FTP - File Transfer Protocol
FTP is a method of transferring files from one computer to another regardless of the types of computer. That means one computer could be a PC whilst the other could be a Macintosh.
You use FTP when you download files from the Internet, or when you copy your web page to your ISP provider. It is this last area that this article concentrates on - transferring files from your computer to your ISP provider or web-hosting system.
Web Pages
Web pages, such as the one you are reading now, are stored on servers that remain running all the time. They will also have a permanent Internet address. When you read a web page, the information is transferred from the server to your computer. Your browser handles the transfer from your end whilst the server has software that handles requests for data.
Most web sites are developed on a computer that may not be connected to the Internet (at the time of writing or designing the pages). Once a page is ready to be published, an FTP program can be used to copy the web pages, graphics, sounds, Java or whatever to your web server.
In order to use an FTP program you need to know some basic information first. You will need to: 1). Check with your ISP/web host where your web space has been set up. This usually takes the form of some kind of registration. Look at your ISP/web host's own web site for to how to do this. Once set up, you can continue. 2). A suitable FTP program! I use Cute FTP myself, which I find simple to use yet powerful enough to handle more complex matters. Whichever FTP client you use, you will find that the basic steps are the same. 3). To set up your FTP program. This entails telling the FTP program certain pertinent pieces of information so that it can connect and transfer files. This will include...
