FTP Tutorial: Using FTP Explorer

Many people once having completed the design of their web site are stuck when it comes to getting their work on the web. Follow the following simple steps and you'll have the site up and running quickly.

• Introduction
• Setting Up the Profile Details
• Connecting to the Host and Uploading Your Files
• Conclusion

Introduction

The first thing that you'll need is a web host. This is the company that allows you to publish your files on the web. This may be your company's server, a free-web-site server, or a commercial server that you have rented. Make note of any details that they give you about servers, passwords and usernames. Users of BTInternet: I have compiled a list of essential BTinternet details that you may want to refer to.

The next thing that you'll need is an FTP Program. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. This is the program that will take the files from your computer and send them/transfer them to your web-host. There are many FTP Programs that you can buy, but for beginners I must recommend FTP Explorer, it's free, simple and a small download.

I have a mirror of the FTP Explorer program for download. For information, details etc. visit http://www.ftpx.com

DOWNLOAD NOW (662kb) - Windows 9x/NT

Setting Up the Profile Details

FTPx stores details about each server that you can connect to as profiles. You need to create a new profile for every server that you want to connect to. There may be some default profiles installed with FTPx. You need to create a new one for your web site.

• Load FTP Explorer
• You will be presented with a screen like the one below (Click thumbnail for an enlarged version):

Fill in the following details, by clicking "Add" and then typing in the input boxes. Example data is for BTInternet Users, but for any other web host it should be similar...

Those details should be sufficient to connect to the host. Click "Save" and the profile data will be saved in the program.

Connecting to the Host & Uploading Your Files

You now need to connect to the host to upload your files. To do this select the profile that you have just created and click on "Connect". FTP Explorer will now make the connection. The following picture (click on it to enlarge to the full sized version) shows the main window. The pane on the left shows the directory structure on the server, the frame on the right shows the files on the server (in that directory). The bottom frame shows the connections details and log.

Creating A Directory

Firstly you might want to create a directory/folder to store your files in. You might not want to do this, you can read onto the next section "Uploading a file". Creating a directory is easy:

• Right click with your mouse on the frame on the right, the remote server
• A menu will pop up
• Select "New"
• Click "Folder"
• A new folder will appear

You now need to rename this folder to a name of your choice, if the program didn't automatically let you name it when it was created.

• Right Click the folder you have just created
• Select "Rename"
• The name should then appear surrounded by a box with a blinking cursor.
• Rename the folder as appropriate
• Click elsewhere on the window and the folder will then be renamed

To enter into that folder click on the folder in either the left or right panes. The FTP log will note this (& any errors) in the bottom pane.

Uploading a File

You will now want to upload a file. This is also very easy.

• Navigate to the directory that you want to store the file in
• Right click with the mouse on the files frame on the right
• Select "Upload" from the menu
• A dialogue box will appear showing the files on your computer
• Find the file that you want to upload
• Select it click OK and it will be uploaded

Deleting Files & Transfering New Ones

When you have created a web site you may want to delete a file or upload a new version of a web page. To upload a new version you probably will not have to delete the file. You just upload the new one as normal and it will write over the top of the old one, replacing it. To delete a file, select it in the right-frame, click the right mouse button and select delete.

Conclusion

It is very easy to upload your files with FTP Explorer. In general if you click the right mouse button on an area then it will give you options to upload/delete etc.