FTP stands for "file transfer protocol." It is the software you use to move files from your computer to a Brooklyn College server. You will need to be connect to the internet via a modem or a network connection. Once they have been moved to the server, they are "published" on the web. This information should get you started. More detailed support information is available in the "Help" files of WS_FTP.
0. Before you can use the FPT software you need to:
1. Get an FTP account from ITS. Be sure to apply for a "Faculty FTP Account for Personal or Class Web Pages." The application is available in the Academic Computing Lab, at ITS in 0607 Plaza, or online in Adobe format in the Appendix to the Faculty Computing Guide at:
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/pubs/facguide/2. Get the WS_FTP software from Nick Irons in the Academic Computing Lab.
3. Be sure to be working on a computer that has a modem or network connection to the internet.
I. Install the software
1. Run "INSTALL.EXE" to install WS_FTP on your hard drive.
2. If you like, you can create a desktop shortcut for WS_FTP by going into "My Computer," selecting the "C" drive, selecting "Program Files," and finally selecting "WS_FTP." (This will be the location of the program if you have followed the default choices in the installation program.) Your should now see a "Shortcut to WS_FTP 95" icon. Drag it over to your desktop by clicking on it with your mouse, and, holding down the mouse button, dragging it to your desktop.
II. Start the program:
1. Run WS_FTP by finding it in the Programs Menu or double-clicking on its desktop icon. If you are connecting to the internet via a modem and Internet Service Provider, you'll need to get online first before WS_FTP will work.
III. Create a Profile:
These instructions will show you how to create a personal "profile" that will save your specific FTP instructions, so you don't have to type them in every time.
1. Click on "Connect."
2. You will see a "General" session property menu.
3. Choose "New." Fill in the following profile information:
a. Profile Name: Whatever you like
b. Host Name/Address: [assigned by ITS]
c. Host Type: Choose "automatic detect."
d. User ID: [assigned by ITS]
e. Password: [assigned by ITS]
(Note: Choose Save Password only if you're working on your own computer.)
f. Hit "OK." This stores the profile AND automatically connects you to the remote server.
g. The next time you FTP, you can choose the profile you've created by choosing from the list of Profile Names. (Hit the arrow to to the right of "Profile Name" to see the entire list.)
IV. Transferring Files:
Note: Your computer's files are always on the left side of the WS_FTP screen. The remote server's files always appear on the right side.
1. Open a connection between your computer and the remote server:
i. hit "connect"
ii. choose the name of the profile you created
iii. hit "OK." The program will tell you when you're connected.
2. Move to the correct directory on both your own computer (left side) and the remote server (right). (See Changing Directories below.)
3. Select the file that you want to move by clicking on it with your mouse.
4. Now you have to select the location that you want to move the file to. Open the directory to which you want to transfer files on the destination system by clicking on it with your mouse.
5. Be sure that the "Binary" button near the bottom of the screen is connected.
6. Transfer the files using the left and right arrow buttons located in the center of your screen.
-If you're moving a file from your computer to the server, click on the arrow pointing to the right. -->
-If you're moving a file from the server to your own computer, click on the arrow pointing to the left. <--
7. The program will indicate if the file was transferred successfully or not. If for some reason the transfer gets "hung up," click cancel and start again. If it's really hung up, close out the program by clicking "Exit" and then start it up again.
8. Occasionally, you will find yourself "timed out." That means the server cut off your session after a period of inactivity. If this happens, you'll have to connect again.
9. To end the session, hit "close" and then hit "exit."
V. To Create a Directory
To create a directory tree on your own computer, you can use WS_FTP or Windows. To create a directory on the remote system, you must use WS_FTP.
1. From within the directory that you want the new directory to be a subdirectory of, choose "MkDir."
2. Enter the new directory name. Hit OK.
3. The directory has been created. Click on it to enter into it.
VI. To Change Directories
1. To change directories, click on the desired directory and press the ChgDiR button. Or just double-click on the directory you want.
2. You can also double-click on a directory name to change to that directory.3. A third way to change directories: First make sure there is no directory already selected (highlighted). Hit "Chg Dir" and type in the directory path and name.
VII. A Little Advice on Setting Up Your Directories
As you develop your web pages, you'll find it useful to organize files into different directories: one for images or graphics, one for each course, perhaps. For example, every course you teach might have its own directory and your top page for every course might be called index.htm.
1. Create a directory structure on your home computer that exactly matches the directory structure on the server, the "remote host."
2. Be sure that you are always in the same directory on both your own computer and the remote host. That way, you'll be less likely to transfer files into the wrong directory, and you'll be less likely to accidentally erase a file by transferring a file into the wrong directory.
3. You can configure your Profile in WS_FTP to automatically go to the directory you want on your own computer. To do this:
- start WS_FTP
- choose the Profile you've created from the list
- hit "connect"
- choose the "startup" file
- under "Initial Local Directory" type the complete directory path to the directory you want to start in: for example, d:\My Documents\html\polisci\pcurrah\.
- Press "OK."