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Introduction to FTP
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a hold-over from Unix. Unix is
actually the language everything is done with in the internet;
most people never see it. Don't be frightened though, it's not
that bad. Why use it at all? Because, if you ever want to post
your own home page, you'll need to use it. Another reason you
might want to use an ftp program to download a program is because,
with ftp, downloads are much faster. For example, I recently downloaded
the new version of Eudora Light. It's a 2 meg file. I downloaded
20.4 kbps (kilobytes per second) using ftp. The same file downloaded
with a web browser (Netscape in this case) downloaded at 13.7 kbps.
The program for the Macintosh is called Fetch.
Using Fetch
When you run Fetch you are presented with a window asking for some information.
The "Host:" is the machine you want to get file from or put files on
(i.e. wcnet.org). The User ID is your login name, typically the e-mail address
part to the left of the @ sign. The Password is your password, the same one
used for checking your e-mail and logging into the internet. Directory should
be blank. Then click on the OK button. The screen you are next presented with
is your directory on the wcnet machine. Double click on the public_html icon
in the left hand window. This is where your web pages need to live.
Now you
to select the files you want to put up on the web, if it is only 1 file use
the Put File button, if it is more than one file choose the Remote menu and
select the option for Put Folders and Files. Navigate in the upper window to
find the files you want to put up. Select the files by either double clicking
or by clicking on Add after selecting the file, it will now appear in the
bottom window. When you are Done click on the Done button. You will now be
how to send the files, both Text and Other choose Raw Data and click on OK.
The files will now be sent to the web server.
Make sure your Home Page is
called index.html other names will not automatically load when you visit
your web pages. To check that your pages work correctly launch your web
browser and go to HTTP://www.wcnet.org/~USERID where USERID is your login
name. Automatically you will be included in the directory of home pages within
the next 24 Hours, provided of course that you have named your main page
index.html
To make more
sense out of it, see the glossary page and the
download page.
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