Accessibility

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter offers an introduction to WS_FTP Pro, a brief description of File Transfer Protocols, system requirements, the installation procedure, information about software updates, and instructions for giving feedback to Ipswitch, Inc.

Why FTP?

A vast store of software applications, games, images, and other types of files are available on FTP and SFTP sites all over the world. A site is a computer system ("host") that uses an Internet protocol called FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol.) FTP and SFTP offers fast and accurate transfers of large files or collections of files between computers on the Internet.

Many Web sites on the World Wide Web (which is based on another Internet protocol called HTTP) also provide links to files you can download -- that is, copy to your PC. Especially for large files, WS_FTP Pro will speed up the time it takes to copy such files to your PC. For more information, see "Browser Integration".

WS_FTP Pro also allows you to upload files -- that is, copy files from your PC to other computers. For example, you would upload files if you need to place your Web pages on a computer system designated by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), or if you want to store a picture of something you want to sell through an online auction site.

How FTP/SFTP Works

FTP/SFTP uses the client-server model: one computer (the FTP/SFTP Host) runs a server program "serving up" information to other computers. The other computers run client programs requesting information and receiving replies from the server.

FTP

WS_FTP Pro turns your PC into a client, allowing it to communicate with virtually all types of FTP sites. When your PC is connected to the Internet (via a modem or local area network), WS_FTP Pro can connect to any system that has a valid Internet Address and is running an FTP server program. Once connected to an FTP site, you can copy files to and from your local PC or another FTP site.

SFTP

SFTP is a file transfer protocol that runs over a secure SSH (Secure Shell) client like WS_FTP Pro. It works a lot like FTP, except that all communications and transfers between the client and server are done over a single secure connection.

New in WS_FTP Version 8.0

Thumbnails browsing option.
Active Edit system.
Use of both implicit and explicit SSL.
Auto-connect to remote sites on application start-up
Hotdrop shortcuts to remote directories.
SSL/NAT feature for specifying external IP address and port range for PORT commands.
Support for ASCII transfers via SFTP.
SOCKS4 and SOCKS5 Proxy support.

System Requirements

WS_FTP Pro requires the following system resources:

An Intel Pentium processor
Windows 98, 2000, ME, NT or XP
Internet Explorer 4.02 or newer (does not have to be your default browser)

Installing WS_FTP Pro

The installation of WS_FTP Pro is the same for new users, those who are upgrading from a previous version of WS_FTP Pro, and those who are replacing an evaluation version with a purchased version.

To install WS_FTP Pro from a downloaded file:

Double-click the file you downloaded. (wsftppec.exe)
Follow the directions on your screen.

To install WS_FTP Pro from a CD-ROM:

If you already have a previous version of WS_FTP Pro on your system, make sure you are not running the application (either Classic or Explorer).
Insert the WS_FTP Pro CD-ROM into a CD-ROM drive.
If the CD-ROM does not automatically display a "Welcome" screen, click the Start button and select Run.
Enter the CD-ROM drive letter followed by autorun. For example: d:autorun
Follow the instructions on your screen.

Please refer to the file named whatsnew.txt or relnotes.txt for information regarding enhancements or changes that may have been made to the software since this manual was printed.

Logging Onto an FTP Site

The FTP process begins when a connection is made between an FTP client and an FTP site. After establishing communication, the client "logs on" with a user ID and password. The user ID and password identify you to the site.

Most public FTP sites are set up with an "Anonymous" account: when you connect to one of these FTP sites, you need only identify yourself as "Anonymous" and use an e-mail address as a password. Normally, when you log on anonymously, you see a public folder (usually named something like /pub or /apps) containing the information and software that can be downloaded to your PC. (Access to other folders on the site is usually restricted.)

On anonymous FTP sites, look for files called readme, readme.txt, index, or 00index. Many sites use a file like this to provide a catalog of the information available on the site as well as other information about the site, such as a mission statement or operating hours.

In addition, an FTP site administrator can give certain users "accounts" with special permissions. For example, a user with an account may be able to upload, download, delete, and edit files: while an "anonymous" user can usually only download files. To log on to a site on which you have an account, you will need to enter the Host Name, User ID, and Password that the site administrator has assigned to your account.

Interfaces for Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP
and NT

WS_FTP Pro provides two user interfaces: the Classic user interface, which runs as a standard Windows application, and the Explorer interface, which has the same look and feel as Windows Explorer.

The Classic Interface of WS_FTP Pro

The Classic interface is a standard Windows application that looks similar to a two-paned window. When your PC (the "Local System") connects to an FTP server (the "Remote System"), the WS_FTP Pro Classic interface displays a window with your PC's files and folders on the left and the FTP site's files and folders on the right. With the contents of both systems displayed, you can easily locate files on one system and transfer them to a specific folder on the other system.

The Classic interface looks similar to this:

The buttons to the right of each list box provide file and folder operations for that list box.

The Explorer Interface of WS_FTP Pro

The second interface of WS_FTP Pro is the Explorer interface. The Explorer interface uses the same software engine as the Classic interface, but it lets you copy and move files within a system that has the same look and feel as Windows Explorer.

The WS_FTP Pro Explorer interface looks similar to one of the following:

Browser Integration

You can set up WS_FTP Pro so that it automatically handles FTP URLs when you click them in your browser or in an e-mail message. (A URL, Uniform Resource Locator, is an Internet address describing an Internet resource. For example, the Web URL for the Ipswitch web site is /; the FTP URL for the FTP site of WS_FTP Pro Patches is http://ftp.ipswitch.com.)

WS_FTP Pro handles FTP URLs as follows:

If the URL is the name of an FTP server, such as ftp.ipswitch.com, WS_FTP Pro "handles" the URL by starting the Classic interface of WS_FTP Pro and connecting to the site.
If the URL includes the path and name of a file, such as ftp.ipswitch.com/French/ftp605F.txt, WS_FTP Pro attempts to download the file to your PC, and prompts you for a location to save or execute the file.
If the URL includes the path and name of a folder (and not a file), such as ftp.ipswitch.com/French, WS_FTP Pro "handles" the URL by starting the Classic interface, connecting to the site, and navigating to the folder.

To turn on Browser Integration:

Select Browser Integration from the Program Options dialog.
If you use Netscape Navigator and want WS_FTP Pro to handle FTP URLs, select the first check box.
If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer and want WS_FTP Pro to handle FTP URLs, select the second check box.
If you want to be prompted each time you click an FTP URL so you can choose whether or not to use WS_FTP Pro, select Ask before using WS_FTP.

Other Ipswitch WS_FTP Products

WS_FTP Server and the WS_FTP Pro Development Kit can be purchased separately at www.ipswitch.com.

WS_FTP Server

The WS_FTP Server is a full-featured, secure (using SSL) FTP server for Windows NT/2000/XP systems. WS_FTP server lets you create an FTP site that makes files and folders on your PC available to other users. WS_FTP Server offers many features not found in most commercial servers today, including automatic resumption of interrupted transfers.

WS_FTP Pro Development Kit

You can develop custom applications using the WS_FTP Pro Development Kit. It lets you create programs to work with WS_FTP Pro for transferring files to or from FTP sites or between FTP sites. The Development Kit lets you create an FTP application without being concerned with the intricacies of network programming.

Getting Updates and Giving Feedback

Ipswitch frequently makes patches and upgrades available on
our Web site. For the latest version information, please visit www.ipswitch.com.

To access upgrades on the Ipswitch FTP site (using the Classic interface):

In the WS_FTP Pro window, click the Connect button.
In the Connect to Remote Host dialog, open the Predefined Sites and Ipswitch folder and select the site named WS_FTP Pro Patches.
Click Connect. WS_FTP Pro connects to the WS_FTP Pro folder.
Select the desired patch file; the last three digits of the file name indicate the version number. For example, wsftp606.exe is the patch file to update earlier versions to WS_FTP Pro 6.06. Read the accompanying text file (for example, wsftp606.txt) to verify that you have located the correct file.
Transfer the patch file and place it in a folder other than your WS_FTP Pro folder or your Windows Temp folder. To update the software, double-click the patch file and follow the instructions.

To access patches on the Ipswitch Web site:

In your Web browser, go to: http://www.ipswitch.com
Click the Downloads link.
Click Software Updates, and then click the link for the product.
Save the patch file in a folder other than your WS_FTP Pro folder or your Windows Temp folder.
Run the patch file to update the software.

We welcome your feedback on WS_FTP Pro. Please e-mail any comments and suggestions to feedback@ipswitch.com.

Accessibility

WS_FTP Pro is designed for use by all computer users, including those with certain disabilities that make using a mouse impossible. Every operation and feature included in WS_FTP Pro has a shortcut key, or series of keystrokes that allow the user to use their keyboard to execute the command.

The image below shows the WS_FTP Button bar:

Notice that each of the button labels have a letter that is underlined. To access the command performed by the button, hold the Alt key on your keyboard and press the underlined letter on the button you want to use. For example, Alt + C will disconnect you from the current FTP site, and Alt +X will close the program.