Using WS

GUI FTP

Using WS_FTP

[ Back to Lecture Notes ] [ Installing WS_FTP ]

Notes:

The version of WS_FTP LE that I describe is the one that is currently available for download from FTPplanet.com.
The version of WS_FTP on the computers in the CRC is older and may look a bit different than the illustrations shown here.
Specifically I have noticed that:
- My descriptions of "default" and "alternate" screen layout are opposite to what is installed in the CRC.
- The row of buttons that includes the "Options" button is on the top of the WS_FTP screen on the version installed in the CRC.

WS_FTP is available on computers in the class room and in the CRC; it is accessed via Start > Internet Tools. You can also download a shareware copy to install on your home computer. The Limited Edition (LE) is free for educational organizations and government agencies. See the Resources page for a link to download WS_FTP. Installation is easy and takes up less than 1 megabyte on you computer.

When you start WS_FTP a "Session Properties" window will usually pop up; if it does not then click on the "Connect" button in the lower left corner of the opening WS_FTP screen. You need to enter a minimum of 3 fields in the "Session Properties" screen:

Host Name/Address:
Host Type:
User ID:

The Host Name/Address is the URL for your hosting site such as ftp.geocities.com or sws.pcc.edu. Note that you do not enter the protocol or type of connection ("ftp://") in this field. The letters "ftp" may or may not be part of the domain name as in the examples above. For Host Type you will probably want to use "Automatic detect" unless your hosting site gives you specific instructions. User ID is what ever your login ID is when you access your account by other means. Figure 1 shows the entries for my account at GeoCities with my User ID of huffmanmb.

If you install WS_FTP on your computer at home you may want to enter you password and have Windows save it for subsequent connections. If you leave the password field blank you will be prompted for your password after the FTP connection is made with your hosting site:

Password prompt after logging on to remote site

WS_FTP has 2 screen layouts: Local System and Remote Site displayed side-by-side (the default, Figure 2 ), and an alternate layout with the Local System window above the Remote Site window ( Figure 3). The display is changed from the Options Button at the bottom of the WS_FTP screen: Figure 4

The Options menu also has a Sounds tab where you can disable the obnoxious default sounds: Figure 5

The "Options" button is in a row of buttons at the bottom of the WS_FTP screen:

The 'Options' button' is in a row of buttons at the bottom of the WS_FTP screen

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