What is FTP
File Transfer Protocol, better known as FTP, is a procedure used to upload and download files to and from your web server. FTP is a special way to login to another Internet site for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files.
In order to use FTP, you’ll need to download and install a software program on your computer.
When you first launch the FTP program, a startup screen will appear. This screen will enable you to add your website information and allow the program to connect with your server. You simply fill in the information where indicated with the following information:
Profile Name / Site Name/ Site Label - This name will be added to the selection list of profile names. Select your profile name according to your domain. For example, if your domain name were smiths.com, your profile name might be Smiths.
Host Name/Address - Your domain name address.
Example - www.blownpixel.co.uk
Depending on which FTP client you use, the names may be slightly different.
Once the FTP program has connected with your server,you will see the files on your computer in the left window and the files on your server will be displayed in the right window.
CuteFTP
Download Cute FTP from here and install it.
When you start up the program will look like the picture below. Click on the “Site Manager” button in the upper left (the open book) to set up a profile for your account.
Set your screen up just like the one below, using the ‘Host Address’, ‘User Name’ and password given to you by your hosting company (you may want to cut and paste your settings to make certain that you are using the correct spelling and naming convention). Check “Save Pwd” only if you would like your password saved in the application for future sessions.
When you are ready to connect to the server, click “Connect”.
The software will now connect to the server. If you watch the log panel at the top, it will show you connecting and then display your site in the right pane.
The left pane of this interface contains the documents on your computer. The right side of the interface displays the remote host where you will be uploading your files. When you give your username and password, the server automatically takes you to the correct directory to begin uploading your files.
Uploading
To upload files from your computer to the server, set up your console like the example above. Have the directory that you wish to upload to in the right pane and the directory you wish to upload from in the left pane.
Select the file you wish to upload and:
* Click on the “Upload” button on the taskbar,
* or Right-click on the file and select “Upload” from the pop-up menu,
* or Just click and drag the file from pane to pane.
To upload files from your computer to the server, set up your console like the example above. Have the directory that you wish to upload to in the right pane and the directory you wish to upload from in the left pane.
Select the file you wish to upload and:
* Click on the “Upload” button on the taskbar,
* or Right-click on the file and select “Upload” from the pop-up menu,
* or Just click and drag the file from pane to pane.
Downloading
To download files from your account to your computer, set up your console like in the previous example.
Select the file you wish to download and:
* Click on the “Download” button on the taskbar,
* or Right-click on the file and select “Download” from the pop-up menu,
* or Just click and drag the file from pane to pane.
Subdirectories
To create subdirectories within your web directory on your account:
Click on the “Make new directory” button on the taskbar, or
Right-click in that directory and select “Make new directory”.
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
- Owner
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.
