TDR Internet Services - Frequently Asked Questions

FTP Primer!

Introduction

The process by which files are transferred to the web is called FTP which stands for "File Transfer Protocol". You have unlimited access via FTP 24-hours a day to your site. As such, you can create and maintain your web pages on your own computer and upload files to your web site at your liesure.

Internet providers such as AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy may have a built-in FTP interface. If you have a PPP internet account and need an FTP program, you can download software for either the PC or MAC from TDR Internet Services web site. We suggest that you contact your local internet provider to inquire about compatibility. Microsoft Front Page version 1.1 users whom have had extensions installed within their web site should use FrontPage to transfer files only.

Configuring Your FTP Software

The following information is contained within your account activation notice and is needed to connect your web site via FTP:

USERID
TEMP PASSWORD
FTP HOSTNAME

The Hostname tells your FTP software to connect to the web server upon which your web site resides. In general, the process of configuring the various FTP softwares is the same. We recommend WS_FTP for PC computer users and Fetch for MAC users.

Each time you run WS_FTP the Session Profile window will be displayed. A profile contains the information needed to connect to your web site. Creating a profile now will eliminate the need for you to configure the software each time you wish to connect to the web server via FTP. To create a new profile, click the "New" button and enter a generic profile name at the top of the Session Profile window. Next, enter the userid, password and hostname for your web site .

Be sure to select "Auto detect" for the Host Type. It is best to select "Save Password" and "Auto Save Config" to maintain these settings for future use. All other fields can be left blank. You are now ready to connect to the web server. Click "OK" to continue.

How to Transfer Files

You can transfer files directly to the root level and/or create subdirectories. The only system directory that you may need to use is the cgi-local; this directory is reserved for custom scripts. To make your home page load automatically, name the HTML document "index.html" in lowercase and upload it to the root directory of your account. To upload a file or files, simply highlight the file(s) on the left and click the right-arrow button ("-->") in the center of the screen. Be sure to upload HTML documents and scripts in ASCII mode and images in BINARY mode. To transfer a file to a subdirectory, double-click the appropriate subdirectory to open it before transferring the desired file(s).

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