File Transfer Protocol

FTP Tutorial

Learn how to use FTP.The FTP Tutorial is mainly aimed at providing help to beginners to understand the basics of FTP. You will also find advanced FTP commands and links to download some of the most popular FTP software. You will also learn how to transfer the files on the internet.

What is FTP?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the simplest and most secure way to transfer files over the Internet. FTP 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 is the most popular program used for these transfers on the Web.

How to use FTP

In order to use FTP, you'll need to download and install a software program on your computer. The most widely used FTP program is WS FTP Pro. You can find it here: http://www.wsftp.com/.
When you start WS-FTP, you will be presented with a login screen, asking for your:
Profiles Name: This is a name you can use to identify and save the connection
Host Name/Address: This is the name of the server you will be FTPing to
Host Type: Choose Automatic Detect from the avaliable choices
User ID: Use the username you have with the system you are FTPin into.
Password: Use your password to the above account.
Account: Leave Blank.

You can now check the Save Password box if you like, and click the OK button to connect you with the server. You will now be presented with a new, split screen. The left side will display the contents of your personal computer, and the right side will display the contents of your directory on the FTP server.
In order to upload files, simply navigate to the directory on your home computer, using the ChgDir button on the left. Once you have found the files you would like to upload, you can highlight them and then click the arrow button in in the middle of the screen that points to the right. This is the upload button.
In the event you want to download a file from the server, you can hightlight the file on the right and click the arrow pointing to the left.
For more information and help with WS-FTP, please go to: http://www.ipswitch.com/

What is FTP?

FTP Advanced Commands
File Permissions
When using scripts on your website, you will be required to set file permissions in order for your scripts to run properly on a Unix server. The most common setting for CGI/Perl scripts is 755. When working with scripts, you may receive an Internal Server Error when you try to run it. Many times, this error is caused by improperly set file permissions.
Permissions:
Read - 4 - r
Write - 2 - w
Execute - 1 - x
None - 0 - -
- Read permissions are enabled with the number 4 or the letter r.
- Write permissions are enabled with the number 2 or the letter w.
- Execute permissions are enabled with the number 1 or the letter x.
- No permissions are enabled with the number 0 or a dash.
Each of these permissions will be set for each of the following:
Owner
Group
Other
To give you a better idea of how permissions are set, below is an example of a script that requires the permissions to be set to 755 -- it breaks down like this:
7 - Represents the permissions for the Owner (you). The owner has been given Read, Write and Execute permissions. 4+2+1=7. This can also be written like this: rwx
5 - Represents the permissions for the Group (individuals with access to your server). The Group has been given Read and Execute permissions. 4+1=5. This can also be written like this: rx
5 - Represents the permissions for the Others (website visitors). The Others have been given Read and Execute permissions. 4+1=5. This can also be written like this: rx 755 is equal to rwxrxrx

Changing File Permissions with Your FTP program

If you would like to set your file permissions through your FTP program, you can do so like this:
Log into your server and locate the directory that contains your file.
Highlight the file that you would like to change permissions.
Place your mouse pointer over the file and right click to launch a menu.
Click on "chmod (UNIX) to launch the "permissions" window.
Set your permissions and click on OK.
In addition to setting permissions with your FTP program, most web hosts will enable you to set permissions through your web page management system.