When you have established a connection between your local PC and an FTP site, the WS_FTP
Pro main window displays the files and folders for your PC in the Local System list box
(on the left) and the files and folders of the FTP site in the Remote System list box (on
the right).
· Note: In the 16-bit version of WS_FTP Pro, each column contains two
list boxes: the top list box shows the available folders; the bottom list box shows the
files in the currently selected folder.
The current folder is shown at the top of each column. The list box below the current
folder shows all of the files and folders within the current folder. Icons are used to
identify files and folders. Any disk drives that you can access also appear in the list.
The buttons to the right of each column provide file and folder operations for that
column. These are shown below, from top to bottom.
ChgDir (Change Directory)
The ChgDir button allows you to change the current folder from the one displayed in the
text box under either Local System or Remote System to another folder on the system. This
command works only on systems that implement the concept of directories.
If you select a folder name in the folder list box and choose this command, WS_FTP Pro
changes the current folder to the one selected.
If no name is highlighted, you will be prompted for the folder to change to. When prompted
for a folder, you can also enter a drive letter followed by a colon (for example, d:) to
change to a different disk drive.
MkDir (Make Directory)
The MkDir button allows you to create a folder if possible. (Not all FTP site allow you to
create folders; you must have an account on the site and "create" privileges.)
When you select this command, you are prompted for a folder name that is valid for the
current system.
RmDir (16-bit version only; in 32-bit version, use Delete)
The RmDir button allows you to remove a folder if possible. (Not all FTP site allow you to
make and delete folders remotely; you must have an account on the site and
"delete" privileges.)
When you select this command, you are prompted for a folder name.
File Mask
File Mask Text Box
The File Mask text box is located just below the MkDir button. It allows you to limit the
files displayed in the lists for either the Local System or Remote System; this is handy
if there are a large number of files and folders.
In the File Mask text box, enter a filter that is valid for the system, and then press
Enter. For example, to display only files with the extension .txt, enter *.txt in the File
Mask text box and press Enter. The corresponding list box is refreshed to display only the
files with the extension .txt.
If you are connected to a UNIX FTP site, you can use:
· -al or -la in the File Mask text box on the Remote System side of the
window to view hidden (.) files
· -altr in the Remote System side of the window to view file names in
date sequence (in the 32-bit versions of WS_FTP Pro only)
Note to those familiar with FTP command line clients: You can use any argument string you
would use with a "Dir" command in a command line FTP client.
View
The View button allows you to view a file in ASCII format by whatever viewer you have
defined on the General tab of Program Options (in the 32-bit version of WS_FTP Pro) or in
the General properties
(16-bit version).
When you view a file on an FTP site, the file is transferred according to the transfer
mode settings in the FTP Pro main window to the Windows temporary folder and opened in the
viewer.
Exec :Execute
The Exec button allows you to execute, or open, a file.
- If you select a local filename and then click Exec, the file is executed using the same
rules as if it were executed in Windows.
- If you select a filename on an FTP site and then click Exec, the file is transferred in
the selected file transfer mode to the Windows temporary folder and is executed using the
same rules as if executed in the File Manager.
- If the filename has an extension other than .exe, .com, .bat or .pif, then the Windows
file associations are used. If the extension has no association, you are allowed to
specify the association at run time. This association is saved in the WIN.INI file in the
Extensions section and is also valid for Windows.
You can set associations by clicking the Options button and then selecting File
Associations.
Rename
The Rename button allows you to rename a file or folder, if possible. Not all FTP site
allow you to rename files and folders; you must have an account on the site as well as
renaming privileges.
To rename a file or folder:
- Select the file or folder.
- Click the Rename button.
- Enter the new name for the file or folder.
- Click OK.
Note: Some systems allow you to rename a file over the top of an existing file
Delete
The Delete button allows you to delete a file or folder on the FTP site, if (a) deletions
are allowed on the site, and (b) you have an account on the site as well as
"delete" privileges.
To delete a file or folder:
- Select the file or folder.
- Click the Delete button.
Editing files
The Edit file command allows you to edit a remote file locally. It appears only in the
32-bit version of WS_FTP Pro when a file is selected. When you select Edit file, WS_FTP
Pro transfers the file to the local system and opens the appropriate application. When you
close that application, WS_FTP Pro transfers the file back to the FTP site.
Note that your FTP session may timeout if you take an excessive amount of time to edit the
file, normally more than four minutes. In the event of a timeout, the file is not updated
on the FTP site and your edits may be lost. You can go back to the WS_FTP Pro window and
refresh the folder listing every couple of minutes to keep the session alive.
Files on the local system can be directly edited via the View or Execute buttons.
- Note: The above commands, as well as some additional commands are available from the
right-mouse menu. Select a file or folder and use the right-mouse menu.
Folder options ("classic" user interface)
To change folders in the WS_FTP Pro classic user interface, you can edit the folder path
in the text box, or you can use the ChgDir button. Also, if you enable Remember
directories in the Session options, the drop-down list for both the local and remote
current folders will show the folders you visited during the last session.
Sort options (16-bit version): Sorting Files and Folders
You can sort the files and folders in the Local System or Remote System list boxes by
using the column headings (Name, Date, Size) above each list or the Sort command on the
right-mouse menu.
Using column headings to sort (32-bit version):
Click a column heading to sort the files and folders as follows:
- Name. Click the column heading, Name, to toggle the alphabetical list between ascending
and descending order. Click Ctrl+Name to sort the file names by file extension.
- Date. Click the column heading, Date, to toggle the alphabetical list between ascending
and descending order.
- Size. Click the column heading, Size, to toggle the alphabetical listings between
ascending and descending order.
- ^ Click the button to the left of the column heading, Name, to toggle the listing of
folders from on bottom (after all files), on top (before all files), or mixed with files.
Sorted list boxes option (16-bit version):
If this option is turned on, the Remote System list is automatically sorted
alphabetically. Otherwise the files are presented in the order the FTP site transmits
them.
- Click the Options button.
- Click the Session tab.
- Select Sorted list boxes.
Using the right-mouse menu to sort (all versions):
- Place the cursor over either list box.
- Select Sort from the right-mouse menu. The Sort dialog box appears.
- Select the desired options and click OK.
You can use the column headings (Name, Date, Size) above the Local System and Remote
System list boxes to sort the files and folders shown in the list box. See Sorting
Directories and Files.
Additional Items Available from Pop-up Menu
Sort (32-bit version only)
Edit File (only in 32-bit version, remote system list box)
Sort…
The Sort... command appears only in the 32-bit version of WS_FTP Pro. It allows you to
change the sort order of the files displayed in the selected list box. File names can be
sorted by name, extension, date, or size. Sort order can also be reversed. The Show Full
Directory Information option on the Advanced tab of the Program Options must be enabled
for sort to work properly.
Note that information necessary to build a standard list is not available for all host
types.
chmod (right-mouse menu)
The chmod (UNIX) command appears only when one or more files or folders are selected in
the Remote System list. When you select chmod, you see a dialog box where you can specify
the most common UNIX file attributes.
- Note: You must have write permission on the FTP site and the site must support the
"SITE chmod" command. This is normally valid only on UNIX-based systems. The
selected items do not reflect the current permissions of the file.
Move Files
chmod (UNIX)
Message Log
Below the list boxes, there is a message area that logs all queries from the WS_FTP Pro
client (your PC) and all responses from the FTP site. You can double-click in this area to
expand the listing. You can also click the LogWnd button to display the messages in a
window. |