FTP

ajpaulus · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 11:40 AM

Hi Guys

Our company wants an FTP site where our customers can log in and download files. Does anyone have one that I can take a look at to get an idea what it should looks like? We were told that it can look clean and professional and others said it will just look like a Dos environment.

Any ideas...

cyanide · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 12:58 PM

most hosting accounts offer an ftp service.
have you looked into yours?

mushroom · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 02:15 PM

The answer depends on how you set it up.

If you make the customers use an FTP client then the FTP client controls the display.

If you use browser based FTP it can look any way you want it to, just look at any paid music download site or any other site that offers downloads.

ajpaulus · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 02:21 PM

If we use the FTP client and the visitor clicks on a file to download, will it prompt the visitor to download onto his computer or will it open up a program such as Adobe Reader if the file is a pdf? We want it where it will prompt the visitor to download on his computer rather than opening up a certain software. Please help...

cyanide · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 02:26 PM

on my hosting accounts, ftp accounts can be set up where the client logs in and drags and drops from browser to desktop and vice versa

ajpaulus · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 02:26 PM

If we use the FTP client and the visitor clicks on a file to download, will it prompt the visitor to download onto his computer or will it open up a program such as Adobe Reader if the file is a pdf? We want it where it will prompt the visitor to download on his computer rather than opening up a certain software. Please help...

Dragonsi · #7 (**permalink**) 03-15-2005, 09:36 AM

In order to use a FTP clinet version, each user of the site must have a FTP client installed on their own PC/MAC - there are numerious free clients available, all with different features and advantages. When a user clicks to download a file through a FTP client, the file in question will download. However, some FTP client's have an option to 'open' the file before downloading.

IE 5 or better with Win2K or better can be used as a basic FTP client, just like copying a file from one window to another, but this version can have serious security implentations, so is not recommened.

There are some hosting package available that have preset software applications for browser based FTP, do a search on Google and I'm sure loads will pop-up. It could then be possible to link to this seperate hosting package from your normal website. All protected by a password system, so that you can keep an eye on who is downloading.