This quick guide is to help you get started using "CuteFTP". The trial version of this FTP client software program is available at:
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10064-100-7495571.html
This FTP program is easy to use and set up. With this program you can schedule transfers, resume downloading incomplete files and reconnect when the server is rebooted... all automatically!
During the installation, select to run the "Connection Wizard". (You can also run this at any time after setup, by clicking File, and Connection Wizard).
Select your internet Service type here, and click Next.
Enter in the name of YOUR COMPUTER and click Next.
(This computer owners name is Tommy)
Now enter this address to get to our FTP site, and click Next.
Enter your Username and Password that were e-mailed to you, and click Next
* Do not select Anonymous logon.
Its now time to tell "CuteFTP" where on YOUR SYSTEM, to put the shows that you are going to download. For this example, we are going to put them in a folder called "Inbox".
You can make a brand new directory if you want to.
If you want to open our FTP site automatically when "CuteFTP" is started, click the top box, and then click Finish.
Start the "CuteFTP" program, and you will logon to the system automatically.
Look at the window, middle row, on the right. You will be led to the default directory for the site.
The selections available are:
OTR A to J
OTR K to Z
Overflow
Please Upload Programs Here
Re-Encodes
Double click on the area you want to go to. For this example you're going to download some Dragnet shows so double click A-L.
Now find the Dragnet directory, and double click that.
Double click the year. For example, 1949
Now that you see the programs available, left click the first file, then drag and drop it into the box on the immediate left. For this example I grouped 7 files to download. To to that, click on the first file you want to download. Then, hold down the SHIFT key and click the last file you want to download. You will then see all the files highlighted in blue. Drag and drop the group into the box on the immediate left.
Once you have files cued to download, "CuteFTP" will remember that group of files until they are downloaded or until you remove them from the cue. If you want to have "CuteFTP" download the shows later on, click "Transfer", then "Schedule Current Cue". You should get this window.
Click "Enable Scheduler" and then click Select "Current Cue" and click OK. You will then get this screen:
Set "CuteFTP" to start on whatever date and time you want and click OK. So long as "CuteFTP" is running, the program will automatically sign onto the FTP site and download the cued files.
Due to the server needing to be rebooted, going off-line for a scheduled break* or various internet conditions, you will now want to set your connection options to resume file transfers after a timeout or disconnection.
Click Edit, and Settings
Here is where you customize the way you want "CuteFTP" to operate. There are a few screens to pay attention to here:
In this example, "CuteFTP" is set to try to connect 25 times, waiting 10 minutes between attempts. If "CuteFTP" does not receive any files in 90 seconds, it will disconnect and try again. When all cued files are transferred, "CuteFTP" is set to disconnect from the site.
This is the configuration for Cable Modem or DSL service.
Rather than start from the beginning when a transfer is interrupted, my default action is to RESUME the transfer. The software will wait 10 seconds for me to make another choice before it begins to resume the transfer.
Every effort is made to assure you can connect as easily as possible. From time to time, all six connections may be in use when you try to connect (see our FTP FAQ).
It is important to wait a reasonable length of time between attempts to connect. If you attempt to connect again and again repeatedly in a short period of time, you will be considered to be “hammering” the server. Doing this is frowned upon by any FTP server administrator, and your account is automatically disabled by the server software. The example above shows 10 minutes between connection attempts. (Please note our server allows a connection retry every 5 minutes.)
Four times each day, the server will automatically go "off-line" and disconnect all that are connected. The purpose of doing this is to give all account holders an opportunity to log on to their account each day.
Depending upon your FTP software, you may be able to automatically sign back on when you are disconnected. Be sure your software has a "resume" feature and the ability to reconnect automatically after a download is broken.
Offline at: 8:00AM
Online at: 8:01AM
Offline at: 2:00PM
Online at: 2:01PM
Offline at: 8:00PM
Online at: 8:01PM
Offline at: 2:00AM
Online at: 2:01AM
I started out using "WS_FTP LE" but was unable to resume or schedule transfers. Also, I was having trouble staying connected. I downloaded "CuteFTP" and was very happy with how much better it worked for me.
There are a lot of fine products available. The challenge is to find one that works well for you. If you are looking for an FTP software package that will work well with this FTP site, "CuteFTP" is worth a try.