FTP using Netscape

It is important to know that I only know that this method will work with a unix system set up like the server I use. I know it will work on a mac or a pc connecting to the uinix server, but beyond that your on your own. Also, this is not most secure way o f transfering files. I.E. I woudln't want to use this method for moving credit card numbers around, but I think it's just fine to get my images and pages into my account. That said, here is how I use Netscape to upload my files. (as far as I know this wor ks with all versions of Netscape.)

The first step is to log into your account through Netscape. To do this you type ftp:// then your e-mail address into the location bar. So for example I would type:

ftp://kdooley@oswego.edu

A menu should pop up asking for your password. Just type in your account password. In the main browser window a listing of your files and directories (directorty icons look like folders) will appear. If you want your files to go into a specific direcory just click on the directory you want to be in. Once you are in the place you want to be we can begin to upload your files.

There are two different ways to do this, for some reason I always get damaged files when I do it the long way. I don't know if this is just because of my particular server or a browser-wide bug. The long way to upload files is to select file uder the main menu and select "upload file". Click on the file you want and click okay. This method only allows you to upload one file at a time, and like I said there seems a bug when you do this that causes them to become corrupt. An easier way is to select the file s that you want to upload and drag them into the browser window. An alert will pop up asking if your really want to upload theses files. Just click okay and the files will begin to upload one by one. For some reason I almost never get a corrupt file this way and I much prefer it to manually uploading each one.

A common problem people have with using Netscape to upload files is that they can see their images, files or what-not are in their account. When they click on the file names, the file comes up with no problem. Then they come back later and connect up to t heir page just to run into error 404 page/file not found, or to find that files are forbidden. This happens because peoiple get careless. This happens to me quite a bit. People forget that when they are using Netscape to upload their files they are in a s ense just viewing the files on another computer, it's just like reading them off of a floppy. They are in your account still, but unless you remember to set your permissions to make it viewable to the public, no one else but you will be able to see them! Just a little reminder because I happen to forget all the time.