NDSU Spring 2000 Computer In-service
About FTP
What is FTP?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a means to transfer files between your hard drive and a remote server like a computer that hosts a Web site. There are three basic types of FTP:
Command Line Driven FTP
The command line driven option is least commonly used today. It requires you to logon to a host and issue commands like dir, cd dirname, get filename, etc., much like the MS-DOS commands we used a few years ago. Many FTP sites allow anonymous logons meaning anyone can access the site by using the generic "anonymous" ID to gain access to the system. Entering the command, "help," will return a list of common FTP commands should you need assistance while on these systems. See the following Web page for additional information on FTP commands: http://kb.indiana.edu/data/aerg.html.
Using a Web Browser
Several FTP sites are accessible using a Web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. You can easily recognize these sites by their addresses. Most Web site addresses start off with http:// for HyperText Transfer Protocol; FTP site addresses start off with ftp:// to indicate that FTP protocol will be used to transfer information from that site.
FTP Client Software
Using FTP client software is an efficient and convenient way to transfer files between your computer and a computer on the Internet. Client software is a computer application stored on and run from your hard disk drive. You are the client and are running the application.
The most commonly used FTP client software applications are:
WS_FTP for Windows operating systems
Fetch for Macintosh
Help files for these programs can be found at:
WS_FTP: http://imagescape.com/helpweb/ftp/wsftp.html
Fetch: http://www.esu10.k12.ne.us/html-design/macuploading.html
These shareware programs are available for downloading in many locations including
http://www.shareware.com
Note: Lots of newer web editors include FTP client software as "built-in" features, making this process more transparent. It may not be necessary for you to use a separate client like WS_FTP.
Using WS_FTP
WS_FTP is client software that lets you transfer files between your computer and a network server. The server must be running FTP server software. You must have a username and password to gain access to the server.
Step 1. Establish a connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
If you are using a modem, use the same dial-up procedure you use whenever you access the Internet. If you are on a network connection, this is automatic.
Step 2. Load WS_FTP and connect to the FTP server (typically your ISP). The first time you access a new server, click on the [New] button in the Session Profile window and fill in the details requested. Click [OK] to connect to the server.
You will need to consult your ISP to gather the information needed in the Session Properties window. On the General tab:
Profile Name is whatever name you want to use to identify your FTP server.
Host Name/Address must exactly match the Internet name of your FTP server. It is very likely whatever is after the @ symbol in your email address.
Host Type depends on your server. Many servers are UNIX hosts. There is also an "Automatic Detect" option that works in most cases.
User ID is the username provided by your ISP.
Password is the password provided by your ISP.
You may specify which directories will be displayed first on the local and remote computers on the Startup tab.
Step 3. Transferring files
The WS_FTP window is similar to Windows Explorer. Folders or files on your hard drive are displayed in the Local System area on the left. Subfolder and files stored in your folder on the server computer are displayed in the Remote System area on the right.
To transfer files, you
1. Open the folder and select the file(s) you want to transfer on the source side.
2. Open the destination folder on the destination side.
3. Select the type of files you are transferring, either ASCII (for HTML and TXT files) or Binary (for all other files). If you are transferring both types, you need to do each type separately.
4. Click on the [Left arrow] button
to transfer files from the remote to the local system. Click on
the [Right arrow] button 
to transfer files from the local to the remote system.
5. Click the [Close] button when the transfer is complete.
Navigating the drives is also similar to using Windows Explorer.
) to move up one folder level. 
The biggest problem Web developers have, especially when just getting started, is organizing and knowing their folder or directory structure. Do you know where your WordPerfect files are on your Hard Disk Drive? How about your LOTUS 1-2-3 files or your Pegasus Mail files?
Chances are your WordPerfect files are in your C:\MyFiles\ folder, your wks./wk4 files might be in C:\123r5w\work\, who knows where your Pegasus Mail files are. In fact, most of us are not concerned where these files are because the programs store them in default folders and they are readily accessible when we select the 'file - open' command.
You have to be on top of your hard disk drive folder structure when working with Web files. Web pages 'link' to each other. In order for those links to work and for graphics to appear on your Web pages they must be in the specified folders. A Web page (something.html) on your hard disk can link to a file in your C:\MyFiles\ folder and a graphic in your C:\corel\suite8\graphics\clipart\ folder and work just fine. However, when you copy that HTML file to the Web server it will not work because the Web Server does not have a C:\MyFiles\ and C:\corel\suite8\graphics\clipart\ folder.
Thus, the one thing to remember is to create the same folder structure on your hard disk drive as you will create on the Web Server you will be using. Example:
| My Computer's Hard Disk Drive |
The Web Server's Hard Disk Drive |
 |
 |