Easy Illustrated FTP Tutorial

FTP (file transfer protocol) is used to send documents from your computer to another computer (for example the one where your pages are hosted), but you can also get files from remote computers to yours. WS_FTP_LE is the most popular program used for these transfers on the Web. You can have it for free from Ipswitch.

Using FTP

Load up your WS_FTP program.
When the program opens up, click Connect.
In the pop-up menu that appears, choose from the profile names present, or click New.
If you click New, for Profile Name, enter My Page or Yourname.com or whatever you wish to call the profile.
For Host Name enter Yourname.com (this is will be given to you by your hosting company).
For Host Type leave it set at Automatic detect.
Enter your userid and password. Ignore the Account box (unless you were specifically given one).
Under Remote Host enter the path provided by your hosting company.
Under local PC, enter the drive your files are on, for example a:\ or c:\
You can click Save Password if you are on your home PC or if you will transfer files more than once.
Click Ok to connect the session.
When the session opens, your local files will appear on the left, and your files on the host computer will be on the right.
Ensure the button labelled Binary is selected for transfer type (this usually works well for all kinds of files -- however, the correct way is to select 'Binary' for transfering images or graphics and 'ASCII' for sending text files).
To transfer a file, simply click on it, and click the directional arrow to send it where you want it to go.
There will be a pop up box indicating the progress of your transfer (how much time left, etc.).
When the transfer is done, the directory will refresh itself, and the file you transferred will now appear listed.
You can send multiple files by clicking on the first file, then holding down the shift button click on the last file you want to send. Everything between these files will also be sent.

FTP Tutorial

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