P A R A C H U T I N G ' S N E W S M A G A Z I N E
FTPing Files to Skydiving Magazine
FTP (file transfer protocol) is a good way to send larger files over the Internet. It's often faster than emailing them and, more importantly, it doesn't involve email servers. (Some ISPs limit the size of files that can be sent by email.)
Here are four popular ways to send files over the Internet by FTP:
1. You use your web browser (eg., Microsoft Internet Explorer) to upload your files to our server. This string gets entered in the address bar of the browser:
ftp://skyFTP1:Blueskies123=@ftp.wbz27.registeredsite.com
This will take you to a folder on our server to which you can drag-and-drop files from your computer, with the help of a file handling program like Windows Explorer. If it doesn't work, double-check the address you entered; it must be exactly correct.
2. Use the free website www.yousendit.com to send big files. The procedure is as fast and simple as sending an email.
3. Upload the file to a directory (folder) at your website and give us a link to that directory and file. Browsing to that file usually allows the recipient to download the file to his own computer. If you know how to post files to your website, you already know how to upload your ad and graphics files so we can download them.
4. Use a small program called an "FTP client" to upload your files to our server.
There are several compact, easy-to-use FTP clients available for free. We use WS_FTP; it has an Explorer-like interface. WS_FTP is available at www.downloads.com, among other places. But there are many such programs, including some bundled with Windows and other software. Any one should work just fine.
Here's the information you'll need to configure your FTP client:
Host:
ftp.wbz27.registeredsite.com
(don't click on this; it's not a
link)
Host type:automatic detect
User ID: skyFTP1
Password: Blueskies123= (Just like that, case sensitive,
with "=")
Comments on using an FTP client:
(Some of these comments won't make much sense until you've started configuring your FTP client.)
- An anonymous log-in won't work.
- No need to enter an account name or number.
- No need to go to any specific page.
- Be sure your FTP client is really finished uploading a file before logging off. Some FTP clients signal job completion by refreshing the FTP directory - your file will show in the listing. If it does, be sure it's all there by checking its size.
- You're logging into a shared directory; it's not your own private area.
- The directory contains a file called index.htm. If you see that file, then you know you've logged into the right place.
Final Notes:
- If you upload digital photographs, it really helps us if you include a simple TXT or DOC file that tells us what you're sending us. Include your name and how to contact you, too!
- After uploading a file, email mike@skydivingmagazine.com to tell us you've done so. We'll download your file ASAP and delete it from the FTP site. Assume it's OK unless you hear differently from us.
- You should do an upload test with a representative file so you can be confident everything will go smoothly when you need to upload a file for real.
PARACHUTING'S
NEWSMAGAZINE
1725
Lexington Ave.
DeLand, FL USA 32724.
Telephone:
(386) 736-4793, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern time.
Fax: (386) 736-9786.
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