File Transfer Using Fetch

• To install Bear Access and Fetch, see Install Bear Access and Fetch.
• To set up a server connection, see Set Up a Server Connection.
• To use Fetch, see Transfer Files using Fetch.
• For information about file types, see File Formats: Automatic, Text, or Binary.
• For simple FTP tips, see FTP Tips.

Install Bear Access and Fetch

Fetch is available through Bear Access and is installed when you install Bear Access.

1. If necessary, install Bear Access and Fetch. For step-by-step instructions, see Install Bear Access for Macintosh.

The version of Fetch distributed with Bear Access 2007 is 5.2.

Set Up a Server Connection

FTP is not a secure file transfer method. If you want to do a secure file transfer, use either FTPS (FTP over SSL) or SFTP (Secure File Transfer). You'll need to know which protocol is correct for the server you're using.

1. In a Finder window, click Applications, then click Bear Access, click the Fetch folder, and then click Fetch.



2. Do the following:
   • In the Hostname box, enter the address of the server you're connecting to.
   • In the Username box, enter your username for the server. (For a public server, type anonymous.)
   • Click the arrow in the Connect Using box, and then:
     • For FTP transfers, select FTP.
     • For FTPS transfers, select FTP with TSL/SSL.
     • For SFTP transfers, select SFTP.
   • In the Password box, enter your password for the server. (If you've used anonymous. as your user name, your password is most likely your email address.)

   

3. If you want to save this connection to use again, click the heart button in the upper-right hand corner of the New Connection box, and then choose Make Shortcut. In the Make Shortcut box, enter a name for the server connection, and then click OK.



4. Click Connect.

The next time you open Fetch, you can connect directly to this server using the options you chose. For instructions, see Transfer Files Using Fetch.

Transfer Files Using Fetch

To transfer files from your Macintosh to a server, you'll use the Put command. To transfer files from the server to your Macintosh, you'll use the Get command.

1. In a Finder window, click Applications, then click Bear Access, click the Fetch folder, and then click Fetch.



2. In the New Connection box, either enter the information to create a new connection (see Set Up a Server Connection for more information) or click the heart icon in the upper right-hand corner of the box and choose the shortcut for the server you want.

   You can also choose Recent Connections from the File menu to see a list of servers you've connected to most recently.



3. When prompted, enter your user name and password for this server, and then click OK. (For a public server, enter anonymous as your user name and your email address as your password.
4. The Fetch window opens.

   The server window looks very similar to a Finder window. Use the same methods to navigate around the server that you use to find and move files on your Macintosh.

• To transfer files from the server, select the files and then click Get. The files are copied to your downloads folder.



• To transfer files to the server, click Put. Navigate to the files you want to transfer, select them, and then click Put. The files are copied to the folder you selected on the server.



5. When you're finished transferring files, from the File menu, choose Close.

   

   For more information, click Help in the Fetch window.

File Formats: Automatic, Text, or Binary

Fetch downloads files in either text or binary mode. Usually Fetch can determine the correct file type from the file extension (.txt, .jpg, .hex). However, some files do not have an extension or have an extension Fetch doesn't recognize. This may mean that when you download those files, you won't be able to open them.

If you need to choose the download mode for a file manually, do the following:

1. Select the file.
2. From the Remote menu, choose Mode, and then choose either Text or Binary.
3. Continue with the normal file transfer procedure.

For more information, click Help in the Fetch window, and then search for help on Mode.

FTP Tips

• Some FTP servers run UNIX. File names are case-sensitive and special characters are not allowed.
• Close your FTP session as soon as you are finished transferring files. Some servers limit the number of people who can be logged in at the same time.
• It's possible you will be unable to connect to a server because the system is already serving the maximum number of people. Try again at another time. Some FTP sites limit access to certain periods of time during the day or week.
• Don't connect to a site in Australia if the same files are available from a site in Albany.
• When uploading, make sure the file you are uploading is free of viruses and in a format that many people can use.