Using FTP

Check out our:
Home Town
Victorian page
Llamazine
Link to us

File Transfer Protocol

FTP is a program that works as a bridge between two other programs. It takes files from one place (your computer's hard drive) and sends them to another (your space on the Web). If you use an HTML editor, you will have to use FTP to get your pages to your web community. Here's how:

First you'll need an FTP program. I got an excellent one called WS-FTP from a freeware site. Check my Links page for links to freeware sites. Go there, and follow the directions to download an FTP program to your hard drive.

Now, following the directions under HTML editor (click here), unzip your FTP program (if necessary) and install it.

Locate your FTP program's button (usually, when you install, it places a shortcut button right on your desktop.) Just click on that and you're inside your FTP program.

The first thing you'll see is a screen with some blank spaces to be filled in. The first is usually a space to put a title or a reminder of some type. This is just for your own information, and you can put anything you like in here.

The second one is for the address of your web space. If your page will be on Geocities, this address would be ftp.geocities.com. In Xoom, the address would be ftp.xoom.com.If your space is in Tripod, your address would be ftp.tripod.com.You get the idea...

The next space should have the words UNIXstandard already there. Just leave them alone...most servers use this one. If there seems to be a problem when you try to upload files, contact your web community and find out if these words need to be changed.

Then there should be a space for your password. The first time you go into your FTP program, it will ask you for a password. Either remember this password, or click on "save password" and your FTP program will automatically put it in there for you every time you open it up.

After that will be one or two more fields. These are just for your own information, to keep accounts straight, or add comments.

Once you fill all these fields in, click "connect." A message will appear, saying that you're now connected to your web community. A new screen should appear after this message.

On this screen you should see two lists. One (usually on the left), is a list of all the files on your hard drive. The other (usually on the right), is a blank place in your web community. You need to fill this up with the files you need. You must upload all your html files (pages) AND all your picture files (GIFs, JPEGs or JPGs, and BMPs). If the file is not there, it will not show on the web.

Now, look at the space in between the two lists. You should see two little arrows, one pointing toward the web community side, and one pointing toward your hard drive's side. These arrows are how you move your files back & forth. It's actually simple if you've managed to get this far!

Just use your mouse to select a file that you want to upload to the web. This will be on the left (your computer's) side. Click on the arrow that's pointing toward the (right) side - the web community's blank space. You should see the file you selected magically appear over on the blank side...now it's not blank anymore! Send all the files you need over to the web in this way.

Main Page | Email Vividpages
Disclaimer: I'm still learning, and all I know is what works for me...some of this may not be exactly perfect. So if there's an error, email me, and I'll fix it :)