CoffeeCup - HTML Editor, Flash & Web Design Software

1. What is FTP?
   1. What does FTP stand for?
   2. What do I use FTP for?


2. What does ... mean?
   1. What is a FTP Client?
   2. What is a Server Profile?
   3. What is Passive Mode?
   4. What does Anonymous mean?
   5. What does NOOP/Stay Connected mean?
   6. What is ASCII mode?
   7. What is Binary mode?
   8. What does Uploading mean?
   9. What does Downloading mean?
   10. What is a Web Host?
   11. What is a directory?
   12. What is root directory?
   13. What is a directory path?


3. What do I need to FTP?
   1. Where can I find a FTP program?
   2. Do I have to have a host?
   3. Where can I find a host?
   4. Where do I find my FTP information?
   5. Now that I have my FTP information, how do I use it?


4. What happens after I connect to the server?
   1. I received an error or can't connect, what now?
   2. Uploading your files to your host.
   3. What directory do I upload my files to?
   4. How soon will my webpage show up after I upload the files?
   5. What do the folders with the dots in front of them do?
   6. How do I change directories on the server?
   7. What do I name my first/main page?
   8. Why are my images not showing up after I uploaded them?
   9. Where do I upload my CGI files to?
   10. I just uploaded a CGI file, how do I change the permissions?

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Section 1: What is FTP?

1.1 What does FTP stand for?

File Transfer Protocol � Allows the transfer of one or more files from one computer to another across the Internet. Usually from a personal computer to a Server or vice versa.

1.2 What do I use FTP for?

FTP, as stated above, is used for transferring all manner of files from one computer to another and in most cases is from a personal computer to Host's server.

Section 2: What does ... mean?

2.1 What is a FTP Client?

FTP Client - A software program that enables the user to upload and download files to and from an FTP site on the Internet using the File Transfer Protocol. CoffeeCup Software's FTP Client is Direct FTP

2.2 What is a Server Profile?

A Server Profile - Is made up of all your connection information. Your Host/Server name, Username, Password and directory path, combine to form a server profile.

2.3 What is Passive Mode?

Passive Mode - This command requests the server to "listen" on a data port (which is not its default data port) and to wait for a connection rather than initiate one upon receipt of a transfer command. The response to this command includes the host and port address this server is listening on.In some cases passive mode may be required for users who are behind some types of router-based firewalls. Here is a more detailed description of Passive vs. Active mode.

2.4 What does Anonymous mean?

Anonymous FTP allows users without accounts to use FTP for retrieving "public" data. To do this, a user connects to an anonymous FTP server with a normal FTP client, offering 'anonymous' as a username and almost anything as password.

2.5 What does NOOP/Stay Connected mean?

NOOP - Stands for No Operation but what is really does is keep your FTP connection alive. A NOOP command sent to a server will make the server reset the idle clock so your connection is not kicked of the server for being inactive too long. In Direct FTP this is called Stay Connected.

2.6 What is ASCII mode?

ASCII Mode - Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII files are simple text files that have no formatting embedded in the document. Files with .htm, .html, .txt and .php extensions are all examples of files that would be transferred in ASCII mode. ASCII is made up of the English alphabet, numbers, punctuation and special characters such as $, *, % as examples.

2.7 What is Binary mode?

Binary Mode - Allows an FTP client to transfer all other non-text files. These include executable (.exe) files as well as multimedia files like (.wav and .mp3).

2.8 What does Uploading mean?

Uploading - Is the transferring of files from your local computer to remote computer, usually a server.

2.9 What does Downloading mean?

Downloading - Is the transferring of files from a remote computer to your local computer.

2.10 What is a Web Host?

Web Host - A company which keeps websites on their servers for public access. If you are paying for a company to host your website, make sure they provide fast and friendly support, access to your logs, and a cgi-bin. CoffeeCup has a Web Hosting company called Bluedomino, which provides all of these and more. There are many hosting plans with Bluedomino which are eligible for free software

2.11 What is a Directory?

Directory - A structure for organizing files on a computer, in this case a server. A server directory is the same thing as a server folder, just two names for the exact same thing.

2.12 What is the Root?

Root - Is the very start of a directory. On your personal the root will be C:, on a server is it usually designated with a /.

2.13 What is a directory path?

Directory Path - Is the sequent of directories which leads to file. /www.yourdomain.com/public_html/images is an example of a directory path. In a ULR this is everything after the domain.

Section 3: What do I need to FTP?

There are several things that you will need in order to FTP, an FTP client, a Web Host and files that need to be transferred.

3.1 Where can I find an FTP Client

CoffeeCup offers a FTP Client called Direct FTP, it is easy to use and has a fully functional 30 day trial periodwhich allows you to become familiar with the program. Other FTP clients can be found at download.com.

3.2 Do I have to have a Host?

If you want a website then yes. There are two types of hosting companies. Hosting companies that will host your site for free http://geocities.yahoo.com and http://www.tripod.lycos.com are examples of free hosts, and companies that will host your site for a monthly/yearly fee http://bluedomino.coffeecup.com So why doesn't everyone choose the free sites? Free sites are very limiting, and don't allow you to store much on your pages. You will probably not be able to run cgi-scripts. Worse, you may not be able to choose a domain name, and you will probably have annoying banners on your site. By paying for a site, you get flexibility and capabilities beyond what any free site could give you.

3.3 Where can I find a host?

As stated above CoffeeCup owns a Hosting Company called Bluedomino.com, the fees for hosting range from $9.95 to $34.95 a month depending on the needs of your website. Comparing the services offered by our company to those of some other hosting companies, you will see that we offer far more for your money. Other hosting companies can be found by searching Google.com. Also, as stated above free hosting is very nice but most of the time there are string attached, like popup ads and banners, that you will want to avoid.

3.4 Where do I find my FTP information?

Your FTP information is the information that makes up your Server Profile, the host name, username and password. This information will be provided to you by your Web Host. If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you web spaces for a personal website then they are also considered your host and will provide your FTP Information.

3.5 Now that I have my FTP information, how do I use it?

This is not an easy question as it is a little different for each FTP client. For CoffeeCup Direct FTP there is a tutorial on how to enter the FTP information into the program. All other FTP clients should have a tutorial on this as well. It is also not uncommon for a host to have tutorials and FAQs detailing how to connect to their servers.

Section 4: What happens after I connect to the server?

Once connected, you will need to locate the files on your computer, through the FTP client and upload them to the server.

4.1 I received an error or can't connect, what now?

There are two types of errors that you may receive when connecting to a remote computer, WINSOCK and Return Codes. A list of WINSOCK errors can be found here. While a list of Return Codes with explanations can be found here.

4.2 Uploading your files to your host.

In Direct FTP this can be done several ways, by right-clicking on the file and choosing upload, by clicking on, then dragging the file to the remote side of the program, and also by selecting the file and clicking the upload button. For other FTP clients you will need to consult their FAQs and help files in order to determine how to upload effectively.

4.3 What directory do I upload my files to?

This also varies by Web Host. For instance Bluedomino requires that you upload all your files to the public_html folder. Other examples of possible directories are www, htmldocs and wwwroot. If you are not sure which directory you are supposed to upload to, you will need to contact your Web Host and they will be able to tell you.

4.4 How soon will my webpage show up after I upload the files?

This can vary by host but in most cases it is immediate. With Bluedomino this is immediate, the instant you upload the files to your web space they will be visible at your domain.

4.5 What do the folders with the dots in front of them do?

These folders are used to navigate back to a previous directory. It is like a Back button in a browser.

4.6 How do I change directories on the server?

This is another feature that will vary by FTP Client. In Direct FTP, for example, there are several ways to navigate. If you know the folder path for the directory you will be able to type or paste that in to the

4.7 What do I name my first/main page?

This will have to be named index.html. Occasionally, some web hosts will require that you name the main page something else but 99.9% of the time it will have to be index.html. Servers tend to be a bit picky when it comes to the case of a letter so keep all file names lowercase. Bluedomino requires that the main page be named index.html.

4.8 Why are my images not showing up after I uploaded them?

If after you upload all your html and image files, all you receive are Boxes with red Xs, you will need to read this tutorial. It explains the possible reasons for the red Xs as well as possible solutions.

4.9 Where do I upload my CGI files to?

If your Web Host allows CGI files, they will have a separate folder usually called the cgi-bin where they will need to be uploaded to. You will need to specifically check with your host to make sure they allow CGI files. Bluedomino does allow for CGI files and has a cgi-bin for uploading them to.

4.10 I just uploaded a CGI file, how do I change the permissions?

This is yet another feature that will vary by FTP Client. In Direct FTP once the files has been uploaded, right-click on a file and choose permissions and change them.