Methods To Routinely Upload Many Files Via File Transfer Protocol

By Author: Marshall Arcega
Total Articles: 5
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File Transfer Protocol, or FTP, is a tool that is commonly utilized by web developers and IT professionals. However, we all employ FTP on a near daily basis. FTP is a method of contacting a ‘host' computer in order to acquire data from the host. Many companies operate on this principle: there is a central database and all office computers connect to the database for information. FTP is the system that the computers must follow in order to exchange information. Before computers had graphical interfaces that could be recognized by everyone they had to be used via FTP communication. As FTP has been around since the advent of computers it is regarded as a very reliable technique for sharing information.
It is currently possible to upload to an FTP server from your personal computer. However, this requires being a a lttle bit computer savvy. The initial step is to discover the location of the server to which you intend to upload. This may be something such as www.mywebsite.com. Next, ...
... you must go through the ‘My Computer' application and set up www.mywebsite.com as a network location. The website location will then be listed as a possible save location for files and images.
As with any save location on the computer, the file will only be saved to the server when the user decides. Even if is acceptable in certain applications, it may prove costly if FTP is being implemented as a data back-up. Many users have experienced a situation where their work is lost because of computer malfunction. This is the reason many serious content creators will save several copies of their work. One copy may exist on the physical computer's hard drive while another may be found on a flash drive and yet another may be an FTP server. The server offers a safe location where data can be viewed from any other computer in the event of an error.
Once again, these back-ups are only practical if the user remembers to save their work. Saving is merely a job that is not in the forefront of many peoples' minds and takes time. Luckily, computer programs have eradicated the need to remember to save files. Software available at www.hothotsoftware.com enables the user to upload files to an FTP server repeatedly. The program consists of a standard user interface, making it useful to even a basic computer user. The upper half of the interface displays the files that are to be uploaded to the FTP server. A button below the display permits the addition of files by simply choosing them. Next, the user may select how often the files are to be uploaded. This selection varies from 1 second to over 2 hours. Thirdly, the FTP login information must be entered. This consists of the FTP server (www.mywebsite.com), username (if necessary), and password (if necessary). Some servers may not require username and password protection if they are public access. The program is then ready to be turned on and allowed to run in the background of the computer. Files will be uploaded to the FTP server as often as desired, keeping information current and protected from loss.