Using WS_FTP to Transfer Files

A free copy of WS_FTP is available to students and educators for downloading at http://www.gabn.net/junodj/ws_ftp.htm.

Making a Connection

  1. Click on the WS_FTP icon to open the FTP program. A window with the heading "Session Properties" will appear as shown below:
  1. Type the following in the "Session Properties" window:
    • Profile Name:   The name you wish to give to the Host, i.e, the FTP site. For example: SAPPHIRE for sapphire.indstate.edu, or WEB for web.indstate.edu.
    • Host Name/Address:   The address of the FTP site.  This is the computer's full domain name. For example: sapphire.indstate.edu, or web.indstate.edu
    • User ID:  Your UserID for the FTP site. If you do not have a UserID, then choose the "Anonymous login" option.
    • Pasword:  Your Password for the above UserID
  2. Click on the "OK" button to make a connection to the desired FTP site.

For instructions FTP'ing into your Novell Account, please see the following page:
NWFTP Instructions

Managing Files

After you have made a connection, a window appears which has the FTP site address you have made a connection to as its heading. In the window shown below, where the FTP site address is web.indstate.edu, the heading is "WS_FTP95 LE web.indstate.edu."

The above window has two divisions with the headings: "Local System" and "Remote System." The "Local System" division gives information on the files and directories on the local PC's hard drive, floppy drive or your local network account. (Provided you are logged into your local network account. The "Remote System" division gives information on the files and directories in remote FTP site you are connected to. Each division has the following:

"ChgDir" button
Click on this button to change to another directory. If you are in your local network account and wish to change to your local network account directory, then click on "ChgDir" button under "local system" division and type in your network directory name with the path (e.g., F:\ccusers\ccclahan). You can change to another directory in the remote FTP site directory by clicking the "ChgDir" button under the "Remote system" division and typing in the directory name with the correct path.
"MKDir" button
Click on this button to make a new directory.
The blank box
The blank box is used to look at certain types of files.  For example, typing *.exe in the box shows all the executable files (i.e., have the ".exe" ending).
"View" button
Click on this button to view the contents of a file or a directory.
"Exec" button
Click on this button to execute a file. Select an executable file using the mouse and click on this button to run the program.
"Rename" button
Click on this button to rename a file or directory.
"Delete" button
Click on this button to delete a file or directory.
"Refresh" button
Click on this button to reload directory contents.
"DirInfo" button
Lists files in current directory, who owns them, and what rights are available on the files.

Transferring Files

  1. Select the desired mode of data transfer from three options (ASCII, Binary, Auto) at the bottom of the window. Use ASCII to transfer text files. Use Binary to transfer executable file(s) or pictures.
  2. To transfer a file(s) from the remote system directory to the local directory, select the desired file(s) in the remote system directory using the mouse, and click on the "Left arrow" button. To transfer a file(s) from the local system directory to remote system directory, select the desired file(s) in the local system directory using the mouse and click on the "Right arrow" button.

To close the current connection, click on the "Close" button. To make a new connection, click on the "Connect" button. To exit this FTP program, click on the "Exit" button.