FTP File Transfer Protocol: How To Use WS_FTP To Copy Files From My Windows PC

Start WS_FTP

After the installation is complete, access WS_FTP through the Start menu or locate an icon that represents WS_FTP and double-click it.

Establish a connection

After you open WS_FTP, the Session Properties dialog box displays. Session settings determine the information to be used when connecting to various FTP servers on the Internet, including the KU servers such as People and Raven.

1. Click the down arrow on the Profile Name box. A menu displays numerous anonymous FTP sites around the world.
2. Select the system to which you want to connect, e.g., People or Raven. The system name appears in the Profile Name box. If the computer to which you wish to connect is not listed in the Profile Name box, enter the computer\'s mnemonic address, e.g., people.ku.edu, or the computer\'s IP address, e.g., 129.237.35.23, in the Host Name/Address box.
3. In the User ID box, enter your login name for the computer system you just selected.
4. Confirm that the Anonymous checkbox is not checked.
5. Enter your password in the Password box. If you use WS_FTP on your own local machine, you can include your User ID and Password settings with the current Profile Name by first checking Save Pwd and then clicking the Apply button. If you use WS_FTP from a lab computer or on another computer available to others, you should not save your user ID or password.
6. Click OK to connect or see #7 below to set the directories that will display upon establishing a connection.
7. To determine the initial directories:
   • Click the Startup tab in the Session Properties dialog box.
   • In the Initial Remote Host Directory box, enter the directory (if known) on the remote computer where you most often access files. On anonymous FTP sites, this is often called pub (for public access).
   • In the Initial Local Directory box, enter the directory on your local computer where you want files to download or from which you want to upload files.
   • Click OK to accept the settings and to open a connection. Click Apply to save the settings without opening a connection.

Display directories

After connecting, the display window is divided into two main sections. The left section displays the directory structure for your Local System (your local PC) and the right displays the directory structure of the computer to which you just connected, the Remote System (in this example, imajhawk\'s People account). Above each main list the current disk drive and directory displays for each computer.

Change directories

You may need to change the working directories on your local and remote computers before transferring files. To change your local or remote directory, use one of the following techniques:

• Click the ChDir button and enter the directory name, e.g., C:\Documents and Settings\imajhawk\My Documents\My Received Files or /homea/imajhawk/public_html.
• Open a folder (subdirectory) on the local or remote system by double-clicking the name of the folder. The files located in that subdirectory appear in the list.
• Return to a previous directory by double-clicking the line with two periods (..) at the top of the list.

Transfer files

1. Select the file(s) (with a single click) you want to copy. Multiple files may be selected by dragging the mouse over a sequential list of files or by holding down the ctrl key while clicking each file to copy.
2. Click the arrow button between the local and remote sections of the window to indicate the direction you want the files to be copied.

View text files

You may want to look at text files before transferring them. To do this, use the View button. Many FTP sites have documents within the directory that explain the programs contained in it, making this view option very handy.

1. Select the file you want to view.
2. Click the View button to the right of the file listing.
3. A Notepad window displays the text file you selected.
4. Once viewed, close the Notepad window by clicking the Close button in the upper-right corner of the window or by selecting Exit from the File menu.

Anonymous FTP

You may connect to many FTP sites as an anonymous user and download a variety of documents or programs. Several popular sites are already configured in WS_FTP. To access these sites, click the down arrow next to the Profile Name box in the Session Properties window.

1. Double-click the FTP site to which you wish to connect. If your site is not listed among these, leave the Profile Name box blank and enter the specific address of the FTP site in the Host Name box. (This usually looks something like ftp2.cc.ku.edu or 129.237.33.3).
2. Click the Anonymous checkbox.
3. Click OK to connect.
4. Transfer files as described in Transfer files in this document.