Using WS_FTP To Connect To Your Home Directory

Willie W. Webfoot shows you how to use WS_FTP, a
windows ftp program

WS_FTP For Windows
Connecting To Your Home Directory

"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."

—Bertrand Russell

Using WS_FTP To Connect To Your Home Directory
For this examples, we're going to ftp two files called home.html and mykid.gif to your home directory at EnterAct.

Run WS_FTP.
Click on the Connect button on the toolbar.
Click on the New button in the Session Profile.
In the Profile Name enter an easy to remember name: Home.
In the Host Name enter shell.enteract.com
Leave the Host Type as Automatic Detect or UNIX (standard)
Enter the User ID: (use your login)
Enter your Password (the same password you would use to read e-mail.)
Check the Save Password box.
Click on the Save button. (NOTE: newer versions of WS_FTP may not require you to click Save. Just proceed to the next step.)

Initial Directories
Windows 95 Note: The Initial Directories options are under the Startup tab, so you may not see them. Everything you've done so far is listed under the General tab.

Don't worry about entering a Remote Host. For the LocalPC box, enter the directory location of the files that you want to FTP, such as c:\me\web. It will save you a few mouse clicks when you start your FTP session.

Click on OK

When you're connected, you'll see two little windows. The left is your c:\me\web directory and your files. The right is your home directory at EnterAct and your files (if any.) (NOTE: some versions of WS_FTP use a 4-window configuration. In that case, your computer is still on the left and the remote computer (EnterAct in this example) is on the right. The only difference is that the files and directories each have their own window.

The first file that we're going to upload is your home page, the one called home.htm. This is a text file, so make sure the ASCII button is checked. Remember you can check the box marked AUTO, so WS_FTP will switch from binary to ASCII automatically.

Highlight the file that you want to upload.
Click on the right arrow button

Note that WS_FTP should convert a Windows .htm file extension to the UNIX standard .html extension after it finishes the transfer. That's a handy time-saver when you are transferring a lot of files!

We're almost done. Just one more file to go. This one is the picture of your pride and joy, the file called mykid.gif. This is a binary, like all pictures, sounds, movies, and programs, so make sure the BINARY button is checked.

Highlight the file that you want to upload.
Click on the right arrow button

That's it - you're done!

Downloading files from your home directory works the same way (only in reverse, but we bet you figured out that part :-)

If you want to know more about downloading software from the Internet using FTP and your web browser, please visit Using Anonymous FTP

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