FTP Cmmander FAQ: Intrductin FTP (File Transfer Prtcl) was first used in Unix systems a lng time ag t cpy and mve shared files. With the develpment f the Internet, FTP became widely used t uplad and dwnlad nline data, especially t pst websites n ISP servers. These tasks can nw be perfrmed by a special prgram called FTP clients. The prgram lets yu uplad and dwnlad data and t delete ne r mre files, including whle directries alng with subdirectries. The transfer interface windw shws what percentage f files has already been upladed r dwnladed. The prgram can als autmatically resume and cmplete file transfers, which fr sme reasn, have been interrupted. Start-up After yu dwnlad the prgram tw split windw panels will appear n yur screen. These tw main panels can be described as fllws: On the right hand panel- "Remte FTP Servers", which cntains a list f pre-cnfigured FTP servers; On the left hand panel - "Lcal Cmputer," which cntains a list f files and flders in the lcal cmputer. Each f these panels cntains a cntext-sensitive menu which perfrms a number f system-related tasks and functins. The menu can be called up by right-clicking the muse. The upper part f the windw displays the main prgram menu and three keys: "Cnnect", "Discnnect" and "Abrt Cnnectin". After clicking "Cnnect" the prgram will attempt t cnnect yur cmputer with a cmputer which is n a web-based FTP server. After the cmmand is executed and the cnnectin is established a list f files and flder will be displayed n the remte FTP server. The keys "Discnnect" and "Abrt Transfer" allw yu t lg ff the server, break ff the cnnectin r interrupt data transfer.
T transfer files use the fllwing menu items: Uplad the files yu have selected nt the FTP server; Dwnlad the files yu have selected t the lcal cmputer; r click n prgram buttn with arrws. Let's take a clser lk at the prgram functins nw. FTP server cnnectin and prgram setting When yu call up "Cnnectin" the main prgram menu will appear n yur screen: Cnnect t FTP server; Discnnect; Stp transfer;
Preferences; Exit. The first three items are used t cnnect with r discnnect frm FTP servers. The same cmmands can be perfrmed using the 3 buttns: "Cnnect" "Discnnect" r "Stp Transfer". After the cnnectin is established, the "Cnnectin" buttn will switch ff and "Discnnect" will light up. If fr sme reasn the cnnectin is brken ff, "Stp Transfer" will light up after which the prgram will give up trying t establish a cnnectin. Read the sectin Preferences n hw t cnfigure the prgram. Perfrming file peratins n lcal cmputers When yu call up the menu item "Lcal Cmputer" the lcal menu will appear n yur screen. The menu shws yu hw t perfrm file peratins n yur lcal cmputer. This sectin cntains the fllwing menu items. Create directry; Delete; Rename; Uplad files t FTP server; View as text; Run prgram; Fnt. Yu can als select menu items by clicking the right muse key. Find the files yu need frm the list f directries shwn in the windw "Lcal Cmputer", then click n the apprpriate menu items. T select files use the fllwing keys (which shuld be pressed simultaneusly, nt separately): Shift and arrw; Shift and Page Up / Page dwn; Shift and left muse key; Ctrl and left muse key. Let's nw return t ur descriptin f the lcal menu items. New Directry This cmmand allws yu t create a flder in a lcal cmputer. After yu enter the name the new flder will appear n the right-hand panel f yur lcal cmputer.
Remve Directry The Remve cmmand helps yu t remve flders frm lcal cmputers. T d this, select the flders yu want t delete, then select this ptin. Yu will be prmpted as t whether r nt yu're sure yu want t delete. If yu answer yes, the flders are remved frm the server. Deletins can be perfrmed using the "Select" menu item r standard cmmand sequences (shift, ctrl, etc.). Rename File The rename cmmand allws yu t change the name f a file r flder in lcal cmputers. It wrks as fllws: 1. G int the flder and find the file yu need; 2. Select the file yu want t rename using the left muse key; 3. Select the menu item "Rename"; 4. Enter the new file name in the "Rename" windw. One file at a time can be renamed this way. Uplad selected files t an FTP server The ptin "Uplad selected files t FTP server" allws yu t transfer files t a remte FTP server. T d this, select the files in a lcal cmputer yu wuld like t cpy. First f all yu need t make a cnnectin with an FTP server. Then highlight the flder in the FTP server yu wuld like t uplad. The transfer interface windw shws what percentage f files has already been upladed r dwnladed. View file in text editr The file yu select will be viewed in simple text editr. Run prgram Select this cmmand n the left hand panel t launch this applicatin (usually used fr *.exe files). Fnt The last lcal menu item, " Fnt," is used t mdify the size, clr and prperties f character types shwn in a lcal cmputer windw. When yu chse this ptin the "Select fnt" windw appear n yur screen. There yu can substitute ne fnt with anther, chse a different clr r fnt prperties (bnd r underline) and check crrectins in the "Sample" Field. Perfrming peratins n remte FTP servers This sectin f the prgram cntains the fllwing menu items:
Create a new FTP server; Server prperties; Create directry; Custm cmmands; Delete; Rename; Dwnlad selected files t lcal server; Fnt. It shuld be nted that this menu is intended fr peratins perfrmed in the windw "Remte FTP servers", which means that many items in this menu will nly be available after cnnecting t a remte server. File peratins perfrmed n the remte server are the same as thse in lcal cmputers. We will describe in details nly thse items which are nt discussed in the sectin n file peratins perfrmed in lcal cmputers. Cnnectin prperties Create new FTP server This item allws yu t set up and save cnnectin cnfiguratins every time yu select a new remte server prfile. After yu select this ptin "New cnnectin prperties" will appear n yur screen with empty fields which shuld then be filled in. Name Enter the name f the new server in the "name" field. Fr example: micrsft FTP server Enter the address f the FTP server in this field. Fr example: ftp.micrsft.cm Prt Give the server's FTP prt here. Usually 21. User infrmatin shuld als be entered in the right hand side f the windw. User ID Enter the user ID in this field t access a given site.
Fr example: annymus Passwrd A passwrd is required whenever yu access a server. Accunt This field des nt have t be filled in fr mst servers. Skip it unless yu have relevant data. Email This field shuld be filled in fr annymus cnnectins. In this case yu shuld highlight "Annymus cnnectin". Cmmentary Allws yu t make ntes. Server respnse type Different servers have a different respnse structure fr lists f flders and the files lcated inside them. While the prgram is precnfigured fr the vast majrity f servers, there may be cases where a remte server is structured differently. Yu can lk at these file structures by selecting "Text frmat". Then yu need t cnfigure the respnse frmat in "Custm" mde. The wrd number is given in the respnse.
Fr example, let's assume that a wrd with number 9 is assigned the value "File name". Micrsft FTP ver. 4.0 is a special cnfiguratin fr Micrsft versin 4.0 ftp servers. In "Text frmat" yu can nly see the frmat f files n the server dwnlad files frm a lcal cmputer but yu will nt have any lcal menu ptins fr the FTP server. Fr virtually all servers we recmmend using the "Standard" respnse type. 10) Hide passwrd In this case smene next t yu cmputer will nt be able t see yur passwrd. This is a handy ptin in Internet cafes r classrms. 11) Passive mde Click n this ptin if yu need t run in passive mde t access yur server. This is usually necessary when yu wrk thrugh a prxy server. When selecting this ptin enter a check mark?, and remve in when yu exit passive mde. Server prperties In this menu item yu shuld fill in r edit the same fields that were requested when yu added n a new server. Using this key, fr example, yu can view r change yur passwrd, r edit ther fields described in the previus item. The prgram is errr-sensitive and autmatically crrects mistakes made by users. Other prgrams tend t use different input and setting frmats t access the FTP server. FTP Cmmander 5.X was designed t be smart and sensible sftware. It will enter the right address even if yu attempt t cnnect using any ne f the fllwing frmats. ftp.hstname.cm ftp://ftp.hstname.cm user@ftp.hstname.cm/flder ftp://user.passwrd@ftp.hstname.cm:prt/flder ftp://user@ftp.hstname.cm:prt/flder ftp://user@ftp.hstname.cm ftp://user@ftp.hstname.cm:prt http://ftp.hstname.cm Fr example, if yu make a mistake and enter a blank space in the address, the prgram will autmatically remve it frm the address, as well as any ther inadmissible symbls, and will crrect the address while the cnnectin is in prgress.
Remte server peratins New directry This ptin allws yu t create new flders in FTP servers. Custm cmmands All prgram peratins basically invlve perfrming varius cmmands n a remte server. The same cmmands can be given manually n the FTP server. These cmmands can be saved n a list f custm cmmands. Such a list will cme in handy if yur server supprts custm cmmands nt available in the prgram. After selecting this menu "Cmmands" and "D it (Execute)" will appear in the lwer part f the Remte FTP Servers" windw. By pressing the "Cmmands" key, the "Custm Cmmands" will appear in the upper left part f the windw. A few basic cmmands are already in place. Yu can then add r delete as many custm cmmands as yu like. T add and save n cmmands yu shuld first click n the "Select" buttn with the muse. The cmmand yu have selected will then be displayed in the field next t the "D it (Execute)" buttn. Click it t execute the peratin yu have selected. After yu have finished the custm cmmand task, select the same "Custm cmmand" menu item t remve "Cmmands" and "Execute" frm the windw panel. Delete This item helps yu delete any unnecessary files, flders r servers. T execute this peratin g int "Remte FTP Servers" and select the files, flders r servers yu wish t eliminate, then press "Delete" in the lcal menu f the FTP server. Rename The Rename functin allws yu t rename any file r flder n an FTP server. Dwnlad selected files t a lcal server
This ptin makes it pssible fr yu t dwnlad the files yu have selected frm the remte FTP server t yur wn PC. Once yu have established a cnnectin with the server yu can dwnlad as many directries, including subdirectries, as yu wish. Fnt Here yu can rearrange the size, clr and prperties f fnt in the FTP server. Preferences Preferences allws yu t assign the general settings that are t be used in running the prgram. Prxy, Sckets and Firewall cnfiguratins If yu have t wrk n large crprate netwrks these cnfiguratins may be required. T set them up fill in the fields t the left f the type yu have selected: then enter the descriptin f the server ("Server"), the prt yu will be using ("Prt") and the "Passwrd" yu will be using. T enter the passwrd in hidden frmat, click "Masked Passwrd". By selecting "Direct" yu will get a direct cnnectin and n ther fields will have t be filled in, as default values are applied. Prgram cnfiguratins and interface Prgram cnfiguratins appear f the "Interface" page. This item allws yu t cnfigure the "Initial directry" when yu dwnlad the prgram, and chse the "Fnt" yu want t use in the prgram. Default cnfirmatin: this is useful when yu're interacting with a server n which yu uplad r dwnlad infrmatin. Fr example, if yu check the bx "Overwrite cnfirmatin - Dwnlad", every time yu perfrm a dwnlad peratin yu will be queried abut whether yu wish t prceed r nt. "Overwrite cnfirmatin - Uplad" als asks yu t cnfirm uplads frm yur server t the server. If yu dn't want t give cnfirmatin every time, then all yu have t d is make a default cnfirmatin setting. The prgram will execute by default any cmmand selected in the fields "Skip", "Overwrite" r "Resume".
After yu have entered all the apprpriate prperties and filled in all the requisite fields, yu can either save these cnfiguratins by pressing the "Save" buttn r discard them by pressing "Cancel".