FTP is a protocol for transferring files between your computer and a remote computer where you know the address. Several information is needed to connect to a site:
- Site address: it is usually given as IP address, eg 194.56.212.32
- Port: it is a number that can differentiate the data coming from your connection, it is usually the number 21 by default, ie if no port number is specified
- Username (login) and password (passwd) which identify the user. If no username is given then it is an anonymous login, the login will be anonymous and it is customary for the password to an anonymous session is his e-mail (eg jack@clubweb.com
This information is usually given on the Web in a URL, that is an address that contains compact all this information, that is an address of the form:
ftp://login:passwd@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:port/directory/file
where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the address of the site (sometimes given in text, eg ftp.site.com).
when login: passwd is not specified, it is an anonymous session
when the port is not specified it is port 21.
CuteFTP is an FTP client, that is to say a software that simplifies the operations of connection and transfer files to an FTP site. There are many similar softwares, but it is one of the most popular and effective functioning has been proven, so this tutorial can apply to other FTP clients, including the interface is different but the operation remains very close.
Starting CuteFTP
When you double-click on the CuteFTP icon, a window opens for you.
This is the site manager: a workbook in which you can list your favorite FTP sites.
The left window shows a tree where you can create, rename or delete directories where you can arrange FTP sites. The 3 buttons below the tree used to manage files:
- Add folder: allows you to add a directory
- Delete folder: this will delete the selected directory
- Rename folder: you can rename the selected directory
The right window represents the FTP sites contained in the current directory. To add an FTP site just click the Add site button.
The Import button allows you to import directories from another version of CuteFTP installed on your computer or even your preferences of WS_FTP (another FTP client).
Add a site
When you click the Add site button, a window appears.
It is simply to go fill out the fields necessary for the connection.
- Site Label represents the name you give to the site
- Host Address is the address of the site
- User ID is the user name (if no name is given to you tick the Anonymous Login in type)
- Passwd is the password, asterisks appear to hide it
- Transfer type allows to choose the mode of transferring files, it is best to allow automatic detection mode which will select the most appropriate
- Host type identifies the kind of machine to which it will connect, we do not generally known, it is best to let the automatic detection
- Initial remote directory can specify the directory in which you want to find yourself at the connection. By default it is the root as the site administrator has defined, but you may want to constantly go in a particular directory, in which case you have to fill this field indicating the relative address. To go to the directory to upload the connection you will have to fill the field with “upload”
- Remote directory filter allows you to specify the extensions you want to see (the others will be hidden)
- Initial local directory is the local directory (on your machine) will be displayed on the connection. By default it will be the directory where is CuteFTP
- Local directory filter allows you to specify the extensions you want to appear locally
The Advanced tab gives you access to advanced settings:
- Port (top left) can be specified if it is a number other than 21
- Connection Retries specifies the number of times that CuteFTP will try to reconnect on failure
- Delay between retries means the time between each new test from CuteFTP
- Upload filenames option (bottom left) allows to specify if you want that case (uppercase and minucules) is preserved when you send files on the remote computer
Other options are of little use.
Log in
Once completed all fields click OK, then double-click on the desired site in the Site Manager. When you are connected to the FTP site, a message appears:
Just click on the OK button to see the following window appear:
The left window represents the local tree (hard drive) while the right window represents the disk of the remote computer. To move around the tree just double click on directories. The icon 
allows you to go back to the parent directory.
Transfers files are made by selecting one or more files (simultaneously pressing the CTRL button and left button of the mouse you can select multiple files) in a window (left or right) followed by a drag-place to another window. An indicator in the status bar to track the progress of tranfer (remaining time and percentage of the file sent).
Tags: CuteFTP, FTP, FTP clients, How to, Softwares, Tips and Tricks, Web
