How do I... Use the Windows Vista FTP command line utility?

FTP options available in the command line

The command line interface opens and your next step is to type ftp and then the question mark. It will give you a detailed listing of the commands available to you as shown.

The Open command

Here is a simple definition of the commands (excerpt taken from http://www.nsftools.com/tips/MSFTP.htm).

• ! - Runs the specified command on the local computer
• ? - Displays descriptions for ftp commands
• append - Appends a local file to a file on the remote computer
• ascii - Sets the file transfer type to ASCII, the default
• bell - Toggles a bell to ring after each file transfer command is completed (default = OFF)
• binary - Sets the file transfer type to binary
• bye - Ends the FTP session and exits ftp
• cd - Changes the working directory on the remote computer
• close - Ends the FTP session and returns to the command interpreter
• debug - Toggles debugging (default = OFF)
• delete - Deletes a single file on a remote computer
• dir - Displays a list of a remote directory's files and subdirectories
• disconnect - Disconnects from the remote computer, retaining the ftp prompt
• get - Copies a single remote file to the local computer
• glob - Toggles filename globbing (wildcard characters) (default = ON)
• hash - Toggles hash-sign (

The Dir command

Next, it will ask for a user name and password. Once I enter the applicable information, I can perform a directory listing of my Web site by typing dir.

Uploading a Web page

To really get started, you need to know what type of file or files you are going to receive and upload. You can transfer an ASCII text file or a Binary file. ASCII files can also be HTML files. A binary file would be a graphic files, sound, movie, Word document, etc.For example, let's say I create a new Web page and I want to upload it to my new Web site. Here are the commands I would type in the command line:

1. Open stevenscottwarren.com
2. Enter applicable user name and password

Public directory

1. Next, use the lcd command (Figure E) to change my local computer to where my Web page exists.
2. Type put tech.html. It will place the file in the public directory.

Directory listing

1. Next, type dir to view the directory listing and you will see the file tech.html.

Firefox

1. Open Internet Explorer and Firefox and type the following:
   www.stevenscottwarren.com/TRBlog/tech.html

Internet Explorer

Get command

If you wanted to download a file, you would use the get or mget command. For example if you were going to get a graphic, you would type the following: Binary and get DEP.jpg (case sensitive).

Bye command

When you are finished and you type the command bye, it gives you a listing of what you have uploaded and downloaded as shown.

As you can see, if you have never used the command line, there is a slight learning curve but once you get the hang of it, you can fly through the steps. Who would have thought that I would prefer the command line over a graphical user interface?