WS_FTP FAQ
What is WS_FTP?
WS_FTP is an FTP client for the Windows OS. An additional version with more features is available for a small fee, for users who find the free version useful.
What versions of Windows does it work with?
It runs under Win9x, W2K, WinXP, WinNT. We have not tested it under WinME, but it should function.
Is there a Macintosh version?
No. We recommend Fetch for the MacOS.
Do I need to contact you before I send a file?
Yes, so we know to look for your file. The first time you are going to send, you will need to obtain a username, password, and starting directory. We will supply these. For future transfers, you will use the same username info.
Contact: Electronic Prepress (Paul, Fawad, Diane, or Steve)
Phone: (510) 489-6543
Email: prepress@fricke-parks.com
Can I use anonymous FTP?
No. You can, however, log into the server and use the “press” folder. The info for this is:
Host Name: ftp.fricke-parks.com
UserID: press
Password:***** (call us for this)
Initial directory: *leave blank*
In WS_FTP, it looks like this:
When WS_FTP starts up, you will need to click on New to create a new profile for Fricke-Parks Press. Enter the information exactly as you see above, only with the real password, of course. When you get everything entered, hit Save so you never have to type it again. Don't worry about all the extra boxes and buttons, they are not used for our site.
The main screen for WS_FTP looks like this:
The window on the left is your machine. The window on the right is our FTP server. The “htaccess” file is for administrative use, so ignore it. The file comp.exe in the right window belongs to someone else. This is a public space, so you will see other files here. Ignore them. If you are concerned about privacy of your materials, compress them into an archive with password protection. Remember to notify Fricke-Parks Press that you have done so, and give them the password. Regular customers who transfer often can arrange for a private directory, username and password. Contact your FP sales representative.
The following example has several controls highlighted:
Notice the larger window on the left. The size of the entire WS_FTP window can be enlarged by dragging the lower right corner. To change the size of the two frames, click and drag the line highlighted here in red (all highlights are for this example only).
Note the Arkansas_counties_map.jpg file highlighted in blue. If we click the green highlighted button, the file will be sent to our FTP server. These are the only buttons we really need to worry about.
Basically, you use the first screen to connect. Then you locate and highlight your file in the left window. Finally, click the arrow pointing to our server.
I can't find my desktop, or the “My Documents” folder!
Remember, in WindowsXP and Windows2000, your desktop and “My Documents” folders are really located in the “Documents and settings” folder, usually on your C: drive. Each user has his own folder within this folder. In the above example, user “Marauder” is sending files from her C:\Documents and Settings\Marauder\My Documents folder.
How do I know the file is sent?
You should be able to see it in the right hand window.
I can't connect... what now?
Problems usually come from miss-typed information. The username or password is frequently misspelled, and sometimes the hyphen is left out of Fricke-Parks.
If you are using a dial-up modem, you need to connect first, then run WS_FTP. Just launch your web browser and connect like you normally would. Then launch your FTP client.
It is also possible that your network uses a Firewall, or other network security device. The “advanced” tab on the first screen of WS_FTP allows for flexible configuration in this event. Whoever administers your Firewall will be able to easily configure your client. Do not change any of these settings unless you really do have a Firewall, or your software will not function.
Should I compress my files before sending?
Yes, this will speed up the transfer greatly. WinZip is a handy utility for this.
Are there certain restrictions on filenames of my files?
Yes. Do not use symbols or spaces in file names.
I have hundreds of files in my project... do I have to rename them all if I used spaces?
No. Compress the files into an archive, and make sure its name contains no symbols or spaces. It is a good idea to adopt a naming convention that does not use symbols and spaces for other reasons, however. Bad characters can cause problems with some servers, software, and RIPS.