KISS HTML

You CAN ftp files to your web site !

de-mystifying FTP

What is FTP - It stands for File Transfer Protocol.
How does it work - just like its name, it transfers files from your hard disk up to the Internet.
It actually uploads a copy of any files you want to move from your hard disk up to your web site. It doesn't matter what they are; they can be .htm/.html files, or .gif/.jpg files.

1. GETTING THE FTP SOFTWARE and SETTING IT UP
 The first thing you need is an FTP program. I use WS_FTP from Ipswitch. It has always worked just fine for me. It's FREE, if you get the "Lite" version, and use it only for non-commercial websites.
If you want to use another FTP program, I can't help you, so to get this one, go to:
www.ipswitch.com>
Click on "Downloads", and scroll down to WS-FTP Limited Edition 4.x. Click on the link to download.

Once you have installed the program, run it and you will get a screen like this:

Main screen of WS_FTP

Setting WS_FTP up may be the most difficult part. Once you do this, though, you can pretty well forget about it. Yes, it will work on many of the other free web hosts and on ALL private domain hosts.

There are 5 items that require your attention and here's the short version:

  1. Options - Allows you to set WS_FTP up for your personal needs.
  2. Connect - The various settings which will connect you to your host (in this case - Tripod).
  3. Local Directory - The top window shows what directory on your hard disk is selected.
    Under the small top window, in the large window underneath, are all your web page files on your hard disk for your website,
  4. Remote Directory - This large window shows you what directory and files are already on your web site.
  5. The "do it" button - Highlight a file in the left directory, click this button, and it gets launched to your website.

In more detail:
SETTING THE OPTIONS
 Click on the "Options" button and you get more menus with tabs. Click on the Session tab and you will get

Session 1 Screen
Select "Unix (Standard)" so that it appears in the window. I also check the block that says "force lowercase remote names", because I name all my .htm/.html files in lowercase letters only.
Then click on set as default.

Click on the "General" tab, and you will get

General Screen
The most important thing to fill out here is your e-mail address.
Last, click on "OK" at the bottom.

ENTERING THE SETTINGS TO CONNECT TO TRIPOD
This is what I do to connect to my host Tripod.
Click on the "Connect" button and you get more tabbed menus

Click on "General and you get:

Click on New and fill in the blanks as shown except:
1. "UserID" is the name you signed when you joined Tripod.
2. "Password" is the password you selected for use on Tripod.

Since I don't share my computer, I check "Save Password".

 Connect 1 Screen

Click the "Start Up" tab.

The only thing needing to be filled out is the "Initial Local Directory".

This is the directory/folder on your hard drive where you store your .htm/.html files, such as c:\MyWebSite.

Start Up Screen

To continue, click on "Next" in the line below:

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