How to FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Step 1:

Connect to the Internet.

Step 2:

Open your WS-FTP program. (If you do not have this program, you can download it for free from download.com)

Step 3:

Establishing the Sessions Properties

1. Profile Name: This can be anything you would like.
2. Host Name/Address: ftp.valinet.com
3. Host Type: Set to Automatic Detect or UNIX (standard)
4. User ID: [insert user ID here]
5. Password: [insert password here]
6. Check save password box
7. Click OK button

Step 4:

You are now connected via the FTP program to your account on the Valinet server.

• The window on the left side of the screen is the Local System (the hard drive of your computer). There will be a green arrow in the top left hand corner of the window. Double click this arrow until C:\ shows in the narrow window above.
• Search through your computer until you find the folder that contains your web site.

Step 5:

• The window on the right side of the screen is the Remote System (your account on the Valinet server).
• You will see a folder (directory) called WWW. This folder is where your web site files should be located. Double left click on the WWW directory to open it.

Step 6:

Uploading files

• Make certain that the Binary is selected. This is found directly under the two windows.
• Select/highlight all the files in the Remote System window which are to be replaced with the new files on your hard drive and click on the Rename button. Give each of the files a new name for example "index.php.old". These files are no longer viewable from the web site.
• Select/highlight the files from your local system that you wish to upload and click on the arrow that points toward the remote system. (Never double click on a file on the local system. It will immediately transfer to the remote System and overwrite the existing file.) Wait for the transfer to be complete. This will show on the bottom of the screen above the Connect button. Note that the Remote System screen will be blank until transfer is complete.
• Check your files by viewing the web site (while connected to the Internet) in your web browser. Hit "reload" or "refresh" while holding down the Shift key to make certain you are not viewing a cached version.
• If every thing looks correct you will now delete the old files (the files you previously renamed). Select the old files and click on the Delete button. The program will prompt you to confirm the deletions.
• Check the web site in the browser again to make certain all files are there.
• If everything is correct, click on the Close button and then the Exit button.
• You may disconnect from the Internet.

Downloading Files

• Make certain that the Binary is selected. This is found directly under the two windows.
• Decide where you want to put the files that you are downloading on your computer. You may wish to create a new folder to put them in by clicking the MkDir button and typing in a folder name at the prompt. If you create a new folder for your files, be sure to double left click on it to open it before downloading your files.
• Select/highlight all the files in the Remote System window which you wish to download. These files will be copied to your computer, and a copy of them will also remain online.
• Click on the arrow that points toward the local system. Wait for the transfer to be complete. This will show on the bottom of the screen above the Connect button. Note that the Local System screen will be blank until transfer is complete.
• If you download your entire web site to your local computer, you can check your files with a web browser by viewing the web site. Go to File:Open in your web browser and click "Browse" or "Choose File". Find the "index.php" or "home.html" file and open it. Click through the site, looking for missing images or pages.
• If everything is correct, click on the Close button in your FTP program and then the Exit button.
• You may disconnect from the Internet.