name of the computer you want to connect to (Host Name)?

2. Who are you (your username)?

3. Do you have permission to log onto this computer (do you have a password that will allow you to connect to the Host computer/server)?

Downloading and Opening WS-FTP for a PC (top)

The standard FTP programs for PC users is WS_FTP. It can also be downloaded for free from shareware sites such as TUCOWS. WS_FTP is located in Windows 95 or later by clicking start, programs, and finding the WS-FTP icon in the WS-FTP folder.

Windows 95

 

Host Type, User ID, and Password (top)

• When you double click on the WS_FTP icon, a window will appear requesting the same information needed by most FTP programs - where do you want to go and information about you as a user.
• For Host Name, type in the IP address or Domain Name for the computer you want to access.
• Enter in your username and any password required for accessing the computer.
• Leave Host-Type on Automatic detect, and the other spaces blank.

An example login screen to access a server named ftp.matrix.msu.edu would look like this:

Once your information is entered, press OK.

The difference between the Local Host and Remote Host (the left and right sides of the ftp program) (top)

A window will appear that shows the computer you are working on in the left window and the remote computer you are accessing in the right window. The left window always shows the computer you are currently working on: so if you are at home, the left side shows your home computer, etc.

If I were to log into the server named ftp.matrix.msu.edu, the WS_FTP screen would look like this. The computer I'm working on is on the left, where I am on the C: drive. The computer I connected to (ftp.matrix.msu.edu) is on the right, and I am in a folder called "web". Note that in this example, the yellow folders are first listed alphabetically, and then after the folders, individual files are listed alphabetically.

To Transfer a file from your local computer to a Remote Computer (for example, to the Matrix server computer) (top)

• First, fiind the file you want to send on the computer you are currently working on. The drives of the computer are listed on the bottom of the left hand window, and double clicking on the green arrow at the top of the left hand window allows you to move out of folders on a drive. (In other words, double clicking on the green arrow at the top of the left hand window will take you OUT of one folder, then double clicking it again will take you OUT of another folder, etc.)
  
  
• Highlight/click once on the file on your local computer (the left side) that you want to transfer. Make sure you have the remote computer open to where you want to save this file. For example, if you want to save the file in a particular folder on the remote computer (the right side), make sure to double click that folder on the left side and open it up before going on any further.
  
  
• In the example below, I have highlighted a file on my local computer called "practice.html". Then on the remote computer (the right side) I double clicked a folder called "fun" and opened it up. You can tell that I am in the "fun" folder by looking at the address in the space below the words "Remote Site." This indicates that I am in a folder called "web," and then in another folder called "fun".
  

• To transfer the practice.html file from the local computer (left) to the remote computer (right), you can either drag and drop the file or else select the arrow pointing in the right direction.

To Retrieve a File or Folder From a Remote Computer (top)

• To transfer a file from a remote computer (right side) to the one you are working on (left side) (i.e. - from the ftp.matrix.msu.edu server computer to your home computer), simply do the opposite of what was done above (the only difference is to select the arrow pointing in the left direction).
• Open up the location on your local computer where you want to save the file.
• Find the file on the remote computer. Highlight/click once on the file.
• Drag and drop the file or else hit the arrow pointing in the left direction.

Explanation of Buttons (top)

There are several buttons on WS_FTP that will help you move around and get things done. Below this image you will find a description of the numbered buttons.

1. ChgDir	This button allows you to change the directory you are in -- you can type in either the name of a drive (i.e., c: or e:) or you can type in the name of a folder. Note that both the local and remote locations have this button.
2. MkDir	This button allows you to make a new directory/folder. Note that both the local and remote locations have this button.
3. Refresh	Click this button to make sure that you have the newest version of a file (.html, .doc, .wpd, etc.) listed in the WS_FTP window. This is especially important to do when you are making and revising web pages. For example, if you open WS_FTP and connect to a remote host, tranfer a file, and then make a change to the file and save it, the file listed in WS_FTP may be the OLD version of your file. Select this button to make sure the program shows the newest version of all your files.
4.	This button changes the order of folders/files listed in the WS_FTP window. For example, the folders may be listed first in alphabetical order, and then the individual files listed alphabetically below the folders. Hit this button, and then the files will be listed first, and then folders will be listed below them.
5. Name	This button changes the alphabetization of folders and files, from a-z or from z-a.
6. Date	This button organizes your files and folders based on date, either in ascending or descending order.
7. Size	This button organizes files and folders based on size, from smallest to largest or largest to smallest.
8. Close / Connect	Hit this button to close a session. After you close, the button changes to "Connect." Use the "Connect" button to reconnect to another remote computer.
9. Cancel	This button cancels a session.
10.	This button lists some of the recent drives/locations you have been to on the local/remote computer. Use this button as another way to switch drives and locations.