This is a tutorial that will teach you everything you need to know about the WS_FTP client with regards to transferring CGI files. It's a basic "How to" for file transfer and successful CGI/Perl script installation.

1. Launching the client.
2. Connecting to the server.
3. Changing directories.
4. Creating ("Making") directories.
5. Transfering files.
6. How to CHMOD files.
7. Finding the absolute-path.

Launching the client.

When you install the WS_FTP client on your computer (after you have downloaded it) you will be asked if you want to add a shortcut to the start meny. Choose yes. I put mine in my accessories folder along with all my other business related shortcuts to programs. That way I never have to hunt around for it. To launch your FTP, simply click the shortcut with your mouse like any other program.
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Connecting to the server.

Once you have launched your FTP client, the user interface will appear on your screen as well as a connection interace called "Session Properties":

You have to do three things to connect to your server from this screen:

1. In the "HostName/Address" field, enter the FTP address of your server. It will almost always be ftp.your-domain.com as opposed to www.your-domain.com. If you are logging into an IP address, then you will simply fill in the IP address with nothing in front of it.
2. Next you must enter your User ID and Password. These will have been given to you by your ISP or Server Administrator. If you are accessing persoanl web space that comes with your ISP connection account, then the User ID and Password will usually be that same ones that you dial in with.
3. Lastly, press the OK button and the connection process will begin. There will be only two results, success or failure. If you fail to connect, you must try again on your own. If you are FTPing at peak times then you may have to try to connect a number of time before you get in.

Once you are logged in, you will be looking at your user interface for the program:

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Changing directories.

Changing directories is even easier than in Windows! Just like in your windows or similar operating systems interface, to change directories you simply double click on the the folder/folders to move deeper into a directory/directories. If you want to move up in a directory tree then you just click on the green arrow that shows at the top of both the local and remote windows.

If you start doing a lot of programming, your going to start remembering a lot of absolute paths. Yes, you will start remembering them. In this case, particularly if the Net is busy and the FTP client is a little slow, it's quicker simply to use the Change Directory function to get where you want to go. (It's quicker on the Remote System[Server] window but slower on the Local System[Your Computer] window). To do this, simply click on the "ChgDir" button. You will then be presented with the "Change Directory" dialogue box. Simply type in the absolute-path to the directory you want to be in or select the absolute-path from the drop-down list and then press "OK".
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Creating ("Making") directories.

Creating diretories is extremley easy with WS_FTP. On your main user interface, next to the Remote System window, click the "MkDir" button. You will be presented with this dialogue box:

Simply type the name of the new directory/folder in the space provided and press the "OK" button. The FTP client will tell the server to create the directory.
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Transfering files.

Transfering files is easily accomplished one of two ways. The first way is a two step procedure. First examine the following screen shot and then there will be step by step instructions following it.


For all transfers you must select either ASCII or Binary mode for the transfer. You can see the Radio buttons for these two choices right below the Remote and Local System windows.

First Method
The first method works for both single file transfers and multiple file transfers.

1. Highlite the file or multiple files, in the Local System window, that you wish to transfer. Note that if you are transfering multiple files they will have to be either all images or all text/data files.

2. Once they are all highlit, simply press the button in the middle of the client that has the "-->" symbol on it. This will transfer the file/files in the mode you selected.

Second Method
The second method of transfering is very easy but will only transfer one file at a time. Simply pick the file you want to transfer in the Local System window and double click on it. This will transfer it right away.

Instructions for transfering files are identical for Local to Remote or for Remote to Local transfers.
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How to CHMOD files.

CHMODing files is very easy with WS_FTP. You can CHMOD either directories/folders or files. The process is identical for each.

1. First, on your user interface, in the Remote System window, left click once on a file to highlite it.

2. Once youhave hightlit the directory/file you want to CHMOD, right click on it.

   

3. From the pop up menu, choose the "chmod(UNIX)" option and click on it.
4. You will now be looking at the "Remote File Permissions" dialogue box.

   

   On this box you will set the CheckBoxes (the above sample is set to 755) to the follwing combinations for the follwing CHMOD's:

   Owner	Group	Other	CHMOD Value
   R-W-X	R-X	R-X	755
   R-W-X	R	R	744
   R-W-X	R-W	R-W	766
   R-W-X	R-W-X	R-W-X	777

5. After you have set all the check boxes appropriately, you then just have to press the "OK" button and your all done!

Remeber: if you change the CHMOD of a file, you have to make sure that the directory and all parent directories up to Root level are CHMODed as well!
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Finding the absolute-path.

It is very easy to find the absolute path with the WS_FTP client.

1. First change the diretory to the directory containing the file that you need the absolute path for.

2. Next, highlite the directory by left clicking on it then right click on it so that you get a pop-up menu. This is the same menu we chose CHMOD from.

   

   From the bottom of the pop-up menu choose "FTP Commands" and then from the next pop-up menu choose "PWD".

3. Once you have done that, look at the bottom of the FTP client in the message window and you will see the absolute path printed there for the directory you are currently in.

   
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