This document is designed for user new or relatively new to transferring files using File Transfer Protocol (FTP). It is also intended for users inexperienced with installing and configuring a Windows' application.

   This document assumes you have the following installed on your PC:

• Windows 3.1 or later or a 32 bit operating system such as Windows NT, Windows 95 or OS/2.
• A direct Internet connection using SLIP/PPP or pseudo slip such as TIA.
• A properly installed WINSOCK.DLL.
• A Web browser such as Netscape or Mosaic.
• A program called PKUNZIP.

   This document additionally assumes you can do the following:

• Create a directory on your PC's hard drive.
• Escape from Windows to DOS.

   FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used to transfer files between networks. A transfer requires both a FTP client and a FTP server. A FTP client request a file from a server and subsequently "takes delivery" of the process. A client can also tell a server that it is going to send a file and the server receives the file.

   Web browsers such as Netscape and Mosaic allow the transfer of a file from a remote server to you PC. There are limitations when using a Web browser for FTPing since not all capabilities are supported. Web browsers only allow "anonymous" downloading. An anonymous FTP session is used when you do not have an account on the remote network.

   There are times when you want to perform an upload to an network on which you have an account. An example of this use is uploading HTML documents to directory your Internet provider has designated so that they are available for publishing on the Web.

   This document will provide detailed instructions for installing and configuring a full-featured FTP client on your Windows ready PC. Using this FTP program requires that you have the ability to directly connect to the Internet using a SLIP/PPP or pseudo-slip connection. If you are already using a Web browser such as Netscape or Mosaic you qualify.

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   Before starting the download and installation process, create a dedicated directory on your PC to hold the downloaded file. I would suggest C:\FTP. You may of course use another drive or directory. The file to be download is compressed using PKZIP. You will need a program called PKUNZIP to uncompress the program files. I'm assuming you already have PKUNZIP.

   We are going to be downloading a program called WS_FTP. The program has consistently been rated the best FTP client program available. It was written by John A. Junod, a master sargeant in the U.S. Army. John has also written some other winsock software which is described on his home page.

   There are two versions of WS_FTP, a 16 bit version and a 32 bit version. The 32 bit version has more features and is more desirable. In order to use the 32 bit version you must be running a 32 bit operating system such as Windows 95 or Windows NT. You may also use the 32 bit version if you have WIN32S installed on your system. If you are running a 32 bit operating system or you know for sure you have WIN32S installed, skip to the Installation section below.

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   If you have installed Mosaic, you have WIN32S. If you have ever played Free Cell on your computer you also have WIN32S installed. If you are using Netscape, or another Web browser, you may not have WIN32S installed. If your not sure click on one of the anchors that follow. The first tests for WIN32S on Drive C: while the second tests for WIN32S on Drive D:

The first test for file:///c:/windows/system/win32s/

The second test for file:///d:/windows/system/win32s/

   There is also a possibility you WIN32S files may be in a different directory if you have installed Window for Workgroups. Try C:\WFW\SYSTEM.

   If you get an error from both tests, you do not have WIN32S installed. On the other hand, if you receive a listing of the directory from one of the tests you do have WIN32S in place and can use the 32 bit version of WS_FTP.

Click here to test for WIN32S pn Drive C:

Click here to test for WIN32S pn Drive D:

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   The next step is to download either the 16 bit or 32 bit version of the program to the dedicated directory you created to hold the program. Again, if you have WIN32S installed, download the 32 bit version, otherwise, download the 16 bit version. The 16 bit version is named ws_ftp.zip and the 32 bit version, for Windows 95 and Windows NT, is named ws_ftp32.zip.

   You can get additional information, or download the programs directly from the authors home page.

Download the 16 Bit Version

• At Sim Tel
• At CICA
• At the United States Military Academy
• At the South Jersey Internet Users' Group.

Download the 32 Bit Version

• At Sim Tel
• At CICA
• At the United States Military Academy
• At the South Jersey Internet Users' Group.

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 Volume in drive C has no label

 Volume Serial Number is 13DC-3628

 Directory of H:\FTP



.            <DIR>         06-23-95  12:43a

..           <DIR>         06-23-95  12:43a

WS_FTP32 ZIP       147,846 06-23-95  12:45a

WS_FTP32 EXE       217,088 04-30-95   1:37p

WS_FTP32 TXT         9,419 04-24-95   6:40p

WS_FTP   INI         2,103 01-21-95   8:06a

WS_FTP   HLP        44,998 07-23-94   9:03p



        7 file(s)        421,454 bytes

                      13,017,088 bytes free

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   Next, install the Windows icon. From the Program Manager, activate the group that will hold the WS_FTP icon. Click on the File selection on the menu bar. Click on New and select the Program Item radio button. In the Description text box enter the name that will appear under the icon, some truly imaginative such as "FTP." In the Command Line text box enter the path and program name. (You may click on the Browse button.) The format is drive-letter:\path-name\program-name. If you're installing WS_FTP32 and your unzipped files are in C:\FTP, you would enter:

C:\FTP\WS_FTP32

The Working Directory may remain blank. Click on Change Icon and select your choice of an icon by clicking on the one you prefer. Finally, click on OK and the new Icon should appear in your selected group.

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   At this point, WS_FTP is ready to fly. However, configuring the program for frequently contacted sites will make FTP life almost painless. Double click on the newly installed icon to bring up the program. When you start the program for the very first time you are place in the Session Profile dialog box. A profile is a set of preconfigured information used when you wish to establish a FTP session with a specific site. The very first time you start WS_FTP it bring up the Session Profile dialog box with its own home site as the profile. This link points to A screen shot of the actual Sessions Profile page. It's 6K.

   Clicking on OK results in a connection with the FTP machine at the United State Military Academy at West Point. This specific profile, WS_FTP comes preconfigured with a bunch of popular FTP sites preconfigured, uses anonymous FTPing. With anonymous FTPing you enter "anonymous" is response to a request for a "user name" and your e-mail address if response to a request for a password. "guest" as shown in the sample, as well as a password in the form "you-user-id@" frequently works but your full e-mail address will always work for anonymous login.

   Many people are perfectly content doing their FTPing using Netscape or some other Web browser. However, along comes the prospects of uploading files for a you own home page and the deficiencies of browser FTPing soon becomes obvious. A profile can be a big help since all the information normally entered during a FTP session is stored and available at the click of a mouse. Let's build a new profile

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   You can start a profile by clicking on the New button. If you are building a new profile containing much the same information in an existing profile, you can just edit the necessary field. Let's assume we are going to build a profile to use when uploading files to our Internet providers Web server machine. In this example, I'll include an actual example for each entry enclosed in parenthesis. First, click in the Profile Name field and enter a profile nickname. (acy) In the Host Name field, enter your provider's domain name. (acy.digex.net) In the Host Type field enter operating system type if you know what it is, otherwise, leave it on Automatic Detect. Most Internet providers are using Unix machines. (Unix standard) Enter the user name you use when logging onto the system in the User ID field. (lejeune) Enter your actual password in the Password field. (surely-you-jest) Leave the Account field blank.

   In the Remote Host field enter the actual path name supplied by your Internet provider. This is where you upload your home page documents. The path name usually contain your user login name and frequently public_html. (/ftp/lejeune/public_html) If you keep all your home page files in a designated directory on your PC (a really good idea) enter the path in the Local PC field. Make sure the Anonymous Login check box is unchecked and the Save Password and Auto Save Config check boxes are both checked. Click on Save and you've just build your first profile. Click on OK to start the connections bringing up the standard FTP dialog box. as shown below. A screen shot of the Actual WS_FTP Dialog Box. It's 15K.

   When transferring files I like to be prompted for destination file name, especially when doing home page related transferring. HTML document files stored on your PC with an HTM extension should be transferred with an html extension if being transferred to a Unix system. To have the system prompt for a remote file name each time (with the local file name being the default prompt) first, click on the Options button on the bottom line of the screen. Within the Options dialog box click on the Sessions Option button. Within the Session Option dialog box check the Prompt for Destination check box. Click on Save in the Sessions Option dialog box and click on Exit in the Options dialog box.

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