setting up a ftp connection thru windows

[drkknght]

is it possible to have a "network neighborhood-like" ftp setup for my powweb account?

and if so, how?

(entering "ftp://pluto.powweb.com" as my shortcut server always gives me an error).

id really love to be able to use that kind of windows explorer set up, rather than cute or winftp

thanks!

[fcsnc]

At least with Internet Explorer 5.5 and above, it is possible to have a browser-based FTP setup. I don't use it, and would not recommend it for a live website. However, the URL would be:

ftp://boliver:sizemore@ftp.boliver.com

assuming that your domain is BOLIVER.COM and that your FTP username is boliver and your FTP password is sizemore.

[Jeff321]

Yes, this works in the newer versions of IE.

You could also go to ftp.yourdomain.com and then click "File" - "Login As" in Internet Explorer. This way you also have an option of saving your password.

[drkknght]

thanks for the replies, guys!

i set it up the way you asked, but i was looking for something slightly different.

i was hoping to gain ftp access into my site as if it were a regular folder on my c drive (like, for example, my documents) -- so that i was able to move files from one folder to the next, rename, delete, etc, all thru windows (not really internet) explorer.

is such a thing even possible?

[Jeff321]

Yes, if you can find a program that does this. I've seen some but can't think of any right now.

[drkknght]

its not already possible thru windows explorer?

[fcsnc]

You know, I think WinXP might provide something like this, but personally I would not touch it with a 10-foot pole.

There is other software available from companies like WRQ (Reflection X), Hummingbird, and SCO/Caldera (Visionware, etc.) that offer a "Unix neighborhood" type environment. However, that software is expensive and can be problematic.

CuteFTP is what I recommend. It's drag & drop, and about as simple as it gets.

[drkknght]

heh... i, too, fear XP.

and, actually, i do currently use cute ftp, and i really have no complaints with it.

but using a windows-like explorer would make it easier for a few tasks -- specifically finding how much file space/size im currently taking up, what files are larger than others, etc.

my site is in folders, with sub, sub sub, and sub sub sub folders, so sometimes, going thru things with a regular ftp program gets very slow (and i end up forgetting where i was)

but viewing things laid out like windows explorer does (with the "+" signs that you can expand folders) would make things easier.

regardles, i thank you all for your help!

[Jeff321]

You may want to try FTP Explorer (http://www.ftpx.com/)

[kriviere]

Tom

What would be your reservations about using IE for an ftp connection to a live web site. I played around with it a little bit after I saw your message about how to do it and it seemed fairly easy. Is IE less secure than, for example, WS-FTP LE? I hadn't been aware of the ability to use IE as an FTP client until I saw the discussion of it here on the forums.

-J. Kenneth Riviere

[fcsnc]

I think browser-based FTP is great, but I don't think I would use Microsoft's browser to manipulate files on a Unix host. For example, how do you set Unix permissions, exactly? How do you make sure that Perl files get uploaded in ASCII format, regardless of extension? How do you assure a BINARY upload? Those are the kinds of things that I just feel more comfortable handling with a good FTP client.

- Tom

[Jeff321]

As for file permissions, you right-click on a file and go to Properties. For uploading, I'm not sure how to do that at all. IE is definatly not meant to be an FTP client. I recommend CuteFTP as well.