This page is for those participants who will be using WS_FTP to transfer files. Those participants using Mac machines should refer to the pages concerning file transfer using Fetch. Rights to upload to a server must be established prior to actual file transfer. You must get the server name and password information from your facilitators before utilizing this software.
- An understanding of the concept of file transfer
- A copy of the program WS_FTP for Windows (~700K)
Click on the link to download it. This is a light version that is free for educational use. It is a self-extracting archive, so decompression software is not needed.
- To learn how to use the program WS_FTP
- To upload files to a remote server
Downloading a File | Downloading a Folder | Uploading | Tutorial Animations for WS_FTP |
WS_FTP is a program for transferring files from a Windows machine. It uses the file transfer protocol (ftp) from a remote machine to your local machine, or from your local machine to a remote machine. WS_FTP is free to users affiliated with an educational institution or charitable non-profit organization.
Downloading
If you feel you want practice using WS_FTP, try downloading a file from the following location:
(Place the file on your desktop for easier discard later.)
|
|
|
|
|
Tutorial Animations for WS_FTP |
Before you begin transferring files, you should check the name of the folder or file you are about to upload. Remember it should contain:
Please rename your folder or file if it does not follow these rules.
Also, try to use a name that will be unique to you. For example, the folder names "html" or "Project" or the file name "homepage.html" are not very unique, so using names like these is "asking for trouble."
When you get onto the remote computer, select folders until you get to where you want to upload your file(s). It is likely that you will only have access permission to one folder on the server. Be sure that you have selected that folder to try uploading into or you will get error messages. (Your access privileges will be established by your facilitator.)
Take a look at the files/folders that are already on the remote computer and
by uploading a folder or file with the same name. Rename your local folder or file if you need to.
If you are uploading a single file, locate the file on your
local system (the window on the left side). Click once to
select it.
Be sure that the "Auto Detect" option is checked at the bottom
of the WS_FTP window. When this option is marked, it will
override the choice of ASCII or Binary. It does not matter that
the radial button stays marked.
You can send the file by double-clicking on it, or you can click once to select it and then use the right arrow button to send it to the Remote System.
You must close the connection when finished by using the CLOSE button at the bottom of the main screen (not the login screen).
If you have uploaded files onto a machine that is a Web server, and you have uploaded your files into a folder that is served by that machine's Web server, then you can immediately use Netscape to look at the files you just uploaded.
But what is the URL? Your URL is
computer.domain.type is the name of the computer you just uploaded your file to. (Example: www-ed.fnal.gov)
/folder1/folder2/ is the name of all the folders you went through on the remote machine when you were selecting where to upload your files/folder. (Example: /linc/spring96/projects_linc2/scavhunt/)
filename.html is the name of one of the files you uploaded. (Example: start.html)
So for the example above, say I uploaded a folder called scavhunt that contained a file called start.html. I uploaded the folder onto www-ed.fnal.gov inside of the linc/spring96/projects_linc2 folder. The URL would be:
Using this as a guideline, what URL would you use to look at the files that you just uploaded?
Remember that if you change your files, you must use WS_FTP to upload the changes, AND you must use Netscape's RELOAD button to look at any changed files you uploaded.
If you want to upload a whole folder:
Once you have the rights on the remote server to upload, you are ready to place files in the directory or directories indicated. This will apply to pages to be placed in your portfolio or to your project pages. Check with your facilitator for the login, ID, etc. information you need to give you permission to upload to your course server.