September 1999--This month, we'll
look at updated ways to send files from system to system--hopefully
in a controlled manner, rather than the uncontrolled chaos that's my
usual mode of operation..
An improved chute Software maker Hilgraeve
has updated Drop Chute+, adding new features. These include the
ability to chat (via text messages or voice) at the same time files
are being transferred, file compression, automatic virus scanning,
advanced encryption (via Internet Explorer 4 or later), and
unattended file transfer. Trial and free versions of Drop Chute are
available at the Hilgraeve Web
site.
The wonders of FTP
If you need to send files over the Internet from one point to
another and just want the simplest method (no security, no
confirmation, no chatting) use a File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
client. Windows 95/98 comes with a very basic, command line FTP
client, which may be all you need, if you don't need much
documentation.
I don't recommend this program, however, unless
you are a die-hard command line user with roots in Unix. Commands
such as "!" and "ls" may be second nature to you. If they are, then
you're in luck. If you're like me and prefer something that has a
friendlier user interface, I recommend WS_FTP Pro from
Ipswitch. Installation and
configuration is a breeze. I found no need to refer to any of the
documentation to get the program up and running or to connect to an
FTP server. Here's a screen shot of the program's Site Manager,
which is used to access and create FTP site entries:
With just a few mouse clicks and a little typing,
creating a new FTP site entry is a snap. Once the entry is created,
you can access the site using two different interfaces. This is what
the classic interface looks like:
For those of you who prefer an organization
similar to Windows Explorer, that option is also available:
Personally, I prefer the classic interface, but I
also like being able to choose, rather than being stuck with a
software author's view of how things should work.
Is an FTP client really needed, since FTP support
is built into both Internet Explorer and Netscape? My answer is a
definite yes, if you do much FTP work. If the FTP site requires a
password or any other special log-in information, the FTP support in
the browser may not work. Also, sometimes browsers return odd
information when accessing some FTP sites. WS_FTP Pro is one of the
best FTP clients I have seen and it's on my highly recommended list.
We were scheduled to discuss universal serial bus
(USB) this month, but as the deadline approached, Microsoft released
Service Pack 1 for Windows 98. This Service Pack includes additional
USB support and I'm still in the process of conducting tests with
this update. We're shooting to have these tests completed in time
for next month's newsletter, so stay tuned.
Until next month, stay connected!
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