Subject: MJRB-30 >> FTP, THE CLIENT << MJRB-30 >> FTP, THE CLIENT << ************************************************************* OVERVIEW -- Why start with FTP? -- What is the advantage of an FTP client? -- Brief tutorial and Configuration. -- The MAIN SCREEN. -- The OPTIONS SCREEN. -- Let's try it out now. -- Next Steps. ************************************************************* We begin the lessons on the clients by first exploring the client for FTP, or file transfer protocol. The advantage, in my opinion, is to get you up and running with this client. Then you may be able to more easily retrieve any file more easily. *************************************************************** WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF AN FTP CLIENT? *************************************************************** File transfer protocol, as already discussed in an earlier lesson, is the tool of the internet to be able to go to sites, change directories until at a particular directory and then to retrieve files. These files may be text or ascii files, or binary files (either files compressed as a ZIP file or executable files as EXE files.) The commands needed from a shell account require telnetting to a site by using the command FTP. Then, navigating to the correct directory with the command CD . Then setting either ASCII for text files or BINARY for binary files. Then retrieving the file using the command GET . Finally, when done with the session issuing the command QUIT or BYE. The FTP client automates this sequence with a mouse button. So, in this lesson, we will get this client up and running and then use the client to retrieve a file. So, what are we waiting for? I don't know? Well, let's go! ************************************************************* SETTING UP WS_FTP.ZIP or the FTP CLIENT ************************************************************* An assumption made here is that you have already retrieved the recommended file for the FTP client. The file I recommend is: ws_ftp.zip. The steps for setting up ws_ftp.exe are as follows: # 1. Place the file ws_ftp.zip in the FTP directory. # 2. Unzip ws_ftp.zip as follows: pkunzip ws_ftp.zip # 3. Read the file ws_ftp.txt, which will also cover the installation of ws_ftp.zip. # 4. With regard to placing the icon of ws_ftp.exe into your program manager, I will leave that organization up to you. # 5. Execute the file by running ws_ftp.exe ************************************************************* TUTORIAL and CONFIGURATION of WS_FTP.EXE ************************************************************* This section of the lesson will now explore setting up the FTP client. However, before configuring the client to run on your system, let's take just a moment to become familiar with the screen(s) you now see displayed on your computer screen. # 1. The highlighted screen you first see is SESSION PROFILE . This screen is where you select or enter an ftp site that you want to connect with. All the information needed to make the connection happen automatically will either be entered for you from existing sites or that you enter for new sites. So, let's become familiar with this screen first. Beginning at the top, let's describe the items displayed. -> a) PROFILE NAME: This item is where you see or enter a name of your choice to easily identify a particular site. The listing you see is the one for the WS_FTP file. When you enter a new site, you select a name that will readily identify this site for you. The down arrow button to the right of this item field will bring up another window of all available sites currently listed that you then may select from. For now, do not activate this button. Later, you should select some of the listed sites that accompany this client. -> b) The three buttons under Profile Name, DELETE, SAVE, NEW do exactly what they say. DELETE deletes the currently displayed site: SAVE will save the currently displayed site with all the information entered. And, NEW will bring up a blank to fill in all needed information for a new site. Often, when I enter a new site, I do not use the NEW button but edit just certain fields and then SAVE the new site information. -> c) HOST NAME: This field is where you enter the HOST ADDRESS or the IP address of the site to which you will connect. You can also enter the HOST NAME rather than the IP address. Entering the HOST NAME is much easier than trying to remember HOST IP ADDRESSES. In the sites provided in these lessons, the name following HOST: is the name you would enter into this field. -> d) HOST TYPE: There are a number of options here, but the default type of AUTOMATIC DETECT is all you need. So, in this field you will most likely never need to select any other type. -> e) USER ID: In this field, the default id is ANONYMOUS. You do not need to change this field for any site that you may connect to for FTP. -> f) PASSWORD: Although you may leave the field default as GUEST, the nettiquette is to enter your email address in this field. I encourage you to always use your email address in this field. Many sites require you do so anyway or will not allow you to connect as an anonymous user. -> g) ACCOUNT: For all sites, as a rule you may leave this field blank. -> h) REMOTE HOST: In this field, you may want to enter the path or directory which you want to immediately go into when connected to the site. For now, you may leave this field blank. If blank, you will connect to the root directory of the site from which you then can navigate to whatever other directory you wish. -> i) LOCAL PC: This field is where you enter the path or directory which you wish retrieved files to be placed. The entry I use reflects my directory structure, so the example used here should be modified to reflect you directory structure. I use the following path statement: C:\WINDOWS\NET\CLIENTS\FTP\DOWN -> j) Then check all three check fields, ANONYMOUS LOGIN, SAVE PASSWORD, and AUTO SAVE CONFIG -> k) Take a look at the ADVANCED configuration screen by selecting the ADVANCED button. However, you do not need to deal with this screen at this time for most connections. -> l) The right most buttons will now give you the action you wish to take. The HELP button will provide you an on-line help screen for information on this window. The OK button will activate the FTP client and go into a connect mode. However, for now press the CANCEL button which will return you to the main FTP screen. That is the screen we want to briefly review now before connecting to a site. ************************************************************* MAIN SCREEN REVIEW ************************************************************* If you haven't yet pressed the CANCEL button, do so now to get into the main FTP screen. # 1. The main screen is now displayed. The default screen you see is divided into two parts: The LOCAL SYSTEM which displays your computer directory and the REMOTE SYSTEM which currently is blank. When you connect to a site the REMOTE SYSTEM will display the HOST S directory and files. -> a) Both the LOCAL and the HOST system sub-screens are divided into two parts. The top part is the directory structure and the filenames in the directory that is currently active. The bottom part is the listing of the files in the current directory that is active for both the LOCAL and the REMOTE system. If you did not configure the configuration screen field for the INITIAL DIRECTORY fields, (see numbers (h) and (i) above.), then the LOCAL SYSTEM sub_screen will list your options. This sub_screen functions much like a file manager screen where you can use your mouse to click on a directory in order to change the displayed and active directory. Play around with this option to become familiar with the operation of this operation. -> b) At the bottom of this window are a series of buttons: CONNECT, CANCEL, LOGWND, HELP, OPTIONS, ABOUT, EXIT. I will only comment briefly on each of these buttons. You should take some time to play around with these buttons and learn their functions. --> (1) EXIT is the button to select when you are ready to stop using the FTP client. --> (2) CONNECT is the button to activate the CONFIGURATION SCREEN which is discussed above. This is the button to select to choose, or enter, a site that you wish to connect to and to retrieve files from. --> (3) CANCEL is the button to select if you think a connection has hung up somehow or that you wish to premature end connection with. Often if you select this button, you will also need to DISCONNECT and then start over. --> (4) LOGWND is the button to view the log file automatically created during each FTP session. This file often is a resource file when you want to review which sites you have connected with and what actions you have taken at that site regarding the retrieval of files. --> (5) HELP is a self explanatory button. --> (6) ABOUT is the button to view a window displaying brief information about your FTP client. --> (7) OPTIONS is the button to configure how your view screen, session and other parameters will be managed. So let s take a quick look at this option. Press the OPTIONS button now. ************************************************************* OPTIONS SCREEN ************************************************************* When you press the options screen you will then have a display window for setting various options for using this client. I encourage you to take time to explore each of the various options that may be selected from the buttons displayed. There is a HELP button on each screen for on-line help. I will leave the learning of these screens up to you through reading the HELP file for each screen. I would suggest that in this options screen you select the PROGRAM OPTIONS button and in the field to enter EMAIL ADDRESS, you enter your email address here. Then any new entry of a site will automatically enter your email address. For all the rest of the buttons and options I encourage you to use the on-line help which is a very good tutorial in and of itself. ************************************************************* LET'S CONNECT and TRY OUT FTP ************************************************************* Just a few more brief comments and then we will use this FTP client to explore the internet. When you bring up any configuration screen, make sure you SAVE your entries with the SAVE button. Over time in using this client, keep exploring each of the various buttons or options this client has to offer and use the HELP files to learn the power of this client. You now have enough information to use the client as set up. Over time you can tweak this client to your personal preferences. #1. Let get back to the main FTP screen. Press EXIT on the displayed screen until you are in the main screen. #2. Press the CONNECT button to call up the connect configuration screen. Make sure you are already connected to your HOST. #3. In this configuration screen, unless you changed the default information displayed when we began, you should have WS_FTP displayed in the PROFILE NAME field. #4. For now, just press OK to activate the connect attempt. Watch the bottom of this window to see information scrolling by. Most often you will not connect up to this site because it is busy. The way to know is to watch the messages at the bottom of this window and then use the up/down arrow to scroll through those listings. # 5. Should you fine that you connect to this site, then look at the windows on the right. The top right window displays the directory, which should be /pub/msdos and the bottom right screen should be the listing of the files. ->a) In the files window, you should see the file README. To the right of this window are a series of buttons, one of which is VIEW. Press the view button which will bring up another window displaying the README file that will describe briefly the files in this and other directories. ->b) At the bottom of the screen, press the OPTIONS button. When the options screen is displayed., press the PROGRAMS OPTIONS button to bring up the program option screen. ->c) In the Program Option Screen, locate and check the box for SHOW FULL DIRECTORY INFORMATION. ->d) Now press the SAVE button to save this configuration. When back in the OPTIONS screen press the EXIT button to return to the main screen. ->e) At the bottom of the files screen you see the bars to either scroll down the directory to view all files or the bar to move the screen to the left so you can view other information available. When we check the Show Full Directory Information, you now will be able to see other information about the file. The important information is the date of the file and the size of the file. ->f) Select the file WS_FTP.TXT and then use the scroll button to view information to the right of the filename. You will first see the date of the file, then the time the file was placed in this directory and finally the size of the file. Since this file is 5919 bytes, it is a relatively small file. So I advise you to VIEW this file by pressing the VIEW button. ->g) When you read this file you will be given the latest version of WS_FTP.EXE. ->h) Go to the bottom of your FTP screen and click on the ABOUT button which will bring up a screen describing your current version. If your version is not the same but an earlier version of WS_FTP then you know you can download the most current WS_FTP file from this directory. ->i) Select the file WS_FTP.ZIP. Now look up to your local system windows and make sure you are in the correct directory for the retrieved file. If not, change to the directory for the retrieved file. I use the path C:\WINDOWS\NET\CLIENTS\FTP\DOWN. Later I move the file to the sub-directory UPDATE. ->j) Now, at the right of the remote files screen, press the RETRIEVE button or double click on the file to be retrieved. A retrieve window will pop up and display the speed of the transfer, the time it will take and the percentage of the file transferred. When the file is retrieved successfully, you will see the file listed now in your local directory and on the left files screen. ************************************************************* NEXT STEPS ************************************************************* For those of you who could not connect up to this site (WS_FTP) initially, you need to then press your CONNECT button, and select another site from the site field or keep trying for this site. Then review the steps above to connect to the selected site. Read any README or INDEX files first. Then when you select a file to retrieve, retrieve the file. The above instructions will assist you but you will need to substitute other filenames than the examples used. Once you have successfully connected to a site, VIEWed files, RETRIEVED files, you on your way to an exciting use of this client. If the Sites that come with the file do not include a site to which you want to connect, then go to the top of this lesson and just enter the SITE NAME, the SITE ADDRESS, and other information. And, when you are ready to connect to the site, press OK. Remember, that some sites are very busy and you may not initially connect to them. Read the information at the bottom of your screen to help you determine the reason for not connecting. Either try again later, or select another site. Questions will be answered when the are posted on MJRB-QA or when you come to IRC channel #MJRB on the undernet. The next lesson will explore the EMAIL READERS. Until then, happy FTPing. However, one final command that you need to execute on your FTP client. When you are finished with the session, Press The Button, CLOSE to close the connection and EXIT to exit the FTP client. For other information on the FTP client use the HELP on-line help files. ============================================================ Robert R. Behrens MJ & RB Computing, Inc. 5 Lakeshore Drive Bellingham, Ma. 02019 rbehrens@kersur.net Copyright Robert Behrens 1995. All Rights Reserved. ============================================================ Robert R. Behrens MJ & RB Computing 5 Lakeshore Drive Bellingham, Ma. 02019 (508) 883-2652 rbehrens@kersur.net rbehrens@world.std.com http://www.kersur.net/~rbehrens ============================================================================= Reference.COM has begun archiving MJRB-TRAINING as of: Jan. 30, 1997 Searchable archives for the list is available at: http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MJRB-TRAINING@world.std.com ============================================================================= To unsubscribe from this list, send E-mail to majordomo@world.std.com with the message UNSUBSCRIBE MJRB-TRAINING Contact owner-mjrb-list@world.std.com or rbehrens@kersur.net if you have problems. ============================================================================= WEB PAGE: http://www.kersur.net/~rbehrens =============================================================================