How to FTP using Internet Explorer

This is a short tutorial on how to upload files to your web hosting service using Internet Explorer.
(Or "Service Provider" as they are called).

FTP is the standard protocol for transferring files on the Web. (File Transfer Protocol).
FTP is used to moved files from one computer to another computer location.

Instructions for using the built-in Windows FTP program (which is part of Internet Explorer) varies depending on which version of Windows you're using. In some versions, you can access your site by starting Internet Explorer and going to the URL:

ftp://www.boomspeed.com

Windows will then pop up a box prompting you to login with your Boomspeed user ID and password. If you get an error message, however, you can try opening this URL instead:

ftp://userID@www.boomspeed.com (where "userID" is your Boomspeed.com's user ID - - - ftp://johndoe@www.boomspeed.com)

If that URL still generates an error, try using this URL instead:

ftp://userID:password@www.boomspeed.com (where "username" is your Boomspeed.com's image hosting user ID and "password" is your Boomspeed.com's image hosting account password - - - ftp://johndoe:mypassword@www.boomspeed.com)

Note: Your Boomspeed.com "Image Account" is different than your Boomspeed.com's "Forum Account" and uses different User ID's and Passwords.

Once you get a working URL, Windows will display your website files in an FTP window. Although you can't edit the files directly on the website, you can now drag-and-drop files and folders to and from the FTP window to your hard drive. (With some older versions of Windows, you may not be able to drag-and-drop. Instead, click on the files with your right mouse button and choose the "Copy to Folder..." option to transfer them to your hard drive)

I want to thank the folks at the Blackburn Community College for the use of their images I am using in this tutorial.

Connecting
To connect with a server (such as - www.boomspeed.com) you enter theusername and address in the Internet Explorer "Address" box:

Example: Connecting to Boomspeed.com

• ftp:// UerID @ www.boomspeed.com
  

• Use 'ftp://' rather than the default 'http://'.
  
• Replace "UserID" with your usual login name for your Boomspeed.com's image hosting account.

(Click on image to enlarg)

• When prompted for a password type your password.

Navigating through folders

• Once you have logged in you can then navigate through the folders to get to your subject area.

• Double click a folder to open it or click the 'Up' icon on the toolbar to go up a level.

(Click on image to enlarge)

• Once you have arrived at the folder where you upload your web pages, you can add this location to the Internet Explorer 'Favorites' (bookmarks) so you can return there easily at a later date.
  

• Additionally you can drag the location icon in the ‘Address’ bar straight onto the desktop which creates a shortcut to your folder. Just double click it at any time and you will be asked for your password and taken straight there.

Uploading files

• Open the folder on the hard disk or network drive where your files are located.

• Position the folder window (or Windows NT Explorer) so you can see both it and the Internet Explorer window.

• Simply drag and drop the files from the folder window to Internet Explorer to upload them:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Downloading files
Depending on your Internet Explorer version you can or cannot use 'drag and drop' to download files.

• If you cannot, instead, select the files you want, right mouse click them and select 'Copy To Folder...' from the pop up menu:

• Alternatively, select the files and choose 'Copy To Folder...' from the 'File' menu.

• Then select where you want to save the files on the 'Browse for Folder' tree:

Creating New Folders
Right click inside the web folder and within the menu bar select 'New' then select 'Folder'. Once created it will allow you to give it a name.

Renaming Folder or Files
Highlight folder, right click with the mouse while pointing the desire folder, select 'Rename'

Deleting Folders or Files
Highlight folder, document, or image, right click with the mouse while pointing the desire file, select 'Delete'

Note: If you have many files to upload it probably makes more sense to use a FTP program that can upload whole directories at once. FTP programs are designed to upload or download many files across the Internet.

A couple of FTP programs for Windows users are.................
• WS_FTP
____This is the authors favorit.
• FTP Explorer
• CuteFTP

Macintosh users should try

• Fetch
-- which automatically encodes your files as it uploads.