WS_FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method of transferring files over the Internet. WS_FTP is the FTP program distributed with the Windows version of Bear Access. You can use WS_FTP to retrieve copies of files from public servers that house collections of useful programs and archives of other information. You can also use WS_FTP to transfer copies of files from your computer to an FTP server on which you have an account (for example, a department computer or the CU People system).

Contents:

1. Connecting to an FTP Server
2. Navigating an FTP Server
3. Retrieving Files
4. Storing Files
5. Disconnecting
6. Problems Accessing an FTP Server
7. FTP Etiquette
8. Additional Information
9. Appendix: Compressed Files ("zip")

Connecting to an FTP Server

Start WS_FTP by clicking the Bear Access File Transfer button.

WS_FTP needs a few bits of information to establish an FTP connection:

Host Name/Address: the system to which you want to connect; typically a series of letters and/or numbers separated by periods (e.g., ftp.cit.cornell.edu, ftp.apple.com, www.people.cornell.edu).

User ID: your identity on the remote system. Public archive sites use a special version of FTP where anyone can gain access by identifying themselves as a user named anonymous. On a server where you have your own files, you would enter your username or other identifier such as your Network ID.

Password: the password for your User ID. An anonymous user is usually asked to enter his or her e-mail address as a password, and some sites will reject a connection when the password does not match the format of an e-mail address. WS-FTP is configured to use guest@unknown. When accessing your own files on a system where you have an account, you would use your own password for the system. If using your Network ID with the CU People system, enter your Network ID password.

Adding Profile Names

WS_FTP has been preconfigured for connecting to several FTP sites. Click on the down-pointing arrow next to Profile Name to see a pop-up menu listing popular servers already configured for you. If the one you want is listed there, select it with the mouse and WS_FTP will automatically enter the server name for you.

To connect to other sites besides those that have been preconfigured, such as the CU People Web server mentioned above, you have to type in the system's name (e.g., www.people.cornell.edu). WS_FTP also has the ability to store additional names of sites you like to visit. Click the New button to add a site to your list of profile names for ease of access later; be sure to save the host name and other information that you entered before connecting.

After entering a host, user name, password and, optionally, a directory, click OK to connect to an FTP server. A screen, like the one below, showing directories and/or files will appear. Directories have folder icons and files have paper icons. Above the list of files and directories you will see a pop-up menu labelled with the name of the directory currently accessed. In the illustration below, this menu is labelled /pub. After connecting you may need to navigate the FTP server to find the file or directory you want.

Navigating an FTP Server

Notice that the left-hand side of the screen displays your computer's current directory, while the right-hand side displays that of the FTP server. Initially the directory on the left will be the one where WS_FTP is found; if you wish to transfer files to or from another directory, select the local drive letter and/or directory name there.

Once you've gained access to the server, you can start navigating its directory structure to look for files or other directories. On most systems accessed as anonymous, you'll start out in a top level (root) directory called slash (/). If you don't see anything promising at the top level, you should try looking for and opening a directory called pub. If you're connecting to the CU People Web server, you should see a list of your Web pages and other files that are in your private directory as soon as you connect; there is no pub directory on the CU People system.

You can switch to a directory, such as pub, by simply double-clicking on its name. When you do, you are likely to see a list of more files and/or directories. Double-click on a directory name, such as windows, to move into a directory for Windows programs, and then double-click on util, for example, to open a directory with utility programs. You should now be in a directory called /pub/windows/util, i.e., public Windows utility programs. FTP directory and file names can be cryptic until you get used to them. If you see a file called readme.txt or index or something similar, click once on the file name and then click the View button and read the file that opens up--it will usually contain more information about the files and subdirectories in the directory you're accessing.

WS_FTP also lets you move around directories by typing out their path names instead of double-clicking; this might be faster for you if you know exactly the directory you want to access. Click the ChgDir and enter the location you want to access. To move back up one or more directory levels, click the pop-up menu above the list of file and directory names, then select whatever location you wish from the list--you can back up just one directory, or, at most, go all the way back to the one you accessed when you connected.

Retrieving Files

When you see a file that you want to retrieve, simply double-click on its name, or click on it once and then click on the button labelled "<-" (left-pointing arrow). Note that a file already with the same name in the destination directory on your computer will be overwritten without notice. Once the file has reached your desktop, you can run it, or open it up with an application, depending on the type of file. If you retrieve an executable file from an FTP server, it's a good precaution to check it with anti-virus software before trying to run it. Anti-virus software is available through Bear Access.

One of the tricky points to using FTP can be deciding which transfer type (ASCII or binary) you need to use for a particular file. Fortunately, when you choose the Auto setting, WS_FTP tries to guess for you based on the extension the file was given. If a file you retrieved seems broken (the program doesn't start properly, or you can't read or print its contents), then chances are good that WS_FTP used the wrong type of transfer and you will have to try downloading the file again by manually choosing the method of transfer, using the opposite of what WS_FTP tried. Be sure to read the Help file on the topic Transferring files/Transfer mode. Auto usually works because WS_FTP tries to recognize the file type, including zipped (.zip) and executable (.exe), just to name two common formats.

If you do need to override WS_FTP's Automatic selection of file type because the resulting file seems to be corrupt, here are some details about the choices:

ASCII:

for files that contains just normal, printable text characters with no special codes or formatting. If a file's name ends in .txt, it is a safe bet that it contains just normal text. Files with names like read.me will usually also be ASCII files. Web files with names ending in .html or .htm are ASCII files too.

For additional information, read the Help file on Options/ASCII Extensions, a command available that lets you modify the list of suffixes and file types WS_FTP recognizes when you choose Auto.

Binary:

for applications, most documents created by specific applications, and compressed files. Image (.gif, .jpg) and sound files should also be transferred in binary.

More information about Common Internet File Formats is available.

Storing Files

To store a file on the FTP server, connect to the server and navigate to the correct directory. Then double-click on the file to be transferrred or highlight it and click on the button labelled "->" (right-pointing arrow).

Please keep the following facts in mind when storing files:

• Many FTP servers run UNIX, so file names are case-sensitive and problems may result if you try to use a space or special character in the file name when you store it.
  
  
• If a file of the name chosen already exists on the FTP server, WS_FTP will overwrite the existing file with the one you transfer -- it cannot be undone
  
  
• If you want to create a new directory on the FTP server for your file before you transfer it, click the button labelled MkDir. Both of the above items apply to directory names too.

Like retrieving files, you may have to decide which transfer type (ASCII or binary) you need to use for a particular file. Fortunately, when you choose the Auto setting, WS_FTP tries to guess for you based on the extension the file was given. It's wise to try retrieving or viewing a file immediately after you put it onto an FTP server to be sure that it transfers back to your machine without error. If it does not, try sending another copy to the server in the mode opposite the one used by WS_FTP.

Disconnecting

You should close your session with an FTP server as soon as you are done transferring files. Some FTP archive sites are used by a lot of people, and there's a good chance someone is waiting to make a connection while you're connected to it. Many sites limit the number of people who can be logged in at the same time. To close a WS_FTP session, click the Close box or click the Close button. If you are done with the program, click the Exit button.

Problems Accessing an FTP Site

Domain name cannot be found

You may occasionally encounter an FTP server which you can't access unless your computer is registered in the domain name system. If you attempt to use such a server with an unregistered computer, you will receive a message that its domain name cannot be found. Nothing is wrong with WS_FTP or your computer--you simply need to have it registered in the domain name system first. If you need to register your computer in the domain name system, ask your network administrator to do it for you, or contact ResNet staff if you're working from a residence hall. If you use FTP over EZ-Remote or from an CIT Public Computer Lab, then a domain name is automatically assigned to your computer, and you don't have to worry about any of this.

No more connections available

Sometimes your attempt to connect to an FTP site will be refused because the system is already serving its maximum number of people. When this happens, you'll have to try again later when there's less traffic. Some FTP sites limit access to certain periods of time during the day or week. Watch WS_FTP's status information window when you connect for details about restrictions if you cannot access a site.

FTP Etiquette

A few rules of courtesy apply to the use of FTP from remote locations:

• Because a vast number of people use the Internet in their daily work, it is best to use FTP during non-business hours whenever possible, especially when transferring large sound or image files that are not related to your work or research. Doing so will not only keep network traffic down during the day, but will also allow you a better chance of connecting to a remote server and will generally permit faster transfer rates.
• 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.

Additional Information

WS_FTP has a built-in Help system that covers everything from the basics to more advanced uses of the program.

Appendix: Compressed Files ("zip")

Many of the Windows files you find at FTP archive sites have an extension of .zip. This means that the file was compressed to save space and/or combines multiple files into a single file to produce a package of files that belong together.

To uncompress, or "unzip" a file, you need to have decompressing software on your computer. Cornell has a site license for TurboZIP Express, which current students, faculty, and staff can download free of charge. Another software choice is WinZip, which can be ordered and downloaded from its vendor's Web site.