The term associated with file transfers from one computer to another is uploading. A couple of great examples would be when sending a file from your computer to your account at your web host (also known as publishing) or when you attach a document to your email from the computer you are using during that process. One way to transfer your Web site’s file from your computer to your host is through a type of software program called FTP, which stands for file transfer protocol. FTP allows you to make the transfer without having to log into your Web host account or open your browser. There are many free FTP clients on the Web. For starters, you can head over to http://www.thefreecountry.com/webmaster/freeftpclients.shtml.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to make files transfers to your Web host or server (where the files are to be uploaded to) using the FileZilla FTP client with Windows 2000. The operating systems that are compatible with FileZilla include Linux, Mac OS X and versions of Windows. Though this tutorial will be described using Windows 2000, it will be relatively the same on other operating systems.
The Download Process
- In the web address field of your browser, type or click on the following URL: http://filezilla-project.org.
- To the left of the screen you will see a vertical navigation menu. Click on ‘Download’ underneath the ‘FileZilla’ heading in that menu.
- Select a download version of FileZilla for the operating system you are currently using. If you are using Windows, look under the ‘Windows’ heading at the top and click on ‘FileZilla_3.3.2_win32-setup.exe (recommended)’. This is what the name is showing as at the time this tutorial is being created.
The Installation Process
- Double click on the FileZilla setup file just downloaded.
- A FileZilla Client Setup dialog box will open that prompts you with the License Agreement. Have a read of it.
- If you agree with it, then proceed to click on ‘I Agree’ button in the lower right (but to the left of the ‘Cancel’ button of that same dialog box.
- From there on out, simply follow the instructions on the screen to successfully install the FileZilla FTP Client.
After you have downloaded and installed FileZilla onto your computer’s hard drive, you will one step closer to being ready to use it.
Required Information Before Proceeding
There are some things you will need to gain from your Web host before you can start the uploading process to your Web site’s account. However, please note that this tutorial is only good for hosting files with a Web host that allows the use of FTP software to upload your files. If you are hosting your site with a host that does not allow FTP uploading of files, then this tutorial will be of no use to you. Moving along, the information needed to proceed would include:
- FTP hostname – This would look something like ‘ftp.domain.com’.
- Username and password – Both of these are required in order to log into the hosting account to where you would be uploading your files.
- Directory name – Where you would upload your files to so that the world can see your Web site. The directory to allow the public to view your site would usually be the ‘public_html’ directory or the host might inform you to upload your files to ‘www’ or other. Your Web host will let you know where exactly to upload your files of your site.
How to Upload a File to Your Web Host
With FileZilla, you will be able to upload all sorts of file type to your Web host, unless your host has specifically said certain file types are not allowed. But do note that FileZilla does not put a restriction on what you can and cannot upload. Some of the file types that can be transferred using FileZilla include:
- Images – .gif, .jpg, .png and more.
- HTML – .html, .htm.
- Media – .mp3, .wav, .midi, .wmv, .avi and others.
Perl scripts and php scripts are allowed. These are just to name a small number of types of files that you can transfer using FileZilla. However, it is nowhere near an extensive list. Furthermore, this tutorial will show you how to upload a file called ‘index.php’ and this process will be the same for any other file and not just a file called ‘index.php’. And again this is for FileZilla on the Windows platform, but if you are using another operating system, the process is relatively the same.
- Click on the Start Menu à Programs à FileZilla FTP Client à FileZilla.
- When FileZilla opens, click on File à Site Manager (see #2 in screenshot below).
- Click on the ‘New Site’ button (see #3 in screenshot above) in order to add your site to the FTP client and add a name to describe it. You can name it anything you want that will help you immediately recognize that it is for your site. If you want to rename it, then click once on the name and type in a different name.
- Looking to the right of that dialog box, you will see a tab called ‘General’. In the ‘Host’ field type in your host FTP information provided by your Web host. In most cases it will be in the format of ‘ftp.domain-name-goes-here.com’.
- For the ‘Port’ and ‘Servertype’ fields, just ignore them.
- For the ‘Logontype’ field, click on the drop-down menu and select ‘Normal’.
- Enter your username into the ‘User’ field and your password into the ‘Password’ field information provided by your Web host. This information will be saved on your computer, so that when you need to do more FTP work you won’t need to re-enter it again. So it is best that you only use FTP software on your own computer and not a computer at a public library or other public areas that provide free use of their computers to the public.
- Once you have filled out that information, then click on the button called ‘Connect’.
This action will connect you to your Web host’s server for you to upload the files of your site.
- When the connection has successfully been made, there will be a listing of your files and folders on the server of your Web host in Screenshot: FZ-Panes #4 and section #5 of the screenshot shown below. In addition, on the left (Screenshot: FZ-Panes #2 and #3) will reveal directories, folders and files on your hard drive.
Above Screenshot: FZ-Panes
- #1 – The gray area will show your username.
- #2 – This area helps you locate what folders you want to show below for uploading.
- #3 – This area shows folders and files that you want to upload.
- #4 – This area shows folders on the server of your Web host related to your account only.
- #5 – This area shows folders and files of your Web host account.
- #6 – This area shows what files are queued, failed to transfer and successful transfers.
- If you were informed to upload to a specific folder like ‘public_html’, ‘www’, or other, then proceed to double-click on that location in Screenshot: FZ-Panes #4 (as seen in the screenshot above). Afterwards, the folder will automatically open in Screenshot: FZ-Panes #5. This is where you can upload your first file.
- Click on directories of Screenshot: FZ-Panes #2 to find the folder of a file you wish to upload. You can go through it just like you would if you were looking for a folder or file using Windows Explorer in Window operating system.
- When you have found the file you want to upload to Screenshot: FZ-Panes #5, right click on it and select the ‘Upload’ option from the right-click menu that pops up. Or you can drag the file from Screenshot: FZ-Panes #3 to Screenshot: FZ-Panes #5 if you wish to upload it that way.
- In Screenshot: FZ-Panes #6, you will see the file transfer as it is taking place and whether or not the file’s transfer was successful. You can also see if the transfer was successful by looking in the Screenshot: FZ-Panes #5 area of FileZilla (if it is there then it was successful and if it is not, then it will not be there). The file will be uploaded to the folder that is opened or the folder you drag it to.
Congratulations
This is all it takes to upload any file to your Web host through FileZilla. You can upload multiple files at a time by selecting them all. Additionally, you can upload entire folders that have multiple files (and other folders) in them. When you are done uploading your site’s files, you can proceed to click on Server à Disconnect from the top menu bar of the FTP client (please see screenshot below). This will disconnect your connection from the server.
Now take a moment to applaud yourself because you have learned and successfully transferred a file from your hard drive to your account on the server of your Web host. Additionally, you have learned how to use FileZilla as your FTP client. Congratulations!
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