WS-FTP FAQ
What is WS_FTP?
How do I download?
How do I install?
What are the installation requirements?
How do I use WS_FTP?
Is it possible to view the contents of a text file from
within WS_FTP?
Does it matter if I transfer a file as binary or ASCII?
How do I access the VCU Anonymous FTP server?
How can I use FTP to upload/download files between my Unix account and my PC?
What does the Execute button do?
FTP (file transfer protocol) software allows you to transfer files between your PC and host computers on campus (such as, hercules...) or between your PC and other computers on the Internet. WS_FTP and WS_FTP32 are ftp client applications that run under Windows 95 and above.
What are the installation requirements?
You MUST be directly connected to the VCU Campus network via either Ethernet or Token Ring (it will not work through the current VCU dial-in service or if you are connected to the campus network through a terminal server). Also, you MUST have a properly installed winsock.dll for this application to work. If you are unsure whether your office computer meets these requirements, contact the TS Help Desk at (828-2227).
Connecting to a Host
When you start WS_FTP, a session profile is automatically displayed.
A session profile stores information about a host computer to which
you may connect. This information includes the Internet address of the
host computer, the login and password for the computer, etc. To see
a sample session profile, click here.
If a session profile is not listed for the host you want
- click on the New button (to create a new host profile)
- enter the requested information
- click OK (to save and connect to the new host)
By default, WS_FTP displays the session profile for the host to which you most recently connected. You can display a list of other session profiles by
- clicking on the Profile Name list button
- click on the name of the desired host (to display its host characteristics)
- click on the OK button (to connect to the selected host)
Connecting to a Different Host
If you are currently connected to a host you must
- close the current session (by clicking on the CLOSE button (located on the button bar at the bottom of the main window). Once the connection is closed, notice that the CLOSE button changes into a CONNECT button.
- click on the profile drop down menu, (to select a different session profile)
- click on the name of the desired host (to display its host characteristics)
- click on the OK button to connect to the selected host
Transferring Files
Once you are connected to a remote host, the main program window displays. The left half of the window displays the local (PC) information. The right half of the window is the remote host information. Both sides of the window are divided in half to display two list boxes. The list boxes on top show drives and directories - the list boxes on the bottom show files.
- double click on drive letters or directory names (to change from one directory to another)The current directories are listed at the top of the listboxes.
- click on a filename to select it, then
- click on the left or right arrow button displayed in the middle of the main window screen. (If you click on a local file, then click the right arrow button, the file will be transferred to the current directory on the remote host. If you click on a remote file, then click on the left arrow button, the file will be transferred to the current directory on your local PC)
Is it possible to view the contents of a text file from within WS_FTP?
Yes, click on the text file (usually has a .txt file extension) to select it, then click on the VIEW button. This is especially helpful for reading remote INDEX files found on many anonymous ftp sites.
Does it matter if I transfer a file as binary or ASCII?
Yes. Non-text files such as word-processing, graphic files, sound files, programs and compressed (.zip) files MUST BE transferred as binary. If non-text files are transferred in ascii format, the resulting file will not be useable. Text-only files should be transferred in ASCII format.
How do I access the VCU Anonymous FTP server?
Anonymous FTP sites are basically a repository for files that can be shared with the public. They are usually programs and data files. For more information about anonymous FTP, see "What is anonymous FTP?" FAQ page.
To get files from the VCU Anonymous FTP site using WS_FTP, you will need to setup and use a profile that points to the site. The hostname for the VCU Anonymous FTP site is: ftp.vcu.edu. You will need to check the anonymous checkbox. By doing this, the login name will automatically become 'anonymous'. The password to use is your e-mail address.
To put files on the VCU Anonymous FTP site, you should contact the TS Helpdesk at 828-2227.
How can I use FTP to upload/download files between my Unix account and my PC?
- Start WS_FTP
- Select the host session profile to which you wish to connect
- Log on to the remote host
- Locate the file (either on your PC or on the remote host)
- Choose the arrows (-> or <-) in the direction you wish to move.
For more information about moving your files, see our FAQ page.
What does the Execute button do?
If you select a local file and then click the Execute button, the file is executed using the same rules that apply in the Windows file manager.
For example: If the file is an executable file (has a file extension of .bat, .exe, .pif, or .com) the file manager will execute the file from the current directory. If the file is not an executable file, you can create a file association for it. For example, you can associate .zip files (compressed files) with a program such as Winzip. Winzip is a program that uncompresses .zip files. Once the association is created between .zip files and the program Winzip, you can execute a file with a .zip file extension. This will cause the Winzip program (the associated program) to launch, and open the selected .zip file. Examples of other associations you can create: associate a graphics viewer program (such as LVIEW31) with .gif and .jpg file types, associate a sound player program with .au and .wav file types.
If you click on a remote file and then click the Execute button, the file will be transferred in binary mode to the Windows temporary directory and then executed using the same rules that apply in the Windows file manager.
The Associations tab is used to associate files of a particular extension with an executable file (application) that can run that type of file. When you choose the Exec button, the file is opened in the associated application.
To create an association, click the Options button (at the bottomof the main WS_FTP window), then select the Associations tab. If you specify an association, it will be saved in the win.ini file and will be valid for the Windows file manager.
To set up an association:
- Click the Options button, and click the Associations tab (if it's not already visible).
- In the Files with Extension text box, enter the file extension to be associated with an executable program.
- In the Associate With text box, enter the executable program to run when the Exec button is clicked. You can use the Browse button to browse your files and folders to locate the executable program.
Note: The 32-bit version of WS_FTP Pro calls ShellExecute to execute the file through the shell. If this fails, WS_FTP Pro uses the associations specified in this dialog. These associations are unique to WS_FTP Pro in this environment.
