This chapter details the different ways users can make FTP connections using WS_FTP Pro.
Using Site Profiles
For most FTP connections, WS_FTP Pro uses site profiles to store information it needs to establish the connection with the Server. These profiles control how WS_FTP Pro connects to the remote server, and how it performs once the connection is made. Site profiles are created and maintained on the Connect to Remote Host dialog.
Connect to Remote Host Dialog
The Connect to Remote Host Dialog is your main starting point in using WS_FTP Pro. From there, you can create and edit site profiles, organize your profiles, and use those profiles to connect to your FTP sites.
The following are descriptions of all of the features on the Connect to Remote Host dialog.
• Assistance Center. When this button is clicked, the Assistance Center window appears. For more information, see “Assistance Center” on page 15.
• Connect. Click this button to connect to the selected site.
Look for more information in the Connecting to an FTP Site section of the Online help.
• Create Site. Click this button to access the Site Profile wizard.
Use this wizard to create a new site profile.
• Create Folder. Click this button to access the New Folder wizard.
• Edit. Click this button to edit the selected site profile.
• Delete. This button deletes a selected site or folder.
• Close. Click this button to close the Connect to Remote Host dialog box.
• Help. Click this button to access the WS_FTP Pro Online Help system.
• Configured Sites. This box lists all of your configured sites.
Host Info Dialog of Site Options
After creating a Site Profile through the Site Profile Wizard, you can edit the profile by selecting it and clicking the Edit button. The following is a description of the Host Info dialog of the Site Options dialog. For detailed information on the other dialogs in the Site Options, click the Help button on those dialogs.
• Host Name. Every system (computer) on the Internet has an official host name or an Internet (IP) address. In order to connect to an FTP site, you must know the official name or address of the site. For example, a system might have a host name of
superserv.ipswitch.com and an IP address of 123.124.125.126. In WS_FTP Pro, you can use either the host name or the IP address to specify a particular FTP site.
• UserID. If you have an account on the FTP server you are connecting to, enter your user identification name here. For
When a folder has a + next to it, it means that there may be folders or sites within this folder.
Select a site to connect to that site or to view the host information for that site. To rename a site, right click on the site name, select rename, and type the new name.
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• Password. Enter your password for the site you are connecting to.
• Account. Some FTP sites, notably VM/CMS hosts, require an account in order to authenticate the client and provide access to a default directory for the user. For most sites, however, no account is required.
• Anonymous. Select this option if you are making an anonymous connection to the selected site. For information on anonymous connections, see “Anonymous Connections” on page 15.
• Save Password. When you select this option, the password will be saved with the site information. It is recommended that you do not select this option if other people have access to your
computer.
• Save Account. Select this option to save the account information entered in the Account box with the site information.
• Comment. Enter any comment you would like to make about the site.
Organizing Sites
With the Organize Sites dialog, you can create, organize, and modify site profiles while connected to an FTP site (you have to disconnect before you can access the Connect to Remote Host dialog).
To access this dialog, select Organize Sites from the Sites menu.
Notice that the buttons here also appear on the Connect to Remote Host dialog.
Automatic Connections
If you have a single site that you connect to over and over again, you can have WS_FTP Pro attempt to make a connection as soon as you start the application. This can be done in one of two ways, using the Auto reconnect option on the General dialog of Program Options.
Connect to Default Site
By setting this option, and choosing a default site profile on the Connect to Remote Host or Organize Sites dialog, you can have WS_FTP Pro connect to that site as soon as you open the application.
Open with last local and remote folders
If you do not want to set up a default site to use every time you open the application, you can select this option to have WS_FTP Pro open the last remote connection to the last remote folder you were in when you exit the application. It will also display the last local folder you were in as well.
If you do not have a remote connection when you close the application, it will not auto reconnect to any site.
Alternate Connecting Methods
WS_FTP Pro offers several ways of connecting to a remote site where you don’t have to use a site profile, or you don’t have to use the Connect to Remote Host dialog. In time, a user may find that they like using these methods better than going through the Connect to Remote Host dialog. Below are descriptions of each of these methods.
Sites Menu
You can connect to your configured sites by selecting the site from the Sites Menu. This menu is available in both the Classic and the Explorer interface.
Setting a default site To set a default site, right-click on the site profile and select Default Site from the menu.
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To change the folders or layout of this list, select Organize Sites and use the Organize Sites dialog.
Recent Sites
On the File menu, you will find the Recent sites submenu. This menu shows the last ten FTP sites you successfully connected to. You can establish a connection by selecting one of the sites from the menu.
Quick Connect
Quick Connect provides a means for you to connect to an FTP site with minimal effort and time; for example, you might use Quick Connect to connect to a site that you want to visit just once.
To use this feature, select Quick Connect from the File menu.
Note
Quick Connect does not work for SSL or SSH connections.
Address Bar
The Address bar of the WS_FTP Pro Classic interface can be used in three ways to connect to an FTP server:
Type the address directly into the Address bar
If you type the address alone, WS_FTP Pro will prompt for a username and password. You can also type the username and password in front of the site address in this format:
username:[email protected]:port/path. Example:
robert:[email protected]:21/pub/
You can also enter the username and password in the boxes below the address bar, after entering the ftp address in the address box.
Note
You can make an SSL or SSH connection by selecting the type of secure connection from the lock icon next to the address box on the address bar. For more information, see “Chapter 8: Security” on page 45
Use the listbox to select a recently visited site
When you connect to a site, a record of that connection will be stored in the listbox. You can connect to that site by selecting the entry.
WS_FTP Pro will attempt to make a connection using the same options defined when the site was last visited.
Internet Connection Settings
The following settings can be configured on the Internet Connection dialog of the Program Options (click the Options button on WS_FTP Pro) to have WS_FTP Pro automatically connect to and/or disconnect from the internet when scheduled items are run, or when time consuming tasks are being performed.
• Connect to Local Area Network (LAN). If you connect to the internet via a LAN (or cable modem, DSL, T1, etc.), WS_FTP Pro will automatically set this option and disable all others.
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• Connect using a dial-up connection. Select this option to have WS_FTP Pro connect to the internet using a dial-up connection.
This is a connection made by your computer using a modem and your telephone lines.
• Select a dial-up connection. If you have multiple dial-up connections configured in your Windows Dial-Up Networking, select the configuration you want WS_FTP Pro to use here.
• Disconnect when application exits. Select this option to have WS_FTP Pro end your connection to the internet when the application is closed. This will end any connection you have made through any means.
• Disconnect only when application establishes connection.
Select this option to have WS_FTP Pro end your connection to the internet when the application is closed, only when WS_FTP Pro made the internet connection in the first place.
Passive Mode
Normally, when you connect to an FTP site, the site establishes the data connection to your PC. However, some FTP sites allow passive transfers. This means that your PC establishes the data connection.
By default, passive mode is turned on in WS_FTP Pro; we recommend that you use it for transfers to and from FTP sites that support it. Note that passive mode may be required in the following instances:
• For users on networks behind some types of router-based firewalls
• Users on networks behind a gateway requiring passive transfers
• If transfers are erratic
• If you keep getting failed data channel or blocking call cancelled errors.
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