Using CuteFtp
Contents:
2. Getting Cute Ftp and using it
4. Possible Problems and solutions
Well, here comes another tutorial :p this time we will deal with FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Well, lets begin with exactly what ftp is. Ftp is a lot like http, with a few very distinct differences. http uses a browser (like netscape or microsoft internet explorere) to Download a file to your computer. This file is called an HTML file. This file contains instructions like "Make the font bigger" or "Stick a picture in the page". The Browser then interprets this code and shows you the results. Http is normally used to display information. Of course, you can also download other kinds of files, but this wasnt the original intent of http addresses. For downloading files, FTP is best suited. FTP lets you look at an entire directory and see a list of all the files in that directory.
To get an idea of what it looks like, lets say you have your favorite web site www.favoritewebsite.com. This will often show you the ftp version:
ftp://ftp.favoritewebsite.com
or
ftp://favoritewebsite.com
Try it with a few websites. =)
Ok, now a few things about Netscape you need to know:
ftp sites require a login and a password. Most ftp sites allow "anonymous" logins, where "anonymous" is your login and your email address is your password. Netscape sends this information automatically when you connect to and ftp site.
Now lets say You want to connect to a ftp site: ftp://private.com and the login is "jomama" and the password is "harry". To connect with netscape you type:
ftp://jomama:[email protected]
Its like "ftp://<your login>:<your password>@site.address"
So now you can connect to ftp sites! =)
BUT WAIT! there's one more topic. All sites have a PORT SETTING. A port is merely a channel that computers use to talk to each other. Almost all people have the port set to "21". But there are a few people who use alternate ports. Netscape takes this into account and sends port 21 automatically. If someone uses a diffent port, then you need to specify it. Like if private.com uses port 911, then you have to type it like this:
ftp://jomama:[email protected]:911
or: ftp://<login>:<password>@site.address:<port>
Ok, we can now go to ftp sites! YEA!!!! OOps. Theres more. what if you want to upload. Very confusing with netscape. What if you want to resume a download. Netscapte fails again. What if you want to view the full file names on some long file names. DOH! Netscape sucks for ftp!!!!
Netscape was never designed for ftp. It was made for http. Big differnce. Rather than confuse you more with hard to remember commands, ill show you the EASY alternative. =)
This is a program that is made for ftp transfers. To start off, lets use CuteFTP.
First of all, download it.
www.cuteftp.com <-- This is the official homepage.
Ok now install it. Hit "OK" Twice then it asks you for your email address. Remeber about anonymous logins? Well if i were you, i would type "[email protected]". After all, you dont want EVERYONE to have your email address =)
Ok, now click "Yes", and click "OK" It says setup is complete. Now if i were you, i would reboot your computer. (But come back to my homepage!)
Now run it. Hit "AGREE" (I know what it says, but relax, you wont be charged anything--PROMISE)
Now the site manager pops up automatically. This is like a "bookmark" device.
Example:
This helps you manage all your ftp sites you collect. This way you don't have to type in the address every time.
First Step: Click "Add Folder" button to make your own folder for you own sites. (Note: The current folders have some misc ftp sites with not a whole lot on them.)
When Prompted for the name of the folder, type "My Sites". (Or whatever you want to).
Now you will see your new folder. =) Now It's time to add a site to the folder. Follow these steps to add a site:
1. Single Click on "My Sites" so that it is highlighted blue.
2. Click on the "Add Site Button" (Just to the right).
3. Now a screen appears. Don't panic! I'll tell you what each Thing means. (It's easy--dont freak out).
Site Label: This is just to help you remember what site it is. It can be anything. If it's a friends site, i usally just use thier name here. Put whatever you want, and whatever will help you remember what it is.
Host Address: This is the sites address. It will either look something like 123.45.67.89 or like ftp.somthing.com. Anyway, I'll use the numbered address stated.
UserID: Also called a User Name or Login Name. If you know a login and password for the site put it in here. NOTE: If you have no login or password, then leave this blank.
Password: The password used with userid.
NOTE: If you see something like "l/p = abc/def" Or "abc:def" with your site. This means that the LOGIN (USERID) is "abc" and the password is "def". The login is NOT "ABC" and the password is NOT "DEF". Uppercase and lowercase matters on many servers.
LoginType: This has 3 choices. If you dont know a login:password then try using anonymous. Otherwise, it will change automatically to Normal when you enter a UserID. Ignore Double option.
Transfer Type: Always leave on Auto-Detect.
Everything on the right hand side: Is unimportant. Leave it blank. I hardly use it myself.
Here's what it looks like:
Note: The Password is hidden.
Ok, now if they gave you a "PORT" for the site (ie if the address looks like 123.45.67.89:999 then 999 is the port.) Remember, most servers use the default port of 21.
Click on Advanced and under "port" change it to the neccessary port. Or leave it on 21 if no port is given.
CLICK OK at the bottom.
Now you see your site in the "My Sites" Folder. =) To go to a site click it once to highlight it blue and hit "CONNECT".
Now it will try to connect.
Now here's what you see if something goes wrong. (hehe).
If it goes right you will see alot of wierd text then a popup window will appear. If everything goes right then then commands are simple:
The Left hand side is YOUR Computer. The Right Hand Side is The other persons computer. Double click a file on the left side of the screen to move it to the right side of the screen. (UPLOAD). Double Click on a file on the right side to send it to the left side (Your computer, called DOWNLOAD).
Never tell the site operator his site sucks.
Never complain about his site being slow. Chances are it's not his fault (I've had people complain that they only get 1Kb/s off my site. This is clearly NOT a problem considering that I have personally done 950Kb/s and People regularly do 150 Kb/s off my site. It was his connection that sucked, not mine ;)
Never Run CuteFtp Twice and Login to the SAME site Twice at the same time. You're taking up a space for other users and you can get your computer banned by doing this.
When you're done, LOG OUT (Hit the 
button when youre through.)
If you stay on without doing this, it takes up space that other users might need to
use.
Possible Problems:
PROBLEM 1: "Max limit of X Users reached" or similar error: Ftp site operators can set a maximum number of users to be logged on at one time. This limit has been reached.
Main SOLUTION: Try again later.
Other Solution: Check your Login:Password. Some servers report this error if you give the wrong password or login name. (Dont ask me why).
PROBLEM 2: Can't Connect (or Cant Login): Your computer isnt connecting to the remote computer.
Solution: CHECK THE PORT. Make sure it's 21 for normal sites or a special port for other sites. (Even if you are absolute SURE this is set right, please check it again.)
Solution 2: Are you connected to the internet? It requires an internet connection. :p
Solution 3: Did you type the address EXACTLY??? Check this again please.
Solution 4: The server could be down. Try again later. Or, if you know the site owner, ask him POLITLY if his server is down, and what his normal sites hours are. (Some people only run thier sites at night or on weekends etc....)
PROBLEM 3: I Cant Download anything!
Primary Problem: Some sites use "ratios". A Ratio of 1:5 means for every one megabyte you upload, you can download 5 Megabytes, etc.... See if the site is ratioed. The welcome message usually tells you this. If it is, upload a file. (dont stop halfway through the file. System operators will ban you off thier site.)
Ok, if you know the person who owns the site, ask them if it's ratio and politely ask them this. be polite. Chances are if you know them then it's NOT ratio, but possibly some other problem. (I wont go into it. Talk with the site operator.)
PROBLEM 4: I Can't Upload Anything.
Solution 1: Try uploading inside the "UPLOADS" or "INCOMING" directory.
Solution 2: the site is full. (No more hard disk space)
PROBLEM 5: The connection got killed halfway through the file!
Solution 1: Reconnect. Chances are you can resume where you left off. One of the benefits of using ftp over http.
Solution 2: The server may have gone offline. (Windows may have crashed on the site operator. =( It happens. Or he/she may have needed to reboot. Dont complain about this to the site operator. He has better things to do than listen to whiners. Just try back later on.
Any questions, email me or talk to me on irc.
Adios. Imh.
Special thanks to tarcy su and her lemon tree remixes which entertained me during the writing of this tutorial. :p
"I wonder how,
I wonder why,
Yesterday you told me bout the Blue Blue sky,
And All that I can see is just a Yellow Lemon Tree.
I'm turning my head up and down.
I'm turning turing turning turning turning around,
And all that i can see is just a Yellow Lemon Tree."