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USING ABSOLUTEFTP

1. What is AbsoluteFTP?
2. Starting and Configuring AbsoluteFTP for the WWW Server
3. Connecting to the WWW Server
4. Downloading, Uploading, and Deleting Files
   • Copy and Paste
   • Drag and Drop
   • Deleting a File
5. Disconnecting from the WWW Server
6. Using Quick Connect to Make an Anonymous FTP Connection
7. Adding a New Folder and Session to the Connect List
   • Adding a New Folder
   • Adding a New Session
   • Viewing and Downloading a File

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1. What is AbsoluteFTP?

AbsoluteFTP is a Windows application that uses the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to transfer files over the Internet and intranets. Previous users of Rapid Filer will find AbsoluteFTP's graphical interface much more user friendly. The interface looks very similar to Windows Explorer and works with files and folders in the same way.

 

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2. Starting and Configuring AbsoluteFTP for the WWW Server

 

Starting AbsoluteFTP
Double click on the AbsoluteFTP icon on your desktop (or from the Start menu, select Programs, AbsoluteFTP). AbsoluteFTP is already configured for you to connect to the www server. You should now see the Connect dialog box:

If the connect dialog box is not showing on your screen, choose File, Connect from the menu. Click on the checkbox beside "Show this dialog when you start AbsoluteFTP" so that you will automatically see the dialog box the next time you start the program.

 

Configuring AbsoluteFTP

If you would like AbsoluteFTP to prompt you for your username and password, you may skip this section. If you would like the program to remember these settings for you, follow these steps:

1. In the Connect dialog box, under Sessions click once on www.
   
   
2. Click on the Edit Session Button.
   
   
3. In the www dialog box:

• Click on the General tab if it is not in the front.
  
  
• Click in the Local directory text box, then click the Browse icon.
  
  
• Select the folder on your hard drive where you store your web pages.
  
  
• Click in the Download directory text box, then click the Browse icon.
  
  
• Select the folder on your hard drive where you would like to store any files you download from the web server.
  
  
• Click on the Site tab.
  
  
• Enter your username and password into the text boxes.
  
  
• Click on the OK Button.
  
  

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3. Connecting to the WWW Server

Once you have configured AbsoluteFTP with your username and password for the WWW Server, make sure your screen shows the Connect dialog box. If not, click on the Connect icon in the toolbar (or select File, Connect from the menu).

1. Under Sessions, click once on www.
   
   
2. Click on the Connect button.
   
   
3. If you have configured AbsoluteFTP to remember your username and password, you will automatically be connected to the WWW Server. If not, you will be prompted to enter your username and password.
   
   
4. Once connected, you should see two windows:
   
   
   
   
5. In this illustration, the window in front shows the files and folders on the WWW Server. The window behind shows the files and folders on the hard drive. If you configured AbsoluteFTP previously with information for a local directory, the window with Local at the top should be open to that directory.
   
   
6. In the menu, click on Window, Tile Horizontally to see both windows at the same time:
   

 

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4. Downloading, Uploading, and Deleting Files

Downloading and uploading files with AbsoluteFTP works the same as copying files with Windows Explorer. You may copy and paste, or you may drag and drop.

 

Copy and Paste

1. Click on the name of the file you would like to copy.
   
2. Click on the Copy icon (or select Edit, Copy from the menu).
   
   
3. Click on the name of the folder you would like to copy the file to.
   
4. Click on the Paste icon (or select Edit, Paste from the menu).

 

Drag and Drop

1. Click on the name of the file you would like to copy and continue to hold the mouse button down.
   
   
2. Slide the mouse pointer across the screen until it is over the name of the folder you wish to copy the file to.
   
   
3. Let go of the mouse button and the file is copied.

 

Deleting a File

1. Click on the name of the file you would like to delete.
2. Click on the Delete icon (or select File, Delete from the menu).
   
   

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5. Disconnecting from the WWW Server

To close the session, click on the Disconnect icon (or select File, Disconnect from the menu).

 

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6. Using Quick Connect to Make an Anonymous FTP Connection

1. Click on the Quick Connect icon (or select File, Quick Connect from the menu).
   
   
   
   
2. Enter the Hostname or IP. For this example, enter ftp.microsoft.com as the Hostname.
   
   
3. We will use an anonymous login so make sure the checkbox is enabled.
   
   
4. Enter your email address for the password.
   
   
5. Click on the OK button.
   
   
6. Under the Name column, scroll down the list until you see the file dirmap.txt then double click on the filename.
   
   
7. Select 'Open it' and click the OK button.
   
   
8. The file will open in Notepad and you will be able to see a description of the directory structure on Microsoft's FTP Server.
   
   
9. Close or minimize Notepad.
   
   
10. Double click on any folder on Microsoft's site to see what it contains.
    
    
11. To download a file, you may either:
    
    
    • Double click on the filename, select 'Save it to disk', then click the OK button,
      
      
    • Select File,Download from the menu, or
      
      
    • Select Window, Tile Horizontally from the menu. Then drag the desired file from the window containing Microsoft's server, then drop it in the desired folder in the window showing your hard drive.
      
      
12. To close the session, click on the Disconnect icon (or select File, Disconnect from the menu).
    
    

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7. Adding a New Folder and Session to the Connect List

 

Adding a New Folder

1. Click on the Connect icon (or select File, Connect from the menu):
   
   
   
   
2. Under Folders, click on FTP Sites, then click on the New Folder button.
   
   
3. In the New Folder dialog box, enter Education, then click on the OK button:
   
   
   
   
4. The program will return you to the Connect dialog box where you will now see a folder named Education in the Folders data area.

 

Adding a New Session

1. Click on the Nw Session button to start the New Session Wizard.
   
   
2. In the Host Address text box, enter ftp.umass.edu then click on the Next button.
   
   
3. We will use an anonymous login so make sure the checkbox is enabled.
   
   
4. The password for an anonymous login is your email address. Enter your email address then click the Next button.
   
   
5. In the Initial Directory textbox enter /pub/ then click on the Next button.
   
   
6. Finally you may enter a Session Name and Description for this FTP connection. For this example we will leave them as they are so simply click on the Finish button.
   
   
7. Now you will see ftp.umass.edu in the Sessions data area.
   
   

Viewing and Downloading a File

1. Click on the Connect button.
   
   
2. On the left side of the ftp.umass.edu window, click on the ednet folder.
   
   
3. Under the Name column double click on educatrs.lst.
   
   
4. In the Open Remote File of Unknown Type dialog box, click the Open With button.
   
   
5. Click on Notepad, then click the OK button.
   
   
6. Notepad will now display An Educator's Guide to E-Mail Lists.
   
   
7. Close Notepad.
   
   
8. In the menu select Window, Tile Horizontally.
   
   
9. In the Local window, navigate on your hard drive to where you would like to save a file.
   
   
10. In the ftp.umass.edu window, click on educatrs.lst and continue to hold down the mouse button while you drag and drop the file to the Local window.
    
    
11. When you let go of the mouse button, the Choose Transfer Type dialog box asks for a transfer type. Since we know this is a text file, select ASCII and then click the OK button.
    
    
12. Click the Disconnect icon (or select File, Disconnect from the menu).
    
    
    

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For additional help, please contact the DoIT Help Desk at 910.521.6260 or helpdesk@uncp.edu.

 

 

Updated: Monday, July 14, 2008

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